Emerge Center for Social and Emotional Learning

DJUSD Parenting Series:
Blending Modern and Traditional Parenting
Modern parenting is a relatively recent development that is marked by a child-centered, emotion-focused and process-oriented approach. Traditional parenting has a long legacy and is family-centered, behavior-focused and responsibility-oriented. This workshop will explore the benefits and challenges of both approaches and discuss strategies for blending these two styles of parenting.

When: Wed, May 15th, 6-7:30pm
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Register: PEP Talk Registration

Sponsored by the DJUSD Parent Empowerment Program
About the Presenter:
Lawrence Shweky, MA, LCSW, CGP, has over 30 years of experience as a therapist, supervisor and educator focused on children, adolescents and families. Lawrence founded and currently directs EMERGE, a family-focused counseling center in Davis, CA. For ten years, Lawrence coordinated student support services for the Sacramento City Unified School District where he provided district leadership in the areas of mental health, school climate and social and emotional learning. Lawrence has a Master’s degree in Social Work from New York University, a Master’s in Education from San Francisco State University and a postgraduate diploma in supervision and training from Hunter College School of Social Work.

The Men’s Group is a confidential space to discuss a wide range of issues in a supportive environment. Two separate groups meet on Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30-10:45am in Davis. Each group has 7-9 members that commit to attending weekly. Cost is $60 per week and reduced fees are available. All male-identified participants ages 25+ are welcome. Groups are led by Lawrence Shweky, LCSW, a Certified Group Psychotherapist with over thirty years of experience. An interview is required before joining. For more information, please email [email protected] or call 530-341-3945.

Three New Groups Forming
At EMERGE, we believe in the power of groups to facilitate social and emotional growth and learning. Groups reduce stigma and are a safe place to land when life gets hard. Over time, group members become a trusted resource to turn to for guidance and support.

Connections for Teens
An 8-Session Shame-Resilience Group
Based on curriculum developed by Brené Brown, this 8-week group is designed to help participants develop strategies to recognize shame as a universal experience and embrace authentic living as a foundation for shame resilience. The learning process includes group and personal exercises, handouts and reading assignments. Group members will also form connections with each other that facilitate growth and change.
Led by Aven Armstrong-Sutton, PhD(c), MSW, ASW
This group will have 8-10 members and will meet weekly on Thursday evenings.
The cost is $50 per session. Reduced fees are available.

1/4 Life Process Group (ages 25-32)
The 1/4 life stage from mid 20's to early 30's is a unique period marked by a deeper contemplation of one's values, beliefs and self-worth. Adults in this age range are also faced with the transition to new roles and relationships that often carry a greater sense of responsibility. As research suggests it may be harder now than ever for 1/4 lifers, they may also experience the grief of unmet expectations and challenges not encountered in previous generations. This group will offer a safe space for members to share feelings and thoughts and an opportunity to explore issues related to intimacy and connection within the group.
Led by Lawrence Shweky, MA, LCSW, CGP
This group will have 7-9 members and meet weekly on Wednesdays from 9-10:15am.
The cost is $60 per session and reduced fees are available.

Career Exploration Group (ages 15-18)
Whether a student is considering college or a career pathway, there are a wider range of options for success than ever before. Career exploration is the process of discovering, learning about, and evaluating career opportunities based on students’ interests and values. This group will help students explore future employment options and make connections between what they may study in school and the careers they may pursue in the future. Utilizing fun and informative exercises, the group will help students learn more about themselves and get excited about what their futures hold.
Led by Veronica Cano Chavez, APCC
This group will have 6-8 members and will meet weekly on Monday evenings for four weeks.
The cost is $50 per session. Reduced fees are available.

Current Groups
Teens, 9th/10th grade, Tues, 4:30-5:30pm (1 opening)
Teens, 11th/12th grade, Thurs, 4-5pm (full)
Graduating Seniors, Tues, 7-8pm (1 opening)
Young Adults 18-23, Fridays, 3-4pm (full)
Parents of Younger Teens, Thursdays, 7-8:15pm (2 openings)
Parents of Older Teens, Wednesdays, 7-8:15pm (1 opening)
Men's Group, Fridays, 9:30-10:45am (full)

For more information about groups, contact Lawrence Shweky, LCSW at [email protected].

EMERGE Center for Social & Emotional Learning is located in Davis, CA across from Davis High School. Its mission is to expand the quality and availability of social, emotional and psychological services for adolescents and young adults through an integrated, youth-friendly, community-oriented approach.

