The holidays are among us and with that, we experience many mixed emotions. These may include joy, happiness, and excitement as you see the decorations and start to see family and friends. On the other hand, the holidays may also be a source of increased stress and reminders of grief and loss for those of […]

What do Instagram, JP Morgan Chase, and El Centro de Amistad (ECDA) have in common? Juliana Oceguera. Having been promoted to Vice President Community Manager at JP Morgan Chase in September 2021, Juliana wanted to make a difference in the community and help organizations during the holidays. She was scrolling through her Instagram newsfeed and […]

For the past 45 years, El Centro de Amistad has been committed to providing a wide range of mental health services and family support to children, adults, and families in the San Fernando Valley. Giving back is very important to ECDA as it helps unite our community and brings happiness to less fortunate families, especially […]

Susana is a 17-year-old Latinx client, who returned to El Centro de Amistad for treatment due to increased depressive symptoms after the pandemic. At first, Susana was apprehensive about returning to therapy, but her Mother advocated for her to get support. The client lived with her biological mother and father and her two older sisters. […]

We would like to thank you for giving your valuable time and attention during our 2nd Annual Virtual Mental Health Conference that took place on Wednesday, May 11 in which we explored topics of Culture, Equity, and Race in Mental Health. With over three hundred viewers tuning in live to the conference via YouTube and […]

We can all agree that starting anything new can be stressful. And when that happens it is helpful to feel understood and supported. We will share helpful tools that can help teachers, family members, parents, grandparents, or anyone who has a student assist the student with preparing for the nervousness or anxiety that comes from […]

Pamela is a 29-year-old Latina female who began therapy to deal with unresolved childhood issues, grief and loss, substance use, and having her three children removed from her custody due to neglect. At the onset of therapy, she presented as a highly anxious person who seemed overwhelmed with her life circumstances and responsibilities. As a […]

Having come from a low-income family and relied on the numerous helpers in the community, Misty Farber was inspired to become a licensed clinical social worker. In her 20s, her mother was in the hospital when they received support from a social worker “who helped us through things and processing when we lost her.” Today, […]

Special Message from Supervisor Sheila Kuehl El Centro de Amistad announces its virtual conference on, Culture, Equity & Race in Mental Health, taking place online on May 11, starting from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. with an interactive workshop streaming live on YouTube and Facebook pages. To control the spread of COVID-19, lockdowns were enacted […]

May is mental health month in the U.S, and it’s a moment to explore the importance of your mental health. It is easy to get lost in the routine of our everyday lives; caring for loved ones, going to work/school, finishing household chores, etc. The actions of our daily lives overshadow and engulf the importance […]