My new website to aid human trafficking victims and their families

In my efforts to help victims and families of survivors I have created a new website humantraffickingend.com. At this website you will find information and resources to help the people you know and love to stop the suffering and receive help. This website was created after my latest play Don’t Call Me Baby!

For those of you who had the chance to experience Don’t Call Me Baby! it is well known to you that it is a theater piece whose purpose is to expose the sobering reality of a thriving criminal enterprise- human trafficking. It provides its audiences with an unadulterated account of one couple’s struggle to persevere through the mental anguish that accompanies victims of the sex trade, while simultaneously providing therapeutic guidance.

My play is available for booking and appeals to audiences at every level, both male and female, and of every race and culture. It is structured in a way in which the veracity of human trafficking is not simply revealed, but also given means to a healing end. And while the audience, via the central character, is provided with psychological advice, they are also presented with information on who to contact should they encounter a similar situation. It is a very useful educational piece that can be used at colleges and training facilities, just as well as support groups and prevention programs.

For more information on my play, available for booking, please go to casadelafamilia.org or directly to humantraffickingend.com. Remember that you will always find the latest about my new projects at my website ananogales.com.

- Dr. Ana Nogales

Their voices are beginning to be heard

We may prefer to believe that the abduction of teenage girls (and boys) who are forced into prostitution occurs only in fictional movies, like the 2008 film Taken! But human slavery is not a fiction. It is happening in the United States, it is happening in our cities and towns. One of the reasons the general public doesn't hear the stories that I heard in my office is that victims are often too afraid of retaliation by traffickers. But their voices are beginning to be heard.

The voices of the many terrorized clients whom I treated-and the urgency of this issue-compelled me to write a play, called Don't Call Me Baby. It portrays the life of a sexual slavery victim, how she tries to keep her past a secret, and how her secret impacts her marriage and her community. This is a story many would rather not hear about, because it is terribly disturbing to think that such crimes are going on around us, in our so-called civilized society.

Human trafficking is a heinous crime that is being committed daily. It would be a moral crime to keep it a secret.
If you want to learn more about human trafficking, you can visit my new website for information and links: humantraffickingend.com.

- Dr. Ana Nogales

Winner of the 12th Annual International Latino Book Awards!!

I am very proud to share with you the latest event that took place this past May 25 at the Javits Center in New York City, where the 2010 International Latino Book Awards Winners were announced. This major event showcases the diversity and importance of our multicultural community.

My latest book Parents Who Cheat received First Place.

12th Annual International Latino Book Awards Winner

Best Parenting/Family Book - English

Parents Who Cheat. How Children and Adults Are Affected When Their parents Are Unfaithful - Dr. Ana Nogales - Health Communications, Inc.

Latino Literacy Now is a non-profit organization that supports and promotes literacy and literary excellence within the Latino community. They created the Latino Book Awards back in 1999 in recognition of the many positive contributions being made to Latino literature by publishers and writers worldwide.  

I feel very proud and I am glad that many people is reading and using this book as an aid in dealing with problems that may have originated with a parent’s unfaithfulness. In my book I also suggest ways that parents can minimize the negative effects of infidelity on a child.

Thank you all and I as always welcome your comments.

Remember to buy a copy for your friends and family from Amazon today!

-Dr. Ana Nogales.

Neither the first, nor the last victim

On March 29 it was posted, on the blog survivoronamission.blogspot.com, a post about a survivor and her experience after watching "Don't call me Baby!":

Survivor's Journey in Defining Human Trafficking


"My personal ordeal beginning as a financial con, escalating to captivity, extreme physical & sexual abuse, escaping in May 2005, I knew enough about domestic abuse to recognize my experience included the 4 types: physical, sexual, emotional & financial.

Nearly five years later, attending a play by Dr. Ana Nogales "Don't Call me Baby" on human trafficking at the CASA0101 Theatre, I was stunned to learn the defining elements of human trafficking...one or more of these three elements meets the definition: Use of Force, Use of Coersion, or Fraud as a basis of re-locating for purposes of forced labor or sexual exploitation. My own ordeal launched in fraud, followed with coersion and continued with force, extracting me from my young adult daughters, our South Bay home, a job and a life that delighted me...to the gloom and doom of Washington State, one of four states that in effect still considers domestic violence "a private matter". What this means is there are no local domestic violence ordinances, no protocols for protection. My assailant/trafficker has been sentenced on the physical violence, aggrevated by coersion, yet prosecution did not address the financial fraud. I was neither the first, nor the last "victim" of my assailant, in terms of domestic violence, or in terms of human trafficking (as I now understand it)."

