The Guidance Center

The Guidance Center Since 1946, The Guidance Center has been a beacon and provider of hope for our community’s most disadvantaged children and families.

The Guidance Center provides comprehensive mental health treatment to our community's most disadvantaged children and their families struggling with mental illness and abuse, leading them toward a positive and productive future. Our diverse team of dedicated, compassionate individuals annually leads more than 3,000 children and families struggling with mental health issues and abuse toward positive and productive futures through comprehensive mental health treatment. Headquartered in Long Beach, The Guidance Center serves the communities of Compton, Greater Long Beach, Lynwood, Paramount, San Pedro, and Avalon on Catalina Island. We envision a community where all children have the help they need to be healthy and happy so we partner with local organizations to ensure that no child is without support – wherever they may be. You can find members of our team out in the community meeting with children on school campuses within the Long Beach, Los Angeles, Paramount and Lynwood Unified School Districts, collaborating with staff on patient care plans at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital, and counseling families at Century Villages at Cabrillo. As a founding member, The Guidance Center plays a key leadership role in the Long Beach Safety Net Collaborative. We’re also active members of the Long Beach Human Trafficking Task Force. If you know a child who is depressed, has experienced trauma or struggling with mental health in any way, call us for support: 565-595-1159.

Join us next week for our Cafecito Bienestar! ☕We’re offering a space to slow down, connect, and be in community with ot...
03/22/2026

Join us next week for our Cafecito Bienestar! ☕

We’re offering a space to slow down, connect, and be in community with other Latinx parents and caregivers. Together, we’ll explore mental health and ways to support ourselves and our families. 💚

🗓 Saturday, March 28
🕚 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
📍 1301 Pine Ave, Long Beach

This workshop will be offered in both English and Spanish. Sweet bread, coffee, and childcare will be provided.

For more information, contact Julia Garcia at (949) 375-7887 or julia.garcia05@student.csulb.edu.

Our next   is here!✨Stop by our Family Resource Center today (Friday, 3/20) and enjoy a free salad from Sweetgreen along...
03/20/2026

Our next is here!✨

Stop by our Family Resource Center today (Friday, 3/20) and enjoy a free salad from Sweetgreen along with a Guidance Center tote bag to take it home. 🛍️

Salad options include:
🥗 Guac Greens
🥗 Hummus Crunch
🥗 Chicken Caesar Salad

✔️ Available today: 11:00am – 12:00 pm OR 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

📍 The Guidance Center, Long Beach | 1301 Pine Ave

No RSVP required. Available while supplies last 💚

March is National Nutrition Month! 🥕✨🍎At The Guidance Center, we believe wellness starts with access to nutritious food....
03/19/2026

March is National Nutrition Month! 🥕✨🍎

At The Guidance Center, we believe wellness starts with access to nutritious food. Healthy meals support more than physical health. They help children grow, focus, and feel their best! Through our Family Resource Center, we connect families to food resources, including our on-site pantry and trusted community partners across our communities. 🤝

Our food pantry is open:
💚 Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
💚 Thursday | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
💚 Saturday | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

For additional support, you can check out the resources below!

Catholic Charities | Food Finders | Long Beach Community Table
Los Angeles Food Bank | Student Lunchbox

✨Tomorrow is the day✨Stress can show up in so many ways, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. If you’ve been feeling...
03/18/2026

✨Tomorrow is the day✨

Stress can show up in so many ways, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately, this is your reminder to pause and take a deep breath.

Join us tomorrow (Thurs, 3/19) for a free, hands-on workshop focused on managing stress and emotional well-being. 💚

🗓 Thursday, March 19 | 4:00 to 6:00 pm
📍 1301 Pine Ave, Long Beach

At The Guidance Center, we believe everyone deserves the tools and support to care for their mental health. We hope to see you there!

Before guiding our work, they were just kids with big hearts, big ideas, and maybe a few piggy banks and color-coded fol...
03/14/2026

Before guiding our work, they were just kids with big hearts, big ideas, and maybe a few piggy banks and color-coded folders. 🐖💰✨🗂️

Meet the executive team behind the work we do every day for children and families. 💚

Your voice matters. 💬Join us for Community Voices, a focus group hosted by The Guidance Center’s Family Resource Center ...
03/10/2026

Your voice matters. 💬

Join us for Community Voices, a focus group hosted by The Guidance Center’s Family Resource Center in partnership with CSULB social work students. Together, we’ll discuss community needs and ideas that can help shape future programs and resources.

✨ Participant incentives:
• The first 10 participants each day will receive a $10 gift card
• All participants will be entered into a raffle for a $50 gift card at the end of each session

Light refreshments will be provided for all parents, caregivers, and community members in attendance.

