August 2022 Newsletter

To our Kaleidoscope community,

We hope you and your families have had a safe, fun and healthy summer so far! Last month, Kaleidoscope was so thrilled to offer our first in person movie night in over 2 years for LGBTQ+ youth. We’ll keep the fun going this month with our Game Night for LGBTQ+ youth on Friday August 26th at our Sherman Oaks campus. As always, we appreciate your continued financial support, and you can help us to keep these programs going by donating here.

In this month’s blogpost, we explore the process that parents go through when their child comes out to them as LGBTQ+. Our Program Navigator, Jay Baldwin, validates the range of experiences parents may face, and invites parents to join one of our parent support groups to make connections with other parents and have a safe space to explore their feelings.

Lastly, we invite you to follow us on social media and keep current on our clubs and groups meetings as well as special events. Please comment, share, and tag your friends, as we celebrate all things LGBTQIA+ on Instagram @kaleidoscopelgbtq, and follow us on Facebook at KaleidoscopeLGBTQ.

Wishing you a wonderful August!
-The Kaleidoscope Team

Jeri Rochman, JD, MS
Program Director
She/Her/Hers
jrochman@thehelpgroup.org

Laurie Stephens, Ph.D. PSY 18520
Sr. Director, Autism & LGBTQ+ Programs
She/Her/Hers
lstephens@thehelpgroup.org

Joselyn Valle, PsyD
LGBTQIA+ Psychologist
She/Her/Ella
jovalle@thehelpgroup.org

Jay Baldwin
Program Navigator
They/Them
jbaldwin@thehelpgroup.org

*  For general inquiries, contact us at kaleidoscope@thehelpgroup.org

Just as an LGBTQ+ youth has their own coming out process, parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth will have their own coming out process too. At Kaleidoscope, we want parents to know that it is okay to have a wide range of emotions and questions in regards to your child’s LGBTQ+ identity. We also want parents to know that we offer several support groups for parents of LGBTQ+ youth to share their experiences, give and receive support, and learn about valuable resources.

Upcoming LGBTQIA+ Events, Services & More

Parent/Caregivers Support Group – In English

ENGLISHThurs., August 11th | 6-7pm

This free and monthly virtual support group is a great space for parents and caretakers to connect, receive affirming support strategies, and learn from one another. Group discussions will be facilitated by Dr. Joselyn Valle (she/ella), LGBTQIA+ Therapist with The Help Group’s Kaleidoscope program. Note: This group will also be offered in Spanish on Thurs., August 25th at 6pm.

Parent Support Group (in Spanish)
Grupo de Apoyo para Padres

Thurs., August 25th | 6-7 pm
25 de Agosto | 6-7pm

Estas sesiones virtuales son gratis y diseñadas para que los padres y cuidadores puedan concetar, recibir apoyo y aprender unos de otros. Las discusiones grupales serán facilitadas por la Dra. Joselyn Valle, Terapeuta LGBTQIA+ con el programa Kaleidoscope de The Help Group. This free and monthly virtual support group in Spanish is a great space for parents and caretakers to connect, receive affirming support strategies, and learn from one another.

Game Night for LGBTQ+ Youth!

Friday, August 26th | 6-8pm

Join us for our in-person game night for youth ages 12-17. Come play games like What’s Your Meme, Jenga, Apples to Apples, and More! Enjoy pizza and snacks and come hang out. Exact address will be sent upon registration.

Discussion & Support Group for Parents of LGBTQIA+ Autistic Young People

A new group for parents of LGBTQIA+ young people with autism will be forming in Fall 2022. This 6-week long group will focus on teaching skills and discussing topics including: Gender Identity Exploration; “Coming Out;” Managing Mental Health Challenges and Improving Parent-Child Relationships and Communication Skills. Our monthly support group for parents who have completed this program will meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7-8pm.

Mental Health Services

Kaleidoscope offers individual & group therapy as well as psychiatric care in a safe & affirming environment at affordable rates. We accept insurance, Medi-cal, and offer sliding-scale rates based upon annual income. Contact us to learn more.

Individual Coaching

Coaching available for LGBTQIA+ youth & young adults who need assistance with identifying goals, taking next steps, & establishing healthy connections in community settings. Contact us to learn more.

Training & Presentations

We offer training, education & presentations to parents, administrators, and the community to provide LGBTQIA+ youth with the affirming support that they need to thrive. Contact us to learn more.

ABOUT KALEIDOSCOPE:

Kaleidoscope’s mission is to provide services and supports for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults to help each person realize their unique and full potential. We focus on mental health services, family training and support, forming strong social connections, finding allies and developing critically needed life and coping skills. Kaleidoscope hopes to pave the way to self, family and community acceptance, resilience and care needed for LGBTQ+ folks to thrive.

Copyright © *2022* *The Help Group, All rights reserved