Southern California Counseling Center's Online Review Report Card

My experience with these guys is another story, they are racist, biased, and hypocritical. They want people to respect everyone’s ideas and beliefs except the ones that don’t align with the status quo. I am being discriminated against for my beliefs and my questions to increase my cultural competence. Bias and racism comes in all shades. And these guys perpetuate it in their training and allow against individuals that don’t agree with them 😭😡😡

Excellent way to get top notch therapy on a budget. I have had several therapists here throughout my life who have helped me tremendously. A+!

PHD student helped me a few years ago and highly recommend. It was sliding scale and I had to go on a waitlist but was in after 2 months. Worth the wait.

I can't thank this center enough for uncovering my ADHD, when I simply thought I had situational depression but sought help for a potential cognative disorder. Because they made themselves available when they could tell I was in crisis and utilized a 'pay-what-you-can' structure, I was able to have a moment of clarity that I have relied upon while working to fix the problems of a very mentally and logistically-challenging life. The only reason I can't give them 5 stars is that the management of the center is in constant disarray. Some of that is to be expected, as the center works in partnership with graduate programs to bring affordable treatment to clients and much-needed experience and hours to grad students in the field of psychology, so some constant turnover is to be expected. The turnover I experienced was not related to graduations however, and their policies got in the way of actual continuing to be helpful. They paired me up with a wonderful therapist, who had a lot of expertise in my area of cognative disorder as they had researched it for a family member. We had such a wonderful experience that I developed feelings for my therapist (a common thing in the field, and I researched it before admitting that to them and learned that it's something a patient should share, in order to get past it, which I was willing to do.) The center saw this an irreconcilable obstacle and had another therapist referred to me who knew admittedly nothing about ADHD (nice, empathetic person, but I was educating them as we stumbled along this new path together.) I also sought help with my partner at the center in relationship counseling, and again, we were assigned a lovely therapist who was good at listening, but admittedly had done no previous couples therapy (it got difficult, and I took a beating in each of our sessions to the point that I hated going, and we eventually let our couples therapy lapse.) Then, the one thing that was still working for me as a patient, the staff psychologist who was able to prescribe Ritalin (which, according to my partner, was affecting my focus and mood in a very positive way), decided to pursue their own practice out-of-state. The center brought in two psychiatrists to replace that one who sent out letters to all patients who were being prescribed stimulants, telling us that they did not believe in them, and we had to find a new psychiatrist (obviously somewhere else, because they were the only ones SCCC had.) There was no offer to meet to see if we were open to other treatment options, no plan for transition to another Dr., just, 'don't let the door hit you on the butt on the way out...' This was shortly before the pandemic, so not only did I lose my prescriptions and psychiatric access, I lost contact with the (less-than-helpful, just a good listener) CB therapist, and I've been spiralling from plateau to plateau ever since. Without my initial diagnosis, thanks to the help of my wonderful original CB Therapist and Psychiatrist, I wouldn't even have a clue of the major contributor to these spirals, but it could have been handled better by the center (based on reviews and conversations I've had, I have a feeling most of the good clinicians they bring in find somewhere else because of the way this facility is managed.) It's a shame I have to leave such a starkly-honest review because I feel like facilities like SCCC should exist, and I think it is important for people who have never seen a therapist to seek them as an option. Just be careful how you communicate with them (sad, really, because you should be able to be open/honest with your mental health care options without fear that they'll strip from you what's working), and be ready to move on to another option if/when this one crumbles beneath your feet (hopefully, you'll get enough figured out that you can afford to move to a more stable faciilty- I did not.)

I have been the victim of childhood domestic violence and as an adult; physical, emotional and financial abuse in my marriage. I was referred to this center from Cedars Sinai Hospital as my PTSD symptoms have become increasingly worse and I cannot afford a regular psychiatrist. The female counselor I was assigned to told me to go to another facility as I couldn't start the conversation which she insisted on , I pleaded with her to ask me some questions, but she said no and that I was being uncooperative. I also could not close my eyes to do a breathing exercise, as I explained I was too frightened, I felt like I was going to be hit in the head. She ended the session and said don't come back. I complained to the lead psychiatrist who apologized and she said that someone will call me in 2 weeks and I would be assigned someone else. That was over 6 months ago. NO ONE EVER CALLED!

found some very skilled counselors, particularly Lena Vartanian. They also offer EMDR now which is a God-send. You cant really ask for better at the pricing you're getting

community counselor training program was wonderful, got me into the profession

The BIGGEST SCAM. DO NOT GO HERE. They change their policies consistently so you will never see an emdr therapist. Whoever is running the EMDR program needs to be fired. I was on a waitlist for 11 months for an emdr therapist. Then gave me a regular Therapist and told me they're new policy is you have to see a regular therapist for eight sessions and then you will be assigned an EMDR therapist. On my 10th session my therapist left because this place doesn't care about the clients. Now I have to go to a new therapist and now they're training new therapist so I have to wait a couple months anyway in order to get one???? Also i can only see an emdr therapist WHILE I SEE A REGULAR THREAPIST. They don't Guarantee you being approved for an EMDR therapist after your 10 sessions and THEY DONT HAVE ONE ANYWAY. This place is a scam and all their therapist realize it sooner or later and leave.

Left alone in the intake zoom I waited weeks for, and no one answers the phone. Nothing like being abandoned by therapy when you have abandonment issues!!!

I owe this place for helping me when I needed counseling. They helped me a lot in just a few sessions. I recommend anyone who is suffering mental health issues to seek help. Trauma of any sort can affect your mental health. Nothing to be ashamed about when you are not well. Living in denial and do nothing to help yourself will not help you. When you are not well your behavior can affect the ones that have to deal with you. The counselor told me that a sign of good mental health is someone who is positive and observant. I was initially afraid to get mental counseling because I imagined getting myself in a straight jacket in a padded room. I was wrong to think that way. I AM SO GLAD I WENT AND GOT HELP!