news
What It Means to be a Social Worker
As social workers, I feel we serve a unique role as agents of change from micro to macro levels. We serve as a bridge, gardener and first responder, among many other roles. In these capacities, we support individuals, families and communities, collectively...
read more
Connecting Lives: Our Partnership with the City of Long Beach’s Innovation Team
April 2, 2018 was my first day working in a jail. I walked up and down the long walkways thinking to myself, how did I end up here? I followed the detention officer down the catwalk with my head down, intentionally distracted with a custody report on my...
read more
5 Ways to Care for Your Child’s Mental Health
With the conversation of mental health becoming more common, information can quickly turn overwhelming. So let’s keep this simple, following are 5 ways you can daily care for your children’s mental health. Quality Time Let’s start with quality time, with life...
read more
Client Success Story: Jazzy
It is my pleasure to share with you a story of a client who started off at The Guidance Center at the tender age of 2 years old. Shy and reserved, Jazzy walked into her new therapist’s office a little uncertain because she had first met with a different...
read more
Play Therapy: 5 Reasons Why It’s So Effective
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood,” by Fred Rogers. As this quote from the iconic “Mr. Rogers” reminds us, it has not been long in our...
read more
Client Success Story: Veronica and Jessica
Veronica was just two years old when she was referred to The Guidance Center for therapy. She had been removed from her mother and placed in foster care due to allegations of neglect. Veronica was malnourished, and her previous living environment was deemed...
read more
Signs Your Child Might Benefit from Mental Health Support
Para mirar el articulo en Español favor de continuar mas abajo de la pajina. Mental health is a topic that has stirred up more conversation over the past couple of years. Within these conversations and surrounding events in our world and communities, there are common...
read more
Tips for Manifesting Your New Year Resolutions
This blog post first appeared on Long Beach Post. Bravo! You’ve made resolutions and identified goals for 2019. You’re resolved and ready to act, but your journey is best begun with the correct frame of mind. To settle your mind, try manifesting. “When one manifests...
read more
Hope for the Holidays
“Together we can change the world, one small act of kindness at a time.” - Ron Hall The holidays for our families can be especially difficult. Our families come from all different backgrounds and face complicated hardships. The Adopt-A-Family program helps change...
read more
Annual Client Holiday Party
The first week of December at The Guidance Center is a magical time. Staff take on the role of Santa’s elves and transform our Long Beach headquarters into a winter wonderland for our Annual Client Holiday Party. A fresh tree was delivered and delightfully trimmed...
read more
Holiday Tips for Parents with Children who have Mental Illness
This post was also published by Long Beach Post on Dec. 18, 2018. The holidays can be a difficult time of year for those struggling with a mental illness. It is very likely that you may know someone who may be facing an emotional or behavioral health issue such as...
read more
Adopt-a-Family Donor Spotlight: Heather Stangle-Smith and Nate Smith
This article was originally published in Grunion Gazette on Nov. 28, 2018. When Heather Stangle-Smith and Nate Smith moved to Long Beach three years ago, they were looking to build community. They had heard great things about the city from friends who had grown up...
read more
Happy Thanksgiving + Thank You Food Finders!
We’re heading out to celebrate Thanksgiving incredibly grateful because you provided… Mental health support for a child, who struggles with the loss of a loved one, that helped him cope and experience healing Play therapy tools that encouraged and allowed a young...
read more
Thomas’ Adopt-A-Family Story
When we think of the holiday season, many of us smile at the thought of spending time with family and friends, eating big meals, exchanging gifts, continuing family traditions and making new memories. For many of the families at The Guidance Center, the holidays can...
read more
Video Games: How They Impact Your Child’s Mental Health
If you are a parent in 2018, chances are your child has played Fortnite, has a PlayStation Plus account, or has downloaded apps online to play on their tablet and/or mobile device. Although allowing your child to play video-games may seem like a simple way to keep...
read more
It’s About T.I.M.E. Year Three Update, Pt. 2
This blog post is continued from It’s About T.I.M.E. Year Three Update Pt. 1. To read part one, click here. We’re thrilled to announce the expansion of our It’s About T.I.M.E. program to new schools and the addition of new team members. Read on to learn about the...
read more
It’s About T.I.M.E. Year Three Update, Pt. 1
I love my job! “Job” doesn’t even feel like the appropriate word to use here. More accurately, I’d say that I have the privilege of experiencing a mutual caring connection between so many different people every day that I come to work. Beach High School After two...
read more
Roll Call Mental Health Training Launch
This past year, The Guidance Center embarked on another exciting film project - this time partnering with Long Beach (LBPD) and Los Angeles Police (LAPD) Departments and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) to develop a series of web-based trainings on...
read more
It’s Time to Amplify Survivors’ Voices
It could be happening to your neighbor or coworker, the person standing behind you in line to get coffee, or even the child playing next to yours on the playground. Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate against age, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, race,...
read more
Sunset Sip 2018: Be the Hero of Your Own Story
We put a call out to all local superheroes for Sunset Sip 2018, and what an incredible showing of superpowers we received last Saturday. We’re so incredibly grateful! More than 200 superheroes flocked to Hotel Maya, raised more than $170,000, exceeding funds raised in...
read more