El Centro de Amistad

The resiliency of a human being who has support is so much greater than the individual

doing things alone. During my time at El Centro de Amistad, I have seen how being a support,

a guide, or an advocate for a person really helps to increase their feelings of hope, sense of self

and motivation. I work with the CalWORKs population, which is a welfare to work program.

This population has had to overcome and survive daily struggles in their life functioning. By

teaching my client’s how to focus on the positive things in their lives and by helping them to

move through their barriers, they are better able to cope with and decrease their symptoms.

I have seen great success in those that are active participants in treatment. I look forward in

continuing to work side by side as an ally in helping the client instead of being an expert in the

client’s lives.

Arianna Penalba, M.A., IMF

Having been at El Centro de Amistad for over a year now, I have had the opportunity to provide

counseling to children and their families drawing mainly from cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.

Recently, I was trained in an evidence based model called Triple P that seeks to promote positive

parenting strategies to manage children’s problem behaviors more effectively and above all to increase

positive behaviors. My training and use of the model have converted me into a proponent of positive

parenting. It sounds so simple, but the reality is that children do not come with a handbook and more

often than not we tend to notice and pay attention to their negative behaviors. With all of my extensive

education and training in various theoretical models of psychology, Triple P, has reminded me of the very

basic and primitive concepts of Learning Theory. We learn by example/modeling and positive

reinforcement. Of course, it is easier said than done, but I believe that Triple P breaks down these

extremely effective concepts for parents into a 10 week, hands-on guide, that provides tangible

materials as a workbook and video demonstrations. Moreover, one of the most beneficial components

of the model is an emphasis on self-evaluation and reflection. Clinicians trained in Triple P demonstrate

for parents how to self-evaluate oneself nonjudgementally to use this skill beyond the model for

constant improvement and growth that eventually leads to self-efficacy and increased confidence in

their parenting abilities. I am eager to continue working with Triple P to help parents develop effective

and healthy parenting strategies that will in turn help their children, while maintaining a secure bond

and appropriate boundaries.

She sits quietly in her chair playing with her hair and chewing gum….I attempt to engage her

in conversation, but she respectfully declines any type of communication with me. A few sessions

later she smiles and begins communicating by nodding her head to agree or disagree to questions

or statements I make. I think to myself, ”she’s a teen, she’ll come around.” After a few weeks of

minimal communication during therapeutic activities to engage her in conversation she begins to share

a few details about her daily life. Weeks turn into a few months and she has started working on an

educational plan to improve her grades and starts dressing up for Physical Education. I smile and praise

her for doing something she dreaded to do over the past school year. A month later she begins to share

what has affected her over the past school year and says “my uncle died last year and it was hard to

see him so sick, but now I…..she pauses and says , “my dad is almost as sick as my uncle, my dad could

die too.” I thought to myself “there it is she is finally sharing the pain, wow she has finally shared what

she has been so intently keeping inside.” From that moment on I knew the healing process had begun.

As a clinician, I found that providing this client with unconditional positive regard during

sessions was an essential component of treatment as progress appeared slow and prognosis

unfavorable. “Unconditional positive regard” was first coined by humanist Carl Rogers and it involves

showing complete presence, support and acceptance of a person at all times. This client found courage

to trust in the therapeutic relationship as it provided unconditional positive regard and she discovered

she confessed her fears and worst feelings and was still accepted. She continues to work towards

healing and positive outcomes.

Some Components of Unconditional Positive Regard

• Respect: respecting a person in their dignity and brokenness as a person

• Non-judgmental: being neither judgmental against a person nor for

• Acceptance: accepting the person in all their fullness

• Praising: celebrating achievements and what is of value in the person’s eyes.

• Compassion: feeling compassion for how hard life can be for a person struggling to cope

Sonya graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Psychology. She participated

in the Marriage and Family Therapy program. Sonya joined El Centro earlier this year as a

volunteer. She is currently our MAT assessor and a Mental Health Clinician in our outpatient

children’s program. In the future, she hopes to open a ministry base counseling program in her

church.

Welcome Sonya!

SAVE THE DATE!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2010

6TH Annual

Friendship Awards Dinner

6PM SOCIAL & 7PM DINNER

Dinner Location:

Woodland Hills Country Club

Honorees:

Rich Golisch, Board President

El Centro de Amistad

Humanitarian Award

Bruce Ackerman, President and CEO

Economic Alliance of San Fernando Valley

Partners in Youth Award

Beverly J. Gilmore, President and CEO

West Hills Hospital and Medical Center

Corporate Vision Award