It is hard to see and understand when we are trapped in the middle of a terrible situation what can be done to reach out for help and to end the pain. The purpose of my new play is to bring awareness about the fact and to reach out to victims and survivors - and their families, for them to look for help and support. They all need to be able to move on and have a rewarding life. There are many resources available but more work has to be done. There are still too many victims, old and young.

- Dr. Ana Nogales

Just by hearing about it, I had a terrible nightmare

Recently, due to the presentation of my play "Don't call me Baby!", I was asked in an interview about how a became involved in this cause.

It wasn't until I was asked to speak about human trafficking that I realized I knew nothing about it. I turned down the speaking engagement; but soon thereafter, I had a nightmare in which my daughter and I were sold into slavery, and it hit me that this could happen to me, to my daughters or granddaughters, or to any other woman.

I began to learn more about the subject, and the more I learned the more horrified I became.

I started treating victims of human trafficking in my practice, hearing their anguished stories about the hell they had gone through. Victims of sexual slavery are forced into prostitution, escort services, online pornography, and strip clubs. They live in constant panic, threatened with punishment if they attempt to escape, often tortured if they try.
 
- Dr. Ana Nogales

Can you really call that love?

Learning to turn away from an abusive relationship is not always easy. Many survivors of domestic violence have told me that one of the most difficult obstacles to leaving an abusive relationship is confusion over what constitutes abusive behavior. They say that while it should be simple to tell when you're being abused, sometimes it's not. If someone hits you, that's interpreted by most people as abusive. But what about the love between you and your partner, which you may feel is still there? The shared history, which makes it hard to imagine a future without this person? Or the promises he or she makes to change their behavior? How do you weigh such factors that seem to modify or cancel out a partner's violent episodes?

An abusive partner may promise to change or give you reasons to justify the violent or intimidating behavior, and at times those promises and reasons may seem to make sense. Which is why you may need a strong support system, including a counselor who specializes in domestic abuse, to help you draw the line between acceptable and abusive behavior-and to help you make decisions about how to live an abuse-free life.

Domestic abuse can never be part of a good relationship. When fear, intimidation, and cruelty are present in a relationship, can you really call that love?

- Dr. Ana Nogales

Do you know the latest?

Don’t Call Me Baby! premiers at CASA 0101 on March 5 and runs through the 28th, 2010.

I am very proud to be able to invite you and your friends and family to the premier of my new play Don’t Call Me Baby!

" Don't Call Me Baby! is a theater piece whose purpose is to expose the sobering reality of a thriving criminal enterprise- human trafficking. It provides the audience with an unadulterated account of one couple’s struggle to persevere through the mental anguish that accompanies victims of the sex trade, while simultaneously providing therapeutic guidance. "


There will be presentations Friday, Saturday and Sunday in English, Sundays in Spanish at Casa 0101.

Casa 0101 is located in 2009 East 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033.
For more information or to make reservations please call (323) 263-7684 or visit http://www.casa0101.org/

I have also posted on my web, ananogales.com information about my new play and a link to the website of  Casa De la Familia where I hosted this play for the Outeach and Engagement Program.

Hope to see you there and to receive all your comments!

- Dr. Ana Nogales

Empowering Women Through the Concept of Abundance

The National Hispanic Business Women Association has organized an epowering event entitled "Behavioral Finance". I will be Key Speaker and I'd love for you to come and join us.

Here the details:

Thursday Nov. 12 @ Noon (registration begins at 11:30am)

The Turnip Rose; 300 South Flower Street, Orange, CA.

Seating is limited!!

- Dr. Ana Nogales.

