Welcome to our website

No one needs to be alone when facing life’s difficulties. Proven methods of psychotherapy can help empower you to turn your life in a positive direction. Valley Center Counseling can be your guide during your journey. We will customize a treatment plan to attain your goals in therapy. Your plan will depend on who you are, your cultural background, your spiritual beliefs, your current support system and medical condition.

How do you know if you need therapy?

A journey can change your life. Do you need help to get there? If more than two or three of these statements ring true, and you have felt that way for more than a month, you may need professional help.

1. It hurts too much and life seems hopeless and lacking joy
2. I feel isolated from others or I’m not taking care of myself
3. Even the smallest decision or conflict causes me great anger or anxiety
4. My performance at work/school/home has decreased
5. My relationships are troubled
6. I just react to things and do not understand why
7. The normal joys of life are passing me by
8. I am focusing too much on my next drink or pill
9. Life is just too sad
10. There are times in my life that I do not remember
11. I have had more than one major loss in the last 12 months
12. My loved one or I am facing a life-threatening or chronic disease
13. Someone I love has died and I have lost purpose in life
14. I am sabotaging my own success
15. I am dealing with infertility issues
16. I am haunted by my childhood, war experience or other traumas

OR

1. When your family, friend(s) and/or doctor(s) are recommending help.

How to get started

For those of you new to therapy I have prepared a guide on "How to Select a Psychotherapist". (Get it Here) The guide provides useful descriptions of different types of psychotherapists and criteria for evaluating their qualifications. It lists important questions to ask a potential therapist to ensure they are the right therapist for your needs.

Generally, the first step is to call us for a phone assessment, at no charge, to determine if psychotherapy can improve the quality of your life. During this phone assessment, we will determine whether or not we are qualified to meet your therapeutic needs. If yes, we will schedule an appointment. If not, you will be given referrals to therapists/organizations that can fulfill your needs.

Therapeutic success depends on a variety of factors. The client’s willingness to commit to the process and do the necessary work that will lead to change in behavior is critical. No therapist can do this for you. However, the right therapist will quickly gain insight into your issues and guide you step by step to your desired result. Therefore, it is important to select a therapist that is professionally qualified (has the right training), has had success dealing with your issues, whom you can trust with your feelings and with whom you can quickly attain rapport. My Qualifications page lists the kind of information that is useful to selecting the right therapist for your unique needs.

For more information on selecting a psychotherapist and about "counseling" in general, go to About Psychotherapy.com. My colleague in New York has a very informative website explaining psychotherapy in clear and accessible language. It is an extensive site, but if you are eager to learn what its all about, you will find a good amount of information there. What it is, how it works, why go, why stop (and when), and what should and should not happen there.

Psychotherapy is not magic but it can make a tremendous difference in your life - if you’re lucky enough to work with a therapist that is good at it. My guide and that site will help you find that kind of therapist. Go There