Counseling Referrals

When to Seek Professional Care

Psychotherapy, also referred to as mental health counseling or therapy, is a form of professional care. Sometimes, it is challenging to discern when it is necessary to seek professional care for yourself, your child, your marriage, or your family. If you find yourself continuously suffering from mental health issues that interfere with your day-to-day life, you may benefit from going to therapy. Therapists and counselors are highly skilled professionals that are trained to address a variety of mental health concerns. With the right fit, they can help alleviate the impact of those concerns and work towards achieving the goals you set for your time in therapy.

What to Expect from Professional Care

Therapy is a process. The first step in that process is making an informed decision on counseling services. You’ll find our recommendations below. Your first call to a counseling center will often involve a quick intake interview in which a trained member of the center will collect basic information from you. It’s a good idea to have three things ready to go before making the call: (1) your view of what is bringing you to seek therapy; (2) important details of any previous experiences of therapy; and (3) your budget and any available appointment times.

During your first appointment, your therapist or counselor will want to get a clear picture of what makes you, you! They’ll be curious about things like your personality, relationships, concerns, and interests– and also how you will know therapy has been successful. They’ll also be determining if their area of expertise is relevant to you. Remember, you get to decide the focus of your therapeutic journey. So, if after the first session you decide it’s not a good fit, that’s more than okay!

Recommended Faith-Based Counseling Centers

Whether attending counseling for the first time or returning to therapy with a different counselor, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Below are some of our recommendations for Christian counseling centers in the area. For more specific recommendations, please contact fiona@vc.church.

Bridges Christian Counseling, Fremont
Call: (714) 584-7688
Website: https://bridgeschristiancounseling.com/

Community Presbyterian Counseling Center
Call: (925) 820-1467
Website: https://www.cpccounseling.com/

Christian Counseling Centers, Hayward
Call: (510) 783-6629
Website: https://www.christiancounselingcenters.org/hayward/

Love Your Story Christian Counseling Services
Call: (650) 206-9505
Website: https://loveyourstorytherapy.com/

Trinity Life Counseling
Call: (925) 262-1155
Website: https://trinitylifecounseling.net/