To my beloved community in and out of Los Angeles,

People need therapy and people need community. This year has brought along hardships for many, in the form of devastating events, natural disasters and unsupportive stances from our government on a wide range of issues. The level of trauma people are feeling can only be remedied by a sense of seeing and accepting one another, letting people grieve when they need, in an open, safe space, and finding support within a community. At The Relational Center, we prioritize exactly that: we build from within a community of therapists and clients to support one another, and engage in an accepting, inclusive, and diverse community. How do we do this? We provide very low-fee therapy to clients of all socio-economic backgrounds and set up rich groups and classes for people to expand their perspective and listen to and really see the humanity in each other. We also join forces with other non-profits that promote healing and support for a wide range of issues. We are a therapy center, but we are much more than that. Clients and therapists alike call this place 'home' for many reasons pertaining to the sense of comfort and aliveness one can feel as they come in. At this center, you will always find someone that will do their best to understand your unique needs and provide the resources to best meet them. We spark hope in people that have none, and we combat isolation and individualism on a daily basis by offering such helping hands that hold and do not judge and support people in connection and critical thinking. Not to mention, this center is also a training site that forms dozens of up and coming therapists, like myself, fostering a deep-seeded sense of compassion and community engagement. These trainees start here and through learning our motto, which is to combat isolation, they feel like they too have found a home, and when they are ready to move on, they themselves become leaders and pillars of support in their own communities.

This dear community is a non-profit, which means that we would not be able to survive and provide the resources that we do without YOU and your donations. You, our fellow contributors and supporters, make this place what it is. Places like this need to exist and stay running so that amidst all of the suffering in the world, there are still beacons of compassion and hope for humanity. It's that time of the year again to ask for your generous donations and in this way, to also become part of this wonderful community. Having said that, we are here for you, regardless of your donation. We ask now that you please be here for us.

All my love,

Kiara Bernhart, MA

Registered Associate MFT

Counselor-in-Residence

The Relational Center

Please check out more of what we do at:

www.relationalcenter.org

Every year we host a year-end appeal that offers our supporters one last opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation to The Relational Center before the end of the calendar year. Our goal for the 2018 year-end appeal is $30,000. These funds are critical for sustaining The Relational Center's community. With your support, we can continue to integrate individual healing and systemic cultural change through affordable comprehensive mental health services to low-income and marginalized folks. Help us build stronger, more empathic communities that can change the world!