20 Best Msw Programs In Mission Viejo, CA (2022 Updated)

CBU is pretty rad, and I want to respond to what I've seen in a couple reviews here. The first of which is people saying the location in Riverside sucks. I'll admit Riverside is not super tight, but there is the mission inn and a drive in movie theater and a few other things which are pretty cool within a few minutes of campus. The best part of Riverside is it's less than an hour from the beach, an hour from the mountains, and hour from LA and 45 minutes from a few theme parks. So if you have a car and aren't super lazy, your weekends should be fun. And there's always fun stuff going on campus too, (dive in movie nights at the pool, intramural and NCAA sports games, concerts, carnivals etc.) so if you have a good attitude you can have fun hanging out on campus. People are saying CBU wants your money. Of course they do, so does every other university that is in business. However CBU will really work with you to help you afford the school. Get good grades, maybe go out for a sports team or the music department and you'll get even more money. You have to work for it though, they don't give out serious amounts of money to anyone. If your parents are in ministry (pastor/missionary/work full time at a church) you're in luck too cuz they have scholarships for that too. It's a Christian school… Yep. I wouldn't say intolerant though. You will be taught what they believe to be Christian values and you can only expect that. There's like 7,000 students too so I'm sure there are rude intolerant ones there too. I think you will find rude/intolerant people no matter where you go but it most definitely is not the essence of the student body. CBU has a uniquely welcoming and loving community, and that's something I've heard from Christians and non-Christians alike at the school. Both are welcome to come but both also are required to go to chapel and follow the rules. I don't agree with all the rules but most of them are a pretty reasonable balance of trying to give freedom to students and adhere to Christian principles (coming from a non-conservative Christian background). That's part of making the decision to go to a Christian university, and realistically it's probably what's best for you anyways. If anyone has anything bad to say about the food I don't know what world famous chef you had cooking for you your entire life before here. The caf has killer variety, Chik-fil-