Two Free Lectures for Parents of Children And Teens, Feb. 2

Topanga therapists, Mary Guillermin, M.A., and Dianne Porchia, M.A., will give free presentations on Feb. 2, at the Topanga Library, addressing techniques for parents to use for dealing with their young or teen-aged children’s challenges.

From 10 to 11 a.m., Guillerman will present an interactive talk, “Play Therapy Topanga Style: How Non-directive Play Therapy Heals,” giving a Topanga twist to a method that she believes is especially suited to the growth-oriented, holistic and spiritual atmosphere of the community.

Guillermin, M.A., and Marriage and Family Registered Intern #53747, moved to the Canyon six years ago and remains captivated by the special qualities of the community.

“Non-directive Play Therapy, sometimes called Child-centered Play Therapy, is a way of working with children where they ‘tell’ their own self through the symbolism of the toys they choose and the stories they act out in the sand tray in the presence of the accepting, witnessing therapist,” Guillerman explains. “Young children do not need words to tell the details of what is wrong. The marvelous, often-untapped creativity of the unconscious self that emerges in play goes straight to the heart of the matter – the children ‘play their way’ to health and wholeness.”

For parents of children aged 3 to 12 years. For more information: (310) 422-7915; playtherapytalks.com.

Dianne Porchia, M.A., follows from 11 a.m. to noon with her presentation, “Holistic Stress Reduction For Teens: Transforming an Inner Saboteur into an Inner Ally.

Since 2004, Porchia has seen an 80 percent pass rate with law students preparing for the California State Bar Exam. In each case, these adults knew all the answers, but they froze in critical testing situations.

She realized the same effective techniques could be taught at an earlier age to help teenagers gain control over a negative inner voice that says, “I’m not smart enough. I’m not good enough. I can’t do it,” and turn that inner saboteur into an inner ally to build confidence, self-esteem, self-worth and academic success.

Porchia’s unique body-mind-heart-soul approach to stress reduction gets to the “core” of limiting beliefs that create mental blocks and barriers and transforms them into empowerment, confidence, purpose and meaning that supports your child through transitions into middle school, high school and college and gives them a cutting edge for optimum academic performance.

For parents of teens and young adults, aged 12 to 20 years. For more information: (310) 455 2851; passingperformance.com; porchiaswish.com.