The Wisdom in Giving Up - Scene 2

A similar transformation took place in Carlos’ life. He had always worked extremely hard so that he could one day enjoy a better lifestyle. But after pushing himself year after year to work many long hours, he began to suffer intense back pain, his diabetes got worse, and he had a heart attack. Maybe his decision to give up his punishing work schedule came a little late, but Carlos finally realized that he was lucky to be alive and that pushing himself that hard in order to make more money made no sense. He began to question what it meant to live well and realized that his health and well-being were more important than greater financial success. By giving up, Carlos learned to enjoy what he already had.

- Dr. Ana Nogales

Sex, Love and the Wise Latina

I am very excited to invite you all to my next event: Sex, Love and the Wise Latina. I will be speaker for the Wise Latina Society.

The event will take place on November 7 from 1-3pm at the Latino Museum of History, art and Culture (LATC) , in downtown Los Angeles. Seating is limited.

I'd love to see you all there and enjoy this Inaugural Event.

- Dr. Ana Nogales.

The Wisdom in Giving Up - Scene 1

When you reach the point of saying, ‘I’ve had enough—I refuse to be continually unhappy!’ you’ll discover that new doors are open to you. Maria, a patient of mine who was a victim of domestic violence, recently told me, ‘I’ve had it up to here with my misery! From now on, I will own my life—I will not hand it over to anyone else!’ In order for her to arrive at that decision, Maria had to declare that she had given up the struggle to hold onto an unhealthy relationship. Once she made that declaration, she was free to consider what she really wanted from her life and to make new choices.

- Dr. Ana Nogales

myFOXla 11 news

Los Angeles (myFOXla.com)

Last week they have aired a report in the FOX11 news about 'Parents who cheat'. More and more people is more aware about the implications of infidelity in children, young and adults.

Give yourself a chance to have the facts and read and comment on my book. Thanks to all of you that are actively commenting already.

You can access the video of this news report here. Remember to stop by my site and read the latest news about 'Parents who cheat'.

- Dr. Ana Nogales

Thank you!!

I want to thank to all those avid readers for their comments and questions about my book.

I have posted more events and news on my website for you to follow along what is happening with 'Parents who cheat'.

Remember to also follow my Twitter and Facebook. I have read your comments in my wall. Thanks for the support. Keep in touch.

- Ana Nogales

Want to stop by and say hello??

I will have a book signing at Libreria Martinez,

Wed Sept 30 at 6pm

Join us!

For more details please go to

http://www.latinobooks.com/events.html

Web Extra! Dr. AnaNogales in FoxLA.com

You can access my web interview from myFOXla by following this link.

"...

Los Angeles (myFOXla.com) - Dr. Ana Nogales just wrote "Parents Who Cheat" which explores the effects infidelity has on the children. The book features stories of children struggling to understand their parents' adultery, as well as case histories of adult children coping with unresolved issues related to parental infidelity.
Dr. Nogales talks more about her book in this exclusive web interview.

..."

Did you read the OC Register???

On July 15, 2009, in the Latino Life section, they published the news about the opening of my new office in Santa Ana: Nogales Plaza.

I will post more photos and comments as time allows. In the meanwhile you can click in the link below and see the article in the newspaper.

>> http://www.ocregister.com/articles/plaza-services-nogales-2495193-santa-discussion#?referrer=google

Live Chat at Telemundo!!

I have confirmation for the event!!!

Wednesday July 22 at 6:30 in Telemundo52.com.



I will be answering questions live from people in the chat and also those questions sent via any of my socials (in Spanish).



If you wish to participate post a comment and I will send you the invite to join the chat. You can also access Telemundo52.com directly to apply for the chat-room at 6:30 on Wednesday.



See you there!!!

What are the emotional consequences for the child – young or old – when a parent cheats?

Parents Who Cheat
How Children and Adults are Affected When Their Parents are Unfaithful
By Ana Nogales, Ph.D.
With Laura Golden Bellotti

Health Communications, Inc., July 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0757306525


Many books explore the affects of marital infidelity on a marriage, but Parents Who Cheat is the first book to examine how parental infidelity directly affects the children.


With compassion and piercing insight, Dr. Ana Nogales explains how a parent’s adultery can damage a child's perception of love and marriage and his ability to trust. She reveals why a child may feel ashamed or guilty about his parent’s sexual betrayal, how he may inadvertently become the emotional caretaker of his betrayed parent, and why adult children often choose unfaithful partners or become unfaithful themselves. Through stories of children struggling to understand their parents' adultery, as well as case histories of adult children coping with unresolved issues related to a parent’s unfaithfulness, Dr. Nogales clarifies the effects of parental infidelity and points the way toward healing, forgiveness, and more trusting relationships with parents and partners.


