A Word From Mark
Dear Friends,

How is it already August? It feels like it could still be April, yet summer will be winding down soon, and we’ll be on our way to figuring out what “back to school” looks like, pumpkin-spiced everything, and then - before we know it - the holiday season.

But, wait! Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s focus on August, which also happens to be National Admit You’re Happy Month. In 2022, you might be wondering if being happy is something you could admit to—but even during challenging times, there are ways to boost your mood and try to celebrate the good things in life. Here is a list that we came across to help us get started:

  1. Write yourself a note to pump yourself up. Stick it somewhere you’ll see it for an extra boost of encouragement throughout the day.
  2. Write someone else a friendly note—just because. This can make you happy, plus it can pass that happiness along to someone else. 
  3. Practice positivity. See how long you can go without complaining once, then try to beat your high score the next day.
  4. Spend time outdoors. Nature has ways of instilling joy in us. It’s still summer, so set up a kiddy pool and pretend you’re at the beach.
  5. Go on an adventure. Skip the planner for a day and see where the road takes you. 
  6. Treat yourself. Try making yourself a delicious carefree snack. Become your own Iron Chef. 
  7. Pay it forward. Find joy simply by paying for the person behind you at the coffee shop or drive-thru. 
  8. Have a dance party. In your house alone or with other people, break it down and “dance it out” like Meredith and Christina in Grey’s Anatomy.
  9. Chill out all day. Take a day "off" and spend it lounging around and relaxing to give yourself a much-needed mental and physical break.
  10. Donate to a cause. Pick a charity you believe in and be generous.

Overall, it is worth the effort to learn that taking care of ourselves is important and to extend that care to our family, friends, and community to continue to spread support and love.

What are methods that you have learned to use to make yourself happy?
 
With appreciation,
 
Mark
Standing Up to Bullying
Studies show that children exposed to violence at home tend to participate in higher levels of physical bullying than young people who were not witnesses to violent behavior.

The emotional and psychological injuries from domestic violence and bullying can have longer impacts than physical wounds. There is an increasing number of adult clients here who have never addressed the childhood trauma they experienced from violence or bullying. At WTLC, we don’t just treat the child, we treat the entire family to address their relationship issues, emotional scars, and trauma from growing up. When adults have families and children, it can bring up emotional wounds that haven’t healed and are now resurfacing and negatively impact their current family unit.

It’s important to seek help if you or a family member are struggling with the impact of violence or bullying. We provide programs and work with children ages 3 and up, including family members of any age. Our clinical team provides counseling for a myriad of behavioral and mental health concerns through individual, family, and group counseling.

For more information on this program, please call our 24/7 helpline at 877-531-5522.
Personal Empowerment Classes continue to provide support in ending the cycle of violence.
Julia recently graduated from our Personal Empowerment Program (PEP), facilitated by WTLC at a local Family Resource Center. Julia was court mandated to attend PEP classes – she had come into the program both as a survivor of DV and as a person who caused harm in a relationship. Her children had been removed from her home due to an incident where she had been abusive towards her partner.  
 
When Julia came into PEP, she opened up about her journey and how she landed in the program. Julia was vulnerable and shared some emotional moments with her classmates. Each day after class, she would stay after and share how she was implementing the self-love practices she had learned at PEP into her life. She also shared that she was coming to better understand how her past actions had affected her family.   
Calling All Future Domestic Violence Advocates!
Have you ever wondered how to become a domestic violence advocate so you can help end violence in your community? Well, it all starts with being certified as a Domestic Violence Counselor.

We are currently taking registration for our upcoming virtual training in September! Completion of this training meets the requirements set by California Evidence Code 1037.1 for designation as a Domestic Violence Counselor.

To be certified, attendance is required at all 40 hours
WTLC's transitional housing program operates in the critical space between emergency shelter and permanent housing, providing survivors with the time they need to find healing and long-term stability. Our Hope House project will create a dedicated transitional housing space for survivors to live while addressing their recovery needs through supportive services like counseling, legal advocacy, and case management.

Click the video below to see what Hope House will look like when completed!
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