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Community Outreach
What kinds of community outreach do you do?
 
I feel that it is important to give back to the community as much as I can.  One of the best ways that I can do that is by providing my expertise to the public for free.  I provide free seminars to local organizations such as PTSA, church and professional groups that have parents looking to better understand and raise their children. 
Do you have any upcoming workshops that I can attend? 
 
Yes, I do.  The following is a schedule of upcoming workshops for local parent organizations that have invited me to speak:
  • September 21, 2010 @ 8:30am
        Taft High School Parent Center
         Who Is This Crazy Person Masquerading as My Teenager?
     
  • March 2, 2011 @ 7:30pm
         Bishop Alemany High School Parent Association
        
    Who Is This Crazy Person Masquerading As My Teenager?
      
  • April 11, 2011 @ 7:00pm
         Holistic Moms Network - San Fernando Vally Chapter
        
    Who Is This Crazy Person Masquerading As My Teenager?
Do you ever give trainings to other therapists on working with kids and teenagers?
Yes, if you are a therapist, social worker, teacher, psychologist or any other professional interested in working with kids and teens, check out one of my upcoming workshops:
  • September 25, 2009 @ 7:00pm
         Pepperdine University - Encino Campus
        
    The 1-2-3's for Treating Resistant Teens
        
  • January 8, 2010 @ 12:00pm
         Pennylane Centers
        The 1-2-3's for Treating Resistant Teens

         
  • May 2, 2010 @ 6:30pm
         The Center for Individual and Family Counseling
        
    The 1-2-3's for Treating Resistant Teens
      
  • May 15, 2010 @ 3:30pm
        
    Pepperdine University - Encino Campus
         The 1-2-3's for Treating Resistant Teens
What organizations have you been a resource to?
Some of the groups that I have been associated with are:
  • "Because I Love You" -
    The Parent Support Group
  • Bishop Alemany High School
    Parent Association
  • The Center for Individual and Family Counseling
  • The Child/Adolescent Consortium  
  • Granada Hills
    Charter High School PTSA
  • Holistic Moms Network - San Fernando Valley Chapter
  • Lanai Road Elementry School
    Parent Center
  • LAUSD Parent Center Directors -
    District One
  • LAUSD District One
    Parent Training Conference
  • Nestle Avenue Elementary School
    Parent Center
  • Pennylane Centers
  • Portola Middle School PTSA
  • Pepperdine University
  • Reseda High School Parent Center
  • Robert Frost Middle School Parent Center
  • Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies Gifted Student Program
  • Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies Parent Center
  • Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies PTSA  
  • Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies 6th Grade Moms of 2008-2009
  • Sierra Canyon School Parent Association
  • Taft High School Parent Center
  • The Wesley School Dads' Group
  • The Wesley School Parent Associaiton
  • Woodland Hills Academy Parent Center
  • Woodland Hills Private School
  • Unitarian Universalist
    Association of Congregations
     
What kind of topics do you discuss?
 
Here is a list of workshops that I have created that are available for your group to better
help parents and professionals alike better understand kids and teenagers:
  • Who is This Crazy Person Masquerading as My Teenager?
  • Homework Sucks! Help for Parents, Success for Students
  • Sex, Drugs & Violence:  The Three Teenagers of the Apocalypse
  • The 1-2-3's for Treating Resistant Teens
  • Bully Battleground:  Coping with the Inevitable Schoolyard Bully
  • Parenting without Panic:  Setting Better Boundaries with Your Teens / Children
  • Success... But at What Cost?  Creating a Healthy Balance for Your Kid
  • Graduation... Journey to the Unknown
I am constantly researching new topics to present.  So if your group or association is interested in learning better ways to help your kids, teens and families change and grow, please  Contact me.  As each organization is unique, I am able to customize a presentation to fit your interests.  In fact I may be working on a topic right now that suits your needs. 
Are your seminars dry and boring?
 
No.  Actually, I always get great feedback from participants telling me that these workshops are a lot of fun.  Not only are they very interactive, but without fail, there are always great questions from parents which lead to exciting group interactions.  This creates more of a discussion-like atmosphere instead of them feeling like dry and boring lectures. 
 
I always try to use levity to lighten some of these very heavy and scary topics.  There are three main reasons why I do this:
  1. Using appropriate and respectful humor can be an effective coping technique for people when broaching sensitive and uncomfortable topics.
  2. An occasional joke about the struggles of parenthood can help parents realize that they are all going through similar challenges with their kids and can lead to a positive bonding and supportive experience.
  3. It's just who I am.
Do you do any community outreach specifically geared toward kids?
 
As a matter of fact, I have.  From 2007 - 2008 I volunteered my time as an instructor for "Our Whole Lives" Lifespan Sexuality Education
WHAT?!  What is that?

Our Whole Lives is a series of sexuality education curricula for various age groups from as early as kindergarten and going all the way to adulthood.  In April, 2008, I concluded a 27-week class providing up-to-date information and honest, age-appropriate education for the 7th - 9th grade class.  This program helps kids clarify their values and improve their decision-making skills within a safe and supportive group atmosphere.  Our Whole Lives promotes values of self worth, sexual health, responsibility, justice and inclusivity.  The goal is to help participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior.

Why do you teach kids about sex?

I feel that this is a very important issue in today's world.  Children (especially teens) have so much access to information and more importantly... misinformation about sex, leading to very poor decisions.  Many of those rash choices can be drastically life altering.  The more real information kids have, the better choices they generally make. 

As I asked in my February 2007 issue of Tips on Teens #004 - "Are You Worried about Your Teen Having Sex?"  -- Who would you rather have (your kid) learn (about sex) from… his 15-year-old ignorant friends? Or you and medical professionals?

That is a scary question for most parents to face; but it is an important one.  I'd rather your kid make choices on what knowledgeable professionals teach than on what his friends think they know. 

Are there any other organizations that you donate your time to?
 
Yes, I am a volunteer for the both the Red Cross Disaster Mental Health team in the West San Fernando Valley and the CAMFT Trauma Response Network for both California and the San Fernando Valley.  That means if there is ever a local tragedy (anything from a single house fire to a community wide disaster) I am called upon to offer mental health support to both the Red Cross staff and victims of the event.
 
Will you tell me more about your community outreach?
 
Of course, I'd be happy to talk to you more about what I do.  Please  Contact me and we'll talk about how we can collaborate to design a program that would give back to the community by helping kids, teens and their families change and grow. 
 
  
 
   
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