August 2024 - What's Happening at WYS

August 2024 - What's Happening at WYS

Back-to-School Season is Approaching!

As the back-to-school season approaches, it's essential to address the anxiety and stress that some children may experience during this transition. We invite you to read our latest blog post, Handling Back-to-School Anxiety: Tips for a Smooth Transition, for practical tips to help children manage their anxiety and approach the new school year with confidence. Key points covered include:

  • Understanding the common signs and symptoms of back-to-school anxiety in children.
  • Practical tips for parents and caregivers to support their children, including open communication, establishing routines, practicing relaxation techniques, and seeking support from school staff or mental health professionals.
  • The importance of fostering a supportive environment and focusing on the positive aspects of returning to school.

Read the full post here. Thank you for your commitment to supporting youth mental health and well-being during this important time of year!



8th Annual Healing Hearts with Art Drive

Did you know? Art therapy has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by up to 71%. In a time when mental health is more crucial than ever, it’s clear art offers a transformative solution.

Our 8th Annual Healing Hearts with Art Drive is here, running from August 1st to August 31st.

Thanks to your generous support last year, we provided the youth we serve with 500 art kits at the start of the school year. This year, our goal is to expand our reach and provide 750 kits. With your continued support, we can achieve this goal and make a significant difference in their lives.

This year’s art drive theme, Fostering Mental Wellness Through Art, highlights the powerful impact art can have on emotional well-being. Here’s how you can participate in this meaningful cause:

  • Purchase Items from Our Amazon Wishlist: You can easily support our drive by purchasing art supplies from our Amazon wish list. Every item donated will directly benefit youth. https://bit.ly/2024artdrive
  • Donate Art Supplies: Drop or mail new and unopened items to our Administrative Office located at 23461 South Pointe Drive, Suite 220, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. Examples of supplies include crayons, markers, colored pencils, construction paper, coloring pages/books, sketch pads, paint canvases, stickers, Play-Doh, and glue sticks.
  • Financial Contributions: Prefer a simpler way to contribute? Make a financial donation, and 100% of your contribution will go towards purchasing art kits. Just $10 provides one complete art kit. Click here to donate today!
  • Spread the Word: Help us amplify our impact by sharing information about our Art Drive with your friends, family, and social networks.
  • Volunteer: Interested in getting hands-on? We welcome volunteers to help assemble art kits. Email us at [email protected] to volunteer.

Your support will directly benefit the youth we serve, providing them with the tools they need to cultivate resilience and cope with life’s challenges through art therapy. Together, we can create lasting positive change in our community.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact us at [email protected] or follow us on our social channels for updates.

Thank you for joining us in promoting mental wellness through art!


Upcoming Trainings and Events

Behavioral Health Training Collaborative (BHTC)

WYS and four local area partners form the Behavioral Health Training Collaborative (BHTC), working together to provide mental health and wellness training at no cost to the Orange County, California community.

Each month, we offer a variety of training for families, groups, and professionals on a wide range of topics. This month we are delivering the following:

August 5: WYS – Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

August 5: Seneca – Parenting to Your Child’s Development, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

August 6: WYS – Stop Stressing… Start Coping!, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

August 7: WYS – The S Word: Talking about Suicide Prevention, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

August 8: Seneca – Como Mejorar la Comunicacion con tu Adolescente, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

August 9: OMID – Anger Management, 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

August 13: WYS – Resilience, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

August 15: WYS – What is Mental Health?, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

August 21: WYS – Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQI+ Children, Youth and Adults, 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.

August 22: WYS – The Basics of Mindfulness, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

August 23: WYS – Deeper Dive into Mindfulness, 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

August 23: OMID – Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

August 27: WYS – Parenting with Presence, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

August 28: WYS – Responding to Grief in Children & Adults, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

August 29: WYS – You Come First: The Helping Role & Compassion Fatigue, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

August 30: OMID – LGBTQ, 12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

August 30: OMID – Anger Management, 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Click the link below to register -

Behavioral Health Training Collaborative


Crisis Intervention Training (CIT)

Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) supports first responders, including law enforcement, firefighters, emergency dispatchers, EMTs, paramedics and corrections officers. As the leading expert in mental health and wellness services in Orange County, we provide tools that allow for easier navigation of crisis situations.

August 5: De-Escalation Focusing on Cognitive Disorders, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

August 6: Trauma Informed Care, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

August 6: Vicarious Trauma, Burnout, and PTSD, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

August 6: De-Escalation, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

August 7: Vicarious Trauma, Burnout, and PTSD, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

August 7: Vicarious Trauma, Burnout, and PTSD, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

August 8: De-Escalation Focusing on Mood Disorders, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

August 9: Trauma Informed Care, 7 a.m. - 8 a.m.

August 9: Situational Awareness, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.

August 12: De-Escalation Focusing on Cognitive Disorders, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

August 13: De-Escalation Focusing on Mood Disorders, 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

August 13: Situational Awareness, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

August 13: De-Escalation, 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

August 13: Vicarious Trauma, Burnout, and PTSD, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

August 14: De-Escalation Focusing on Mood Disorders, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

August 14: Vicarious Trauma, Burnout, and PTSD, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

August 16: De-Escalation Focusing on Mood Disorders, 7 a.m. - 8 a.m.

August 19: De-Escalation Focusing on Cognitive Disorders, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

August 20: Trauma Informed Care, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

August 20: Vicarious Trauma, Burnout, and PTSD, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

August 20: De-Escalation, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

August 21: Vicarious Trauma, Burnout, and PTSD, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

August 21: Vicarious Trauma, Burnout, and PTSD, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

August 22: De-Escalation Focusing on Mood Disorders, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

August 23: De-Escalation, 7 a.m. - 8 a.m.

August 23: Situational Awareness, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.

August 26: De-Escalation Focusing on Cognitive Disorders, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

August 27: Vicarious Trauma, Burnout, and PTSD, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

August 28: De-Escalation Focusing on Mood Disorders, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

August 29: De-Escalation Focusing on Mood Disorders, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

August 30: De-Escalation, 7 a.m. - 8 a.m.

August 30: Situational Awareness, 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m

Join us for a no-cost training by clicking the link below -

Crisis Intervention Training

For additional information or to schedule a private training for your first responder team, call us at 949.900.5381 or email us at [email protected].



Our CEO, Lorry Leigh Belhumeur, Ph.D., is a dynamic, inspiring speaker and interview candidate. Her life and professional experiences and her passion for changing how mental health services are structured and provided to children, youth, and families create fresh and interesting insights.

If you want to learn more about Lorry and schedule her to speak at your next event, please email us at [email protected].


Employment Opportunities

We currently have several employment opportunities at WYS. If you want to learn more or apply, please visit our website for details at the link below. Please share with anyone you know who may be interested!

Click here to learn more about the Employment Opportunities available.




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