Counseling

Verdugo Mental Health — an agency that provides counseling and mental health services to thousands of people in Burbank and Glendale — has filed for bankruptcy, but the facility’s leaders say a new operator will step in before a single appointment is cancelled. Cost overruns from a 2008 construction project and severe drops in donations and state funding pushed Verdugo Mental Health, which opened in 1957 to help those who cannot afford mental health care, to seek bankruptcy protection Friday, Dr. William J. Smith, Verdugo’s chief executive, said in a court filing.

All of the commentators to the Feb. 19 In Theory question, “ Should the military test spirituality? ” - even those who correctly pointed out that such testing makes a travesty of our Constitution's separation of church and state - missed a vital point. No one mentioned one infamous soldier who would undoubtedly have passed the test with flying colors: Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a devoutly religious man who murdered 13 of his fellow soldiers at Ft. Hood in November 2009. I'm sure he “often found comfort in his religion and spiritual beliefs,” and in difficult times, prayed or meditated.

New Horizons Family Center is expanding its reach to the community by adding a 2,000-square-foot building near its existing site. The nonprofit agency offers day care, after-school tutoring, mentoring and counseling to low-income families and children. The expansion will make it possible for New Horizons to serve an additional 300 to 500 children and their families annually, according to Executive Director Maria Rochart. The new building at 1251 S. Glendale Ave. will be used primarily for counseling and other after-school programs.

Local eye surgeon returns from Vietnam Stephen Chang from the Glendale Eye Medical Group, has recently returned from the Imperial City Eye Meeting in Hue City, Vietnam. Chang, an eye surgeon, was asked to demonstrate his surgical techniques to local ophthalmologists during the weeklong event in May, which was sponsored by the Hawaiian Eye Foundation. Chang said he was humbled and grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in people's lives, adding that he could hardly wait to return.

When Judie Gold was diagnosed with breast cancer, she didn't stop pursuing her goal of becoming a psychologist. Forced to endure treatment for her illness, which affected both breasts, Gold was unable to get her license, even though she'd completed her doctorate in psychology and clinical hypnotherapy. Gold learned about the senior peer counseling program at Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center. Gold decided to apply for a position as a volunteer counselor. About seven years later, now cancer-free, she's as motivated as ever.

Judy Seckler THORNYCROFT -- A lot has happened to New Horizons Family Center Executive Director and founder Maria Rochart since she started her counseling center six years ago, but she's barely had the time to reflect. On Monday, her efforts on behalf of children will be recognized by the Glendale Business & Professional Women at a 6:30 p.m. dinner at Notte Luna, 131 N. Maryland Ave. Tickets are $25. For a reservation call 502-4611. "We chose her because of her energy and passion for taking care of kids in the community," said Bob Adams, president of the Glendale Business and Professional Women Assn.

Claudia Peschiutta GLENDALE Give kids something to do and they will stay out of trouble. This is what two Armenian organizations in the area and state Assemblyman Scott Wildman (D-Glendale) had in mind when they began working on providing state funding for local youth programs. Wildman's requests made it into the 2000-01 state budget and will provide nearly $450,000 for counseling programs and activities targeted at Armenian young people in the area.

Mary O?Keefe Crescenta Valley High School is mourning the loss of a former student who died over the weekend. Benjamin “Vince” Velasquez, 16, had attended CVHS until October. He had since been attending Daly High School in Glendale. According to Los Angeles Sheriff’s Detective Dan McElderry, shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, paramedics responded to a residence in La Crescenta, with one patient in full cardiac arrest.

Three USC graduate students will be assisting Glendale High School this year to bolster counseling services on the campus. Under a new venture between USC and Glendale Unified, the three interns will counsel students while earning hours for their graduate program at no cost to the district. “Especially in our lean financial times, it's a great opportunity to offer free services to our kids,” said assistant principal Mike Bertram. “It's a terrific idea - especially with everything our kids are going through.” School board member Nayiri Nahabedian - a professor of social work at Cal State Los Angeles - knew that USC was reaching out to schools and brought the idea to the district.