EMERGE Center for Social and Emotional Learning
1621 Oak Avenue, Suite B
Davis, CA 95616
[email protected]

EMERGE CENTER | Davis | Sacramento | California We offer adolescents, young adults and families a wide range of innovative opportunities to grow, learn and develop. Keywords: Teen, Youth, Adolescent, Therapy, Counseling, Neurodiversity Emerge Center for Social and Emotional Learning

Have you met Aven, our new Associate Therapist? Originally from Canada, Aven is now in California and working on their PhD. https://www.emergecenter4sel.org

New group starting soon!

Group for Graduating Seniors
The final semester of senior year is undoubtedly filled with excitement and celebration, but can also be filled with anxiety and emotionally challenging experiences in saying goodbye to friends, separating from family and entering the larger world of college and career. This short-term group will offer 12th graders an opportunity to connect with each other and discuss these experiences in a supportive environment where they can be genuine and real with their peers.

Spaces now available!

The Men’s Group is a confidential space to discuss a wide range of issues in a supportive environment. Two separate groups meet on Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30-10:45am on Oak Avenue. Each group has 6-8 members that commit to attending weekly. Cost is $60 per week and reduced fees are available. All male-identified participants ages 25+ are welcome. Groups are led by Lawrence Shweky, LCSW, CGP, a therapist with over thirty years of experience. Lawrence is also a Certified Group Psychotherapist through the American Group Psychotherapy Association. An interview is required before joining. For more information, please email [email protected] or call 530-341-3945.

Emerge Center for Social and Emotional Learning is adding new therapy groups!

Groups for Parents
EMERGE is forming two groups for parents. The Parents of Adolescents group will meet every other Thursday evening from 7-8:15pm in Davis. The Parents of Young Adults group will meet once a month on Zoom on either Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. The groups offer members a welcoming and inclusive space to discuss the challenges and rewards of parenting older children. Groups are limited to 8 members and cost $60 per session. Reduced fees are available. For more information, contact Lawrence Shweky, LCSW at [email protected].

Young Adult Group
A weekly support group for young adults ages 18-23 is now forming. The group offers a supportive environment for young adults to talk about their feelings, share their experiences and develop stronger relationships with others. Groups are limited to 8 members and cost $60 per session. Reduced fees are available. For more information, contact Lawrence Shweky, LCSW at [email protected].

Emerge Center for Social and Emotional Learning is changing its look so we have some furniture for sale.

Check out Craiglist - https://sacramento.craigslist.org/fuo/d/davis-bookcase-chair-sidebar/7668312972.html, https://sacramento.craigslist.org/fuo/d/davis-nice-couch-and-chair/7668312479.html, https://sacramento.craigslist.org/fuo/d/davis-deep-blue-wool-rug-crate-and/7668071540.html, https://sacramento.craigslist.org/fuo/d/davis-crate-and-barrel-harvey-chair/7668071840.html, https://sacramento.craigslist.org/for/d/davis-mirror-crate-and-barrel/7668071428.html,
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/fuo/d/davis-comfy-sofa/7668075245.html

Comfy Sofa - furniture - by owner - sale - craigslist Light green three-seater couch with wooden legs. Purchase from Wayfair five years ago and lightly used in a therapist's office. Excellent condition. Also for sale are Ikea POÄNG Armchair $75. And...

Group therapy at Emerge Center for Social and Emotional Learning is growing! Along with our Teen Relational Group we are also forming a Young Adult Group and TWO groups for parents - one for parents of teens and one for parents of young adults. For more information head to our website - https://www.emergecenter4sel.org/groups or email [email protected]

Groups | EMERGE CENTER Group counseling offers an opportunity to work on relationship skills with other group members, while also providing a support system to sustain life's challenges.

Teen Relational Groups at Emerge Center for Social and Emotional Learning

Teen Relational Groups for 7th-9th & 10th-12th grades
Open-ended, relational therapy groups to help members connect with each other and communicate more honestly. As trust grows, members develop a space where they can be themselves and relate more authentically. This leads to a stronger sense of identity, greater social confidence and an increased feeling of belonging in the world, which can have positive effects on many areas of life. Groups have 5-7 members and are separated into 7th-9th and 10th-12th grades. Groups meet for one hour per week and cost $50. Reduced fees are available.

For further details on joining please email [email protected]

EMERGE welcomes Katrina Comaroto to our team!

