About the Package
This package was created by the ACYO-WD Central Council members in hopes to provide not only mental health resources to the youth but also spiritual health resources in difficult times like these. In this package, you will find helpful links to improve your mental and spiritual health, self-care tips, individuals to contact for further assistance in your spiritual and mental health journeys, zoom backgrounds, recipes, prayers, Youtube playlists, and more! We hope you enjoy the package!
Scroll down to begin your journey!
Mental Health
For the next few slides, there will be multiple resources to help you improve your mental health!
Here, you can find resources to begin your journey, like how to build a self-care plan, a guide to help you every step along the way, and scripts to practice mindfulness exercises. Click on the links below to get started!
Natalie Kazarian
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
About Natalie
I completed my undergraduate education in the fields of Psychology and English from the University of California, Berkeley. During my four years at Berkeley, I was exposed to many different kinds of people and perspectives on the world. The university opened up my mind to the myriad ways of thinking about different cultures, science, and how each individual person is their own unique culture. The universe is vast and yet there is a universe inside all of us.
It was through this exploration and observation that led me into research. Throughout my college years and after college, I was a research assistant at Berkeley and the University of California, San Francisco. I was involved with neurocognitive behavioral testing in rats. I found this work to be important, but not as rewarding as working with people. I decided to pursue a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. It was at Pepperdine where I gained valuable clinical experience working at the counseling center on campus. I worked with individuals and couples who were in their undergraduate and graduate careers. I received experience running a variety of groups. Upon graduating, I began working at the Maple Counseling Center in Beverly Hills with individuals, couples, and groups presenting with anxiety, depression, mood disorders, personality disorders, and crisis issues.
After my internship with the Maple Counseling Center, I began working in private practice. During this time, I gained experience in schools with children and adolescents ages 4-15. I work behaviorally with students suffering from social/emotional dysregulation due to ADHD, Autism spectrum disorders, and intellectual disability. In addition to working with kids, I work side by side with families and teachers, to foster a consistent environment where their children can make positive and lasting changes.
In March of 2017, I began my training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). It is a unique and integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma. I currently utilize this approach with clients who have a diagnosis of PTSD, in addition to clients who suffer from depression and anxiety. EMDR can offer a refreshing and swift approach to the treatment of complex trauma. Contact me for more information on EMDR therapy, and how this may be the best treatment for your goals.
Natalie Kazarian served as a former ACYO Central Council member stating in the year 2011. Since then, she has become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who is dedicated to helping others. She has graciously agreed to be a contact for our youth to turn to for their mental health needs. If you are in need of any further mental health resources or assistance, the link to Natalie Kazarian's website and contact information is above!
Further Mental Health Resources
Below, you can find more mental health resources like some self-care ideas, self-care tips, and important links to help you cope with stress, heavy emotions, and anxiety. There are also some techniques here you can utilize to help others!
Spiritual Health
For the next few slides, there will be multiple resources to help you improve your spiritual health!
In this section, you have access to spiritual self-care checklists, prayers, bible studies, educational modules and seminars, and more! Click on the links below to continue your journey!
Fr. Mesrop Ash
Theological Education from Kevorkian Seminary
Fr. Mesrop Ash was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Prior to his vocation, he had a diverse background in advocacy, communications, and Information Technology. He began his journey to the priesthood as a young deacon under the spiritual direction of His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, where he held several positions including Diocesan Youth Director. With the blessing of the Diocesan Primate, he continued his studies at the Gevorkian Theological Seminary located at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. After graduation, he was assigned to be the pastor of St. John Armenian Church in San Francisco, where he was ordained to the priesthood in 2012. Fr. Mesrop is joyfully married to Yn. Annie, with whom he shares two wonderful children, Maneh born in 2015, and Sion born in 2018.
Fr. Mesrop was a dedicated ACYO member growing up and served as a former ACYO Central Council member in the years 2000-2003. His strong connection to ACYO and his faith serves as a reminder of his dedication and compassion to our youth. He has graciously agreed to be the spiritual leader in our diocese that the youth can reach out to for spiritual direction and counseling. If you are in need of any spiritual direction, guidance, or counseling, please reach out to Fr. Mesrop by clicking the link to his contact information above!
Other Goodies :)
Below, you can find some other links to help you destress or become more spiritually focused like cooking the recipes provided below, listening to the custom-made youtube playlist, or using the parish-specific ACYO zoom backgrounds!
Apart from this package, you can find other spiritual nourishment resources at your local parish. You can also find mental health care resources online, with a licensed therapist, or with the centers provided at school. Below are some resources found online to expand your search outside of this package if you require or desire more tools, skills, or assistance. We hope this package has helped you in some way and provided you with some support in these difficult times!
Credits:
Created with images by realworkhard - "balance stones stack" • Xan_Photography - "leaf nature autumn" • scottwebb - "plant succulent potted" • jag2020 - "spring blossom damson tree" • ROverhate - "butterflies flowers pollinate" • Makalu - "armenia the monastery of haghartsin monastery" • Makalu - "armenia the monastery of goshavank monastery" • Makalu - "armenia the monastery of haghartsin monastery" • Quangpraha - "balance background harmony" • Makalu - "armenia yerevan cathedral hl"