Child Guidance Center Santa Ana

Child Guidance Center is a nonprofit outpatient behavioral-health provider in Santa Ana, California.

This Orange County provider serves children, youth, parents and families.

The organization offers individual, family and group therapy, psychological assessment, crisis intervention, medication consultation and trauma focused care.

A standout feature is its role as the county's largest provider of Parent Child Interaction Therapy and its dedicated support for military connected families.

Orange County's Largest PCIT Provider

Child Guidance Center identifies itself as Orange County's largest and most experienced provider of Parent Child Interaction Therapy, backed with a longstanding collaboration with the University of California, Davis.

The model is built for young children roughly ages 2 to 8 and uses real time therapist observation and coaching, so a parent is guided live while interacting with their child.

This is great for Santa Ana families as it targets disruptive behaviors and parent child communication at an age when many programs don't.

A shortened eight week PC CARE format also exists for families.

The organization sees more than 80% of children and parents completing 10 or more visits with significant improvements.

Trauma Support for Military Connected Families

Child Guidance Center's military family programs explicitly addresses families affected from substance abuse, layering clinical care with practical support.

It combines the Seeking Safety model, the Dads Together peer support parenting group, Strengthen at Home for aggression reduction and co parenting counseling for court involved families, with equine assisted therapy.

This organization is a fit for veterans and military connected households in Orange County who need recovery adjacent support with parenting and family stabilization.

This facility reaches Orange County familles in person and via telehealth.

The organization can provide care free of charge through public and philanthropic funding, including no cost Medi-Cal benefits for eligible members.