Katrina Comaroto is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT # 14086) that has a background in both education and psychology. Katrina has a broad range of experience which includes adolescent, adult and family therapy, social and emotional learning, as well as classroom teaching. She completed her practicum at Bay Area Community Resources where she trained in adolescent and family therapy at Davidson Middle School in San Rafael. ​

Katrina holds a B.A. in Psychology with a Minor in Sociology from UC Davis, and a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Integral Counseling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies.

For more information, visit www.emergecenter4sel.org.

Office space available in Davis

Spacious therapy office space is now available in a psychotherapy suite on Oak Avenue. This second-floor office is fully furnished and includes utilities, Wi-Fi, cleaning, and is equipped with heat and air conditioning, rest rooms, small storage area with refrigerator, and on-site parking. Located on Oak Avenue at EMERGE Center. For more information, contact Laura Birch at [email protected]


Pricing is $200 per month for an 8 hour day.

EMERGE Launches NeuroPower Program for
Adolescents and Young Adults

A new program for neurodiverse adolescents and young adults is launching this summer at Emerge Center for Social and Emotional Learning in Davis, CA. The program targets neurodiverse adolescents and young adults ages 12-25, as well as parents, siblings and other family members.

The program is called NeuroPower to recognize the strength that neurodiversity brings to our social, emotional and psychological worlds. The NeuroPower program offers an integrated system of support and treatment that is focused specifically on the issues and concerns of those who are neurodivergent. It is open to those who have been diagnosed with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sensory processing disorder, or moderate to severe learning disabilities, along with co-occurring issues.

Services can include initial assessment and service planning; individual, group and family therapy; mentoring and coaching; parent support; sibling support; and resource, referral, and advocacy.

The NeuroPower Team is a skilled group of professionals that understand, appreciate and advocate for individuals with neurodivergence. To make a referral or obtain more information about the program, please email [email protected].

NeuroPower TEAM
Dr. Jennie Singer, Psychologist
Nicole Mank, LMFT, CCLS
Scott Weintraub, LMFT
Jackie MacNear, AMFT
Jennifer Abbanat, BS, Parent Coach/Resource Specialist
Nathan Shepherd, BS, Coach/Mentor

NeuroPower is a program of Emerge Center for Social and Emotional Learning, 501c3 non-profit that was founded in 2017 to provide a broad array of social, emotional and psychological services with a focus on adolescents and young adults. Program fees are set by Emerge and some services may be reimburseable through the Regional Center or health insurance. For more information, please visit www.emergecenter4sel.org.

New group therapy opening up!

The Men’s Group is a confidential space to discuss a wide range of issues in a supportive environment. It will meet weekly on Fridays from 9:30-11am in person on Oak Avenue in Davis starting in July. The group is led by Lawrence Shweky, LCSW and Scott Weintraub, LMFT. An interview is required before joining the group. Fee is $60 per session and reduced fees are available. Please contact one of the leaders to schedule.

EMERGE is now hiring! We're looking for therapists that are focused on providing support for adolescents and young adults. Full job descriptions can be found at https://www.emergecenter4sel.org/job-openings.

Job Openings | EMERGE CENTER EMERGE is seeking a Licensed Mental Health Therapist to provide psychotherapy and other activities that support the social and emotional growth of adolescents and young adults. Candidates must be licensed to provide psychotherapy and have experience working with adolescents and/or young adults.  Fo...

Groups for Parents of Adolescents

EMERGE offers two Zoom groups for parents of adolescents and young adults. The groups meet weekly and offer members a welcoming and inclusive space to discuss the challenges and rewards of parenting older children. Because parenting dynamics change so much when children turn 18, we offer two different groups as follows:

Parents of Adolescents 12-18
Wednesdays, 7-8:15pm

Parents of Young Adults 18-25 *now forming*
Tuesdays, 7-8:15pm

The groups are limited to 8 members and cost $40 per week. We accept Partnership Health Plan. For more information, contact Lawrence Shweky, LCSW at [email protected].

Group for Parents of Adolescents

EMERGE offers two Zoom groups for parents of adolescents and young adults. The groups meet weekly and offer members a welcoming and inclusive space to discuss the challenges and rewards of parenting older children. Because parenting dynamics change so much when children turn 18, we offer two different groups as follows:

Parents of Adolescents 12-18
Wednesdays, 7-8:15pm

Parents of Young Adults 18-25
Tuesdays, 7-8:15pm

The groups are limited to 8 members and cost $40 per week. We accept Partnership Health Plan. For more information, contact Lawrence Shweky, LCSW at [email protected] EMERGE

FREE SPANISH LANGUAGE PARENT SUPPORT GROUP

Emerge is offering a FREE parent support group in Spanish via Zoom on Tuesdays from 9:00am to 10:15am. This support group will run for 8 weeks, starting on March 16th to May 4th.