📅English Session: Tuesday, March 17
⏰4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
🔗 Register: bit.ly/CommunityVoicesFocusGroup
📍 1301 Pine Ave, Long Beach

📅Sesión en Español: Wednesday, March 18
⏰4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
🔗 Registro: bit.ly/Voces-de-la-Comunidad
📍 1301 Pine Ave, Long Beach

At The Guidance Center, we believe community voices help guide meaningful change and strengthen the programs that support our families and neighbors. We hope to see you there. 💚

Step into an evening of vintage glamour as we celebrate 80 Years of Impact at Sunset Sip. ✨📅 Saturday, May 2, 2026 | 6:0...
03/07/2026

Step into an evening of vintage glamour as we celebrate 80 Years of Impact at Sunset Sip. ✨

📅 Saturday, May 2, 2026 | 6:00 PM–10:00 PM
📍 Hotel Maya, Long Beach | 700 Queensway Drive

Join us for a night of timeless celebration featuring:

Unlimited Wine Tastings | Delectable Four-Course Dinner | Live & Silent Auction | Live Music | Inspiring Program & Guest Speakers

We are proud to honor the Children's Benefit League with the Tim Sailor Legacy Award for their investment in children’s mental health and unwavering commitment to the children of Long Beach.

Tickets and sponsorships are now available. Visit bit.ly/sunsetsip26 to secure your spot!

  is here! 🥕🍊Stop by our Family Resource Center today and fill a bag with FREE groceries for your family. This week’s pr...
03/06/2026

is here! 🥕🍊

Stop by our Family Resource Center today and fill a bag with FREE groceries for your family. This week’s produce includes bell peppers, lemons, squash, carrots, oranges, and apples.

🕚 Available today: 11 AM – 12 PM AND 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM

📍 1301 Pine Avenue

No RSVP required. Available while supplies last. 💚

March is bringing the fun to our Family Resource Center! 💚Join us for 4 FREE community events this month held at The Gui...
03/04/2026

March is bringing the fun to our Family Resource Center! 💚

Join us for 4 FREE community events this month held at The Guidance Center's Headquarters in Long Beach. | 📍 1301 Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813

🎬 3/5 (Thurs) - Shrek Family Movie Night | 4PM-6PM
🍀 3/14 (Sat) - Lucky Day Family Craft Celebration | 11AM-1PM
🧠 3/19 (Thurs) - Managing Stress & Well-being | 4PM-6PM
☕ 3/28 (Sat) - Cafecito de Bienestar | 11AM-1PM

For questions, please email Julio Perez at jperez1@tgclb.org.

Join us for an all-star Family Movie Night. 🌟This time, we’ll be showing Shrek! Stop by The Guidance Center’s Family Res...
02/27/2026

Join us for an all-star Family Movie Night. 🌟

This time, we’ll be showing Shrek! Stop by The Guidance Center’s Family Resource Center for a free movie, pizza, snacks, and a welcoming space to connect. 🎬🍕

📅 Thursday, March 5, 2026
🕓 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
📍 1301 Pine Ave, Long Beach

All are welcome! No RSVP required. 💚

For questions, please email Julio Perez at jperez1@tgclb.org.

✨ Neurodiversity Affirming Practices in Play Therapy ✨Dr. Kim Vander Dussen, Psy.D., RPT-S, will lead our upcoming train...
02/26/2026

✨ Neurodiversity Affirming Practices in Play Therapy ✨

Dr. Kim Vander Dussen, Psy.D., RPT-S, will lead our upcoming training on integrating neurodiversity-affirming principles into play therapy practice, with special attention to AutPlay Therapy and strengths-based, collaborative approaches.

Participants will leave with practical tools to support regulation, connection, and emotional expression while honoring each child’s unique way of being.

📅Wednesday, March 4, 2026
⏰ 9:00 am to 12:00 pm PST (3 CE's provided)
📍 1301 Pine Avenue | 2nd Floor Training Room, Long Beach
💲 $30 per attendee, free for TGC staff

Register Here: bit.ly/Neurodiversity-Affirming-Play

02/24/2026

Ending the silence around mental health begins in our communities. 💚

At our Compton site, Irving Martinez, LCSW, is helping lead that work through mentorship, advocacy, and trauma-informed care. As a clinical supervisor, he supports both families and clinicians in delivering culturally responsive mental health services.

When mental health is not openly talked about, it calls for access, representation, and care that meets families where they are.

Watch his story and learn more about the work happening in Compton:
🎥 YouTube: https://youtu.be/XBfFrLgwKyw

🖊️ Blog: https://www.tgclb.org/inside-tgc/meet-irving-martinez-clinical-supervisor-compton/

Address

1301 Pine Avenue
Long Beach, CA
90813

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15625951159

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