Whether you are a betrayed parent, a parent who cheated, or an adult child whose parent was unfaithful, Parents Who Cheat will help you understand and courageously deal with the adverse effects of parental infidelity.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK NOW! >>

Listen to Podcast Interviews to Dr. Ana Nogales

JOSE MIRANDA, FROM YO SOY LATINO.INTERVIEW TO ANA NOGALES

"... May, 23 2009 - Victims of Crime: a Chat with Ana L. Nogales, Ph.D.

Dr. Nogales is a clinical psychologist and founder of Nogales Psychological Counseling, Inc. and the Clinical Director of a nonprofit organization Casa de la Familia, which was established for victims of crime—sufferers of rape, sexual assault, child molestation and physical abuse as well as domestic violence and human trafficking.
Additionally, she is the President of ALMA, Association for Latino Mental Health Awareness in Orange County, which is dedicated to eradicating the stigma associated with mental illness.
Currently, Dr. Nogales serves on the board of the California Women's Commission on Addictions as the President and is an active board member of Las Comadres para las Americas and Women’s Transitional Living Center.
There is so much more to Dr. Nogales. In truth this is just the tip of the iceberg so listen to our show on the 23rd and find out more.

.........."

Dr. Ana Nogales
Dr. Nogales is one of the most well-known and respected Latinas in the United States. Through her private practice, media presence, numerous books, and organizational leadership, she has dedicated herself to ensuring the mental health and success of women, Latinos, and anyone else who struggles with cultural and personal issues, victimization, and inequality.
After immigrating to the United States in 1979, Dr. Nogales completed her doctorate degree in psychology at the United States International University in San Diego. She then went on to open her own private practice in 1982 in both Los Angeles and Orange Counties. As a clinical psychologist and founder of Nogales Psychological Counseling, Inc., she is deeply committed to helping members of the Latino community improve their personal relationships and emotional health, as well as adjust to and thrive in the complex multi-cultural environment in which they live.

Dr. Nogales is the founder and Clinical Director of the nonprofit organization, Casa de la Familia, which she established for victims of crimes such as human trafficking, domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, child sexual, and physical abuse. She currently supervises a clinical staff of forty mental health professionals. This organization has a program called Promotores de Salud Mental, which is dedicated to the outreach and engagement of mental health for the Latino community, and is sponsored by the Orange County Health Care Agency.
She is also the President of the Association for Latino Mental Health Awareness (ALMA) in Orange County, California, which is dedicated to eradicating the stigma of mental illness. Additionally, she is an active board member on the Multi Cultural Task Force, Las Comadres para las Americas, and the Women Transitional Living Center, a shelter for women and children. Dr. Nogales was the President of the California Women's Commission on Addictions until 2008.

Her new book PARENTS WHO CHEAT: How Children and Adults Are Affected When Their Parents Are Unfaithful has recently been released by HCI: Health Communications Inc. (June 2009)
Dr. Nogales is also the author of Dr. Ana Nogales' Book of Love, Sex and Relationships: A Guide for Latino Couples (Broadway Books/Bantam Doubleday Dell), the first book to address the specific concerns of Latino couples. She also authored Latina Power! Using the Seven Strengths You Already Have to Create the Success You Deserve (Simon & Schuster, USA and Puerto Rico; Grijalbo, Latin America), and is in the process of developing a series of workbooks based on Latina Power, starting with domestic violence.

Dr. Nogales has written for the Pfizer Laboratories Newsletter about intimacy and relationship issues, and has been interviewed by the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Latina, Latina Style, Estylo, and People en Español, as well as other notable periodicals. She also participated on a panel of ten prominent relationship experts in Redbook magazine's special feature on "Marriage and the Family for the New Millennium."

Dr. Nogales has also become a playwright. She wrote the play, DE SABIOS Y LOCOS, with the intention of raising awareness of mental health issues within the Latino community while simultaneously reducing the mental health stigma associated with accessing mental health services. Her play shows the drama of a Latino family in a culturally sensitive and responsive manner. The goal of the play is to encourage early detection and intervention in mental health issues. It is her hope that this new and innovative approach will reach those communities that have historically been inaccessible.