For more information or to register, please contact Theresa Perez-Lawscha, LMFT at [email protected] or 916-283-1634

PARENTING

If adolescence is the most turbulent time of childhood, then it is surely the most turbulent time of parenting. The teenage years are marked by rapid changes in physical and emotional development and increased risk for nearly everything. It requires that parents evolve and change in deep ways, while maintaining a solid foundation of love, skill and perseverance.​ To help parents we offer several programs:

- Parent Groups
- Parent Coaching
- In-Home Services
- Technology Planning
- Parent Classes

To learn more about Emerge and services for parents go to... https://www.emergecenter4sel.org/parenting

EMERGE hires Spanish-speaking therapist

EMERGE is excited to welcome Theresa Perez-Lawscha, LMFT to our team! Theresa has over 15 years of experience providing mental health services to teens, young adults and families in non-profit community agencies. In addition to providing therapy, Theresa has taught parenting classes to increase parents' skills and confidence in managing problematic behavior.

Theresa's approach is highly interpersonal and informed by cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused therapies. Theresa earned a Master of Science in School and Career Counseling from California State University Sacramento and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. She is bi-lingual in English and Spanish.

For more information on Theresa, please visit https://www.emergecenter4sel.org/team.

Groups for Parents and Teens at EMERGE

EMERGE offers counseling groups for parents and teens to help get better connected to peers that are experiencing similar challenges and looking for support. Since both teens and parents need their own support systems, we offer these groups:

Teens (7th-9th grade)
Teens (10th-12th grade)
Parents of Teens (under 18)
Parents of Young Adults (over 18)
Parents Group - Spanish

We take Partnership Health Plan and have reduced fees available. Please contact Lawrence Shweky, LCSW at [email protected] for more information about any of the groups.

EMERGE Welcomes Dr. Shabana Soomar!

EMERGE is excited to welcome Dr. Shabana Soomar to our team! Dr. Soomar is a licensed clinical psychologist with specialties in anxiety disorders and autism. She enjoys working with different age groups on a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, OCD, career counseling, ADHD, addictions, trauma and stress.

Certified as a yoga instructor in India, Dr. Soomar has been using meditation in her daily life for many years. Her training consists of both cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy. Dr. Soomar is a practitioner with a deep appreciation of the complex nature of mental health, along with expertise in evidence-based practices to help make active changes for a meaningful life.

Dr. Soomar received her Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She holds a Master’s degree in career counseling from California State University Sacramento. Dr. Soomar also works with young children and is a graduate fellow of The Napa-Infant Parent Mental Health program. For more information on Dr. Soomar, please visit https://www.emergecenter4sel.org/team.

EMERGE offers counseling groups for adolescents, individual/family therapy, workshops, mentoring, parent support and other programs to help young people reach their full potential. Our theoretical orientation is integrative, collaborative, strength-based and youth-focused. Our vision is a world where young people are valued and afforded the resources they need to grow into healthy, strong and happy adults.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/24/us/politics/student-su***des-nevada-coronavirus.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Surge of Student Suicides Pushes Las Vegas Schools to Reopen Firmly linking teen su***des to school closings is difficult, but rising mental health emergencies and su***de rates point to the toll the pandemic lockdown is taking.

“There will be a period of epic withdrawal,” warned one addiction specialist, once schools, activities and social life return to normal.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/16/health/covid-kids-tech-use.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Children’s Screen Time Has Soared in the Pandemic, Alarming Parents and Researchers “There will be a period of epic withdrawal,” warned one addiction specialist, once schools, activities and social life return to normal.

More Mental Health Resources:

A number of brochures and fact sheets
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/teen-depression/index.shtml

7 Books To Help Address and Discuss Tough Topics With Kids
https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/57191/7-books-to-help-address-and-discuss-tough-topics-with-kids

To learn more about Emerge and view suggested readings go to... https://www.emergecenter4sel.org/reading

7 Books To Help Address and Discuss Tough Topics With Kids - MindShift If you feel daunted by the responsibility of shepherding a child through difficult times, don't feel alone: "I'm afraid of those moments as a parent, too," says picture book author Matt de la Peña.