Kates Kay Stafford Kates, a long-time resident of LaCanada Flintridge, died peacefully on the evening of Wednesday, June 13th at Kaiser Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. She was 72. Kay was born on May 19th, 1940, in Pocahontas, Iowa. She lived for several years in Clarksdale, Arizona and moved to Southern California in 1964, where she would spend the rest of her life. She received her liberal arts degree in 1963 from Arizona State University, and continued her education at California Family Study Center where she received her master's degree in marriage and family counseling.

All of the commentators to the Feb. 19 In Theory question, “ Should the military test spirituality? ” - even those who correctly pointed out that such testing makes a travesty of our Constitution's separation of church and state - missed a vital point. No one mentioned one infamous soldier who would undoubtedly have passed the test with flying colors: Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a devoutly religious man who murdered 13 of his fellow soldiers at Ft. Hood in November 2009. I'm sure he “often found comfort in his religion and spiritual beliefs,” and in difficult times, prayed or meditated.

In celebration of National Foster Care Awareness Month, Counseling4Kids hosted an event for 200 foster children and their families at Flappers Comedy Club in Downtown Burbank. This was an outreach event for clients and families of Counseling4Kids, officials said. The event was inspired by healing through laughter and celebrated those who make a difference in the lives of Los Angeles County foster children by serving as foster parents, relative caregivers, advocates, volunteers and the children themselves.

After two tours in Iraq, Albert Viray came home to California in 2008 and found his civilian life was a no-go. Turned down for a security guard job he thought he had locked up, he then saw several other job applications go unanswered. Still wired for combat, Viray felt he was out of options in his native San Jose, so last year he moved in with a relative in Glendale. Viray, 26, is now trying to turn the page with the help of a city program that provides a home, job training, counseling and other services to members of the military and their families.

Verdugo Mental Health — an agency that provides counseling and mental health services to thousands of people in Burbank and Glendale — has filed for bankruptcy, but the facility’s leaders say a new operator will step in before a single appointment is cancelled. Cost overruns from a 2008 construction project and severe drops in donations and state funding pushed Verdugo Mental Health, which opened in 1957 to help those who cannot afford mental health care, to seek bankruptcy protection Friday, Dr. William J. Smith, Verdugo’s chief executive, said in a court filing.

Cancer patients and survivors find respite from treatment and build friendships with those facing similar trials in a program offered at Glendale Adventist Medical Center. Weekly dancing, yoga, knitting, jewelry-making and journaling classes along with support groups and counseling are offered through the Cancer Services program in two locations near the medical center. All the services are free and open to everyone, even those receiving treatment from other care facilities, said Teryl MacDougall, Positive Image coordinator.

I t all began while waiting in line for tacos in Santa Barbara. Chiropractor Dee Ann Nason of NorthGlen Chiropractic at 1306 W. Glenoaks Blvd. in Glendale began talking to a man waiting in line with her. Before long, the man began talking about the challenges he was going through acclimating to civilian life. The war veteran had driven trucks and carried heavy equipment through much of his tour. The bouncing motion of the large trucks he drove led to back pain and a lack of sleep.

GLENDALE — A California Supreme Court Justice presided over a swearing-in ceremony Friday afternoon, providing Alina Azizian added laurels to her extensive Glendale resume. Azizian became the first Armenian American fellow at Neighborhood Legal Services, a nonprofit that provides counsel for low-income communities across Los Angeles County. Her position, based in Glendale, will get her deeper into the largest Armenian community outside of the Republic of Armenia. “When people ask me why I’m here, that’s my big thing; I’m happy to be here and give back to the community because this is my hometown,” she said.

It is not God?s intent for us to walk through life alone. I am not writing about marriage. But I am writing about relationships. It is interesting to me how God calls on us to have relationships with other people, yet it is in relationships that most of us get hurt, which can begin a cycle of not wanting to connect. Let?s face it, if anyone has been hurt a few times in relationships, they may become a little shy to share themselves with others in the future. More likely, they will begin to close a part of themselves off, and an ?