Her newest play, DO NOT CALL ME BABY!, is a theater piece whose purpose is to expose the sobering reality of a thriving criminal enterprise- human trafficking. It appeals to audiences at every level, both male and female, and of every race and culture. It is structured in a way in which the veracity of human trafficking is not simply revealed, but also given means to a healing end. And while the audience, via the central character, is provided with psychological advice, they are also presented with information on who to contact should they encounter a similar situation.

Dr. Nogales began her media career in 1980 at Univision (channel 34) with a regular weekly segment entitled "Ella y Él" on Mundo Latino. Her own radio talk show, (La Voz, KPLS 8.30 AM) and television talk show, "Aquí Entre Nos"/"Just Between Us" (channel 22, Los Angeles) established her as a household name throughout the Latino community. She had a regular segment, "Solo Para Adultos", on the Univision Channel 34 News, and on Telemundo-LA’s evening news. She has appeared on numerous radio and TV programs, including "The Cristina Show", "Despierta America", and other top-rated national talk shows on Spanish language television.

Presently, she is collaborating with Telemundo Al Mediodia and Univision. She is a recurrent guest on CNN en Español, and on national and local radio programs in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Miami, San Antonio, San José, and other major cities.

In addition to the weekly column she has written for the last seventeen years in La Opinión (Los Angeles), the country's #1 Spanish language newspaper, syndicated to La Raza (Chicago) and La Prensa (New York), she writes a bi-monthly column in the magazines Para Todos and Bodas.

The overwhelming popularity and success of Dr. Nogales' radio, television and print shows inspired her to produce a series of self-help audio cassettes entitled Auto-Ayuda Psicológica. The tapes address many of the topics discussed during her radio and television appearances, such as "Combating Depression", "Managing Anxiety", and "Understanding the Opposite Sex."

Dr. Nogales has been featured at workshops and conferences throughout the United States, including at the Omega Institute and The Women's Foundation, as well as at conferences in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Buenos Aires. Her most recent presentation at the Omega Institute was on September 14-16, 2007 to address the worldwide status of women at the Women, Power and Peace Conference where she presented with Nobel Prize Laureate Rigoberta Menchu Tum.

In recognition of the critical role she has played in California, her life story and her varied accomplishments are featured in the exhibit entitled Latinas: The Spirit of California at the California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts, in Sacramento.

Dr. Nogales is committed to condemning racism and discrimination and has been appointed to the APA (American Psychological Association) Presidential Virtual Working Group on Anti-Semitic, Anti-Jewish and Other Religions, Religion-Related and/or Religion Derived Prejudice and Discrimination Task Force.
Through her insightful and compassionate writings, appearances, organizational leadership, and psychological counseling, Dr. Nogales has strived to make a difference in the lives of women and men from diverse classes and ethnic backgrounds, and is passionately dedicated to furthering this important work.

Other awards:
In recognition of the critical role she has played in California, Dr. Ana Nogales’ life story and her varied accomplishments are being featured at the exhibit Latinas: The Spirit of California at the California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts, in Sacramento. This exhibit began in June of 2005 and has been extended to June 2009.

2009 Heritage Humanitarian Award by United States International Mission and One Million Kids
2009 Amazing Woman of the Year by National Association of Women Business Owners, Inland Empire Chapter
2007 Latina Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the National Latina Business Women Association, Orange County
2006 Humanitarian Award by SOKA GAKKAI INTERNATIONAL and SGI-USA
2006 Commendation for Outstanding Service to Crime Victimes from the Los Angeles District Attorney, Steve Cooley.
2005 For Outstanding Service to the People of the County of Los Angeles
2005 Remarkable Women Award, National Association of Business Women.
2004 Paloma Award from Future Leaders of America for “Inspirational Leadership in Serving the Community”
2004 Mentorship Award from the organization Dialogue on Diversity for "Career Contributions, through Writing, Teaching, and Counseling."
1994 Commendation for "AQUI ENTRE NOS" radio show by L.A. County Board of Supervisor