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Individual Counseling

California Christian Counseling

At California Christian Counseling, we offer individual counseling to children, teens, young adults, and adult men and women. Life today has countless challenges. The Christian counselors at CA Christian Counseling are licensed and trained to work with a wide variety of symptoms and issues. We offer a comprehensive range of treatment options to promote health in every area of your life – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Articles about Individual Counseling

Photo of Dr. Sheri Thompson

Dr. Sheri Thompson

Sep
2026
04

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Treating Major Depressive Disorders

Dr. Sheri Thompson

All human beings experience negative or sad moods at times. However, if these or other symptoms are making it hard to function, you may be suffering from clinical depression. A clinical diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) requires five or more symptoms over the same two-week period, including either a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure, plus significant distress, or impaired functioning. Although not a complete list, symptoms may include agitation, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, problems with thinking, concentrating, or making decisions, recurring thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, or suicide attempts. These symptoms are a change from prior functioning and are not due to another...

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Photo of California Christian Counseling

California Christian Counseling

Aug
2026
28

Overcoming Negative Thoughts from a Christian Counseling Perspective

California Christian Counseling

Negative thoughts and beliefs can create a loop, influencing your emotions and perceptions. Have you ever had a fleeting thought that changed how you felt? Perhaps you were happy, and a sudden thought occurred to you, and you felt down, sad, or even worthless. Negative thoughts trigger our emotions and influence our actions in response. But you can overcome negative thoughts with a few psychological techniques. Tips for Overcoming Negative Thoughts Negative thoughts can sound true until you challenge them. Learning how to identify and “catch” your thoughts, manage them, and seek help when needed can shift your perspective and emotions. The following are tips for overcoming negative thoughts. Try...

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Common Issues Addressed in Individual Counseling

Individuals come to California Christian Counseling with a vast array of concerns.

Some of the most common issues addressed in individual therapy include:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Stress
  • Loneliness
  • Trauma and PTSD
  • Grief and loss
  • Work/Life balance
  • Addiction
  • Abuse
  • Anger
  • Relationship issues
  • ADHD
  • Bipolar disorder
  • . . . and much more

No matter what symptoms or challenges you may be facing, the professional counselors at California Christian Counseling would be happy to walk with you toward a place of healing and hope.

Reasons to Pursue Individual Counseling in California

People come to California Christian Counseling for a wide variety of reasons. Perhaps you can relate to one of the following:

  • Feeling anxious
  • Feeling sad or depressed
  • Not coping well with stress
  • Struggling to process grief
  • Battling with a particular addiction
  • Trying to overcome a traumatic experience
  • Not managing anger well
  • Struggling to figure out a healthy work/life balance
  • Feeling frustrated with a particular relationship
  • Feeling lonely
  • Lacking purpose or motivation in life

The list goes on! No matter what you might be dealing with, the counselors at California Christian Counseling would love to listen to your story and work with you to develop a treatment plan that is catered to your specific needs. Together, through proven therapeutic methods and God’s help, you can overcome the challenges you face and enjoy a peaceful, joy-filled life in Christ.

What to Expect from Individual Therapy at California Christian Counseling

Making the decision to go to counseling can be a difficult one. Know that the counselors at California Christian Counseling are compassionate and caring, and seek to make your experience as comfortable and pleasant as possible. 

Each counselor has his or her own unique style and approach to their individual practice, but no matter which therapist you choose, you can expect to be welcomed into a warm, safe, and judgment-free environment. In your session, your counselor will get to know you and your story as they listen to your concerns and reasons for seeking Christian counseling in California.

From there, you will work with your therapist to create an individualized treatment plan to meet your needs. You may set goals for treatment that you can work toward together as you meet. Your counselor will walk with you each step of the way according to your own comfort level and readiness to address certain issues. With God’s help, through Christian counseling you can experience restored overall well-being and newness of life in Christ.

How to Get Started with Christian Counseling in California

If you’re ready to start your counseling journey, simply contact our reception team or browse our counselor directory to find the best counselor to meet your needs. The licensed counselors at California Christian Counseling have experience working with clients facing a wide variety of issues, and it would be our pleasure to help you find the healing and recovery you desire. Hope is possible; contact us today to begin your healing journey.

Testimonials

Jamie Stadola has wonderful insight and compassion that allows you to feel heard, make positive steps forward, and feel safe as you reflect and grow.

Dr. Joe is one of a kind! He is not only very professional and knowledgeable he has a heart of compassion for his clients. He is humble and listens to understand. My family is blessed to have Dr. Joe as our therapist. His counseling and transparency has helped my family trust him and open up. My family has begun our healing journey🙏🏼He truly cares for his clients. I highly recommend Dr. Joe Raphael. We meet with him at the San Diego location. Thank you Dr. Joe

Working w/ Joe Raphael from Christian Counseling has been a pleasure. He has helped me and my fiance tremendously in many areas of our relationship. One of things I like most about working with Joe is that he extremely well rounded n the fashion that he can counsel on many different topics outside of relationship counseling.

I highly recommend Dr. Joe Raphael. It was very easy for me to speak with him about all my issues from relationship distress, problems at work and even some mental health issues I was experiencing. I really like the way he explains things and finds ways to help me cope with them. Thank you, Dr. Joe

I’ve been in counseling with Dr. Joe for about a year. He has always been kind, helping me gain a broader perspective of myself and how I respond to situations based on learned coping mechanisms. He has helped me develop a more constructive way to think about things, and I have learned so much about myself. I would definitely recommend Dr. Joe and Irvine Christian counseling