Connie Wax, Therapist Individual • Marriage IS YOUR CHILD FEELING?


Family & Children


Is parenting becoming too much? Are you struggling with your child? ARE YOU FEELING?


• Confused • Alone


• Resentful • Burned Out • Out of Control


• Misunderstood • Lonely


• Different/Odd • Discouraged • Alienated


Expertise in working with gifted children and adults. (714) 300-3163


New SENG Parent Group starting January, 2012


• Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine - Piano (4+), Guitar (10-17), Ukulele (10+), Music and Move- ment (2-4), Percussion (10+), Melody Time (1-2) and Little Music Makers (3-6). (562) 570-3111. Homeland Cultural Center: Drums, Tuesdays; Guitar, Thursdays; and Music Improvisation Jam, Saturdays, 4-6 p.m., free to all ages. (562) 570-1655. www.longbeach.gov


Most city recreation departments offer music classes that may include drums, guitar, piano, parent and me, singing/voice/choir and music appreciation. See “Recreation Departments” for contact information.


Suzuki Association of the Americas (888) 378-9854 www.suzukiassociation.org The Suzuki method emphasizes teaching by sound and repetition before learning to read music. The association offers free referrals to instructors.


• The Singing Workshop Belmont Shore, Long Beach (562) 252-2522 Now offering a class for middle school students! The Singing Workshop welcomes students (grades 1-8) to group singing lessons in a fun and supportive environment. Classes are held in six-week sessions, one hour per week. No prior singing experience or audition is required for elementary students. Stu- dents learn proper vocal technique covering a variety of musical styles. Classes are taught by professional musicians and are limited in size. Sign-ups are being accepted now for fall and winter; cost is $100 per six-week session. Private instruction is also avail- able. For more information, call or send an email to thesingingworkshop@yahoo.com.


• Virtuoso Music (714) 923-9290, (949) 485-3900 www.virtuosomusic.com Virtuoso Music offers an unrivaled full-service music education experience. They provide in- home music lessons, performance opportunities, and community services in all major instruments and voice. More than just lessons, they bring the music community to you. At Virtuoso Music, the belief is music lessons should be fun, and quali- fi ed teachers are personally selected with a pas- sion for their instrument(s). Call today to schedule your free introductory lesson! See ad on page 39.


40 kidsguide fall/winter 11/12 www.counselorforthegiftedandtalented.com LCSW#27430


Youth Choirs International Children’s Choir (562) 421-8776 Dressed in costumes from around the world, mem- bers (5-18) delight audiences through song and dance, promoting peace and cultural unity. www. members.tripod.com/icckids


International Peace Choir (562) 420-6818


Peace Ambassadors (5-18) perform songs and dances from around the world in local, national and international performances. Ongoing audi- tions. Practice on Mondays, 6:15 p.m. Quest Learning Center, 11976 Artesia Blvd., Artesia. www.internationalpeacechoir.org


So. California Children’s Chorus (949) 250-9114 Vocal and choral instruction for kids (5-20); themes range from classics to folk and contemporary mu- sic. Weekly rehearsals are held September to May.


parent education


Parenting classes and workshops, plus a resource library. Also see: “Emergency and Family Services” and “Support Groups.”


Boys and Girls Clubs Fullerton, Garden Grove and Huntington Beach of- fer classes in parenting skills. Garden Grove also offers a family literacy class. See “Youth and Fam- ily Groups” for contact information.


Camp Fire USA 1505 E. Seventeenth St., Ste. 225, Santa Ana (714) 547-5200 www.campfi reusaoc.org Sharing Healthy Adolescent Parent Experiences (S.H.A.P.E) classes are designed to educate pre- teens, teens (9-16) and their parents about sen- sitive issues concerning healthy development. Topics include puberty, personal hygiene and peer pressure.


• Children’s Home Society of California (CHS) Resource and Referral 330 Golden Shore, Ste. 20, Long Beach (562) 256-7490 Resource and Referral offers a variety of child care resources to the community, such as child care refer- rals, resources for assessing the quality of child care services, workshops, and a lending library that offers age-appropriate activities, toys and parenting videos. See ad on page 19.


• Connie Wax, LCSW #27430 Individual, Couple, Family & Child Therapist 3351 Florista St., Ste. 1-D, Los Alamitos (714) 300-3163 www.CounselorForTheGiftedAndTalented.com Specializing in therapy for gifted and talented chil- dren, adults and their families. Connie came to appreciate the unique needs of this group while raising her own gifted children. Her personal ex- perience blossomed into a passion for helping par- ents of the gifted guide and support their children towards a fulfi lling and meaningful life. Connie is committed to assisting parents navigate the often rough waters of child rearing. Her own personal ex- periences, along with 10 years of clinical expertise, make her a unique resource for the community. Connie is certifi ed to facilitate SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted) parent groups; ten-week SENG parent discussion groups begin in September and January. In addition to working with the gifted, she treats all life issues. Also see “Sup- port Groups.” See ad on this page.


• LHD, Inc. Psychological Services 2140 W. Chapman Ave., Ste. 253, Orange (714) 264-9446 www.lhdinc.net With over 20 years of experience, LHD, Inc. Psy- chological counseling team offers high-quality, low- cost mental health services to women, men and families who otherwise would be unable to afford the help they so desperately need. They offer indi- vidual, couple, group, child and family counseling; substance abuse prevention, education, treatment and recovery; domestic violence and divorce re- covery counseling and support; and parenting, life skills and anger management training. Also, direc- tor La’Tonda Davis recently appeared in the Dis- covery Health Network’s “My Strange Addictions.”


Parenting Classes


Through Community Agencies Casa Youth Shelter


(800) 914-2272 CASA


Classes for parents of teenagers. Sliding scale fee. Bilingual. 10911 Reagan St., Los Alamitos. www. casayouthshelter.org


Child Abuse Prevention Ctr. of OC (714) 543-4333 The center offers free, in-home parenting pro- grams. Bilingual. 500 S. Main St., Ste. 1100, Orange. www.brightfutures4kids.org


CHOC (714) 532-8887


Free and low-cost bilingual classes, plus free, pre- recorded advice on health and parenting issues available at (714) 912-8927. Find the complete list on their website under “Community.” www.choc.org


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