Delmaris Wallis

The Relational Center is a 501c3 nonprofit community organization. Our mission is to lead a shift to a culture that values empathy, diversity, and interdependence. We envision a world in which communities collaborate to practice mindful compassion, mutual support, and civic engagement. We exist to promote the essential importance of relationships. When we value our connections with others and with the environment, we create the necessary conditions for health and sustainability. Our work promotes personal, interpersonal, and social practices that help people build strong, resilient relationships. There are two main programs at The Relational Center: mental health services and professional development for clinicians. We offer affordable psychotherapy to marginalized groups, individuals, couples, families, and other intimate relationship networks. We primarily serve the Los Angeles area and starting in Summer of 2020 we also provide services throughout California. We currently serve approximately 450 clients. Our 3-year clinical training and practicum program provides professional development support for over 40 aspiring psychotherapists and social workers. We train practitioners to work in a Relational Gestalt counseling model that is designed to be trauma responsive and grounded in social justice values. Graduates of our program are not only ready to provide high-quality mental health services, but they are also prepared to be values-based leaders in other organizations.