Getting Started

FIND THE RIGHT COUNSELOR

Choosing the right therapist is sometimes difficult, but it’s very important to feel as though you have a good fit. Successful therapy depends on the quality of the relationship between the therapist and the client.  For more information, you can contact us in a number of ways:

Call our general number at (949) 229-6047.

• Our staff can answer general questions and direct you to someone who will be effective with you.

Alternatively, go to our Staff Page.

• Review the biographies, and select your preferred counselor by sending an email or giving them a call.

Regardless of how you contact us,
expect a response within 24 hours.

After completing the 5 minute survey,
you can choose a FREE 15-minute consultation.
Absolutely no obligation.

ASK QUESTIONS

There are many different types of therapists, such as social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health or professional counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc., and each specialty has its own way of approaching therapy. To get you started on “interviewing” a potential counselor, here are a few questions you can ask:

• What are your areas of expertise?
• How long have you been in practice?
• How much do you charge per session?
• What insurance do you take?
• What types of things would you expect me to do between sessions?
• When you are away, what happens to my therapy?
• Are references available?

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Clients are offered a FREE 15-minute call prior to their first in-person appointment. This introductory consultation is designed to better understand your needs and allow you to become acquainted with one of our counselors.

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with one of our counselors, use their direct number or email to make that request. After your first session, you can set up recurring appointment dates as needed.

BE PREPARED

Before you first see your counselor, sit down and decide what you’d like to talk about. Think about what you want from treatment. Remember that physical symptoms are important to note. You may also have questions about therapy approach, goals, expectations, etc. Go into the appointment with written information and questions, and keep a journal during the course of treatment! Arrive at first appointments about 15-minutes early to complete any necessary paperwork.

After completing the 5 minute survey,
you can choose a FREE 15-minute consultation.
Absolutely no obligation.

RECEIVE EFFECTIVE TREATMENT

Effective counseling is a two way street. It takes a cooperative effort by both the person receiving counseling and the counselor. And it takes a commitment to make sometimes difficult changes in behavior or thinking patterns. Therapy can result in significant changes in a person’s life. Often though these changes involve small steps; they don’t happen all at once. Sometimes it takes a few sessions to work out where you would like to be in the future. Given the large number of therapy approaches available and the varied reasons people seek therapy, it is impossible here to specify all of the areas in which people experience these changes.

Regardless of the therapy approach, any worsening of symptoms should only be short-term, be linked to exploring some difficult area that you were previously avoiding, and relate to the problem or experience that was the reason for entering therapy. If new emotions or problems arise, you should first discuss this with your therapist to explore how, or if, they may be understood as part of the therapy process and, whatever their origin, what measures can be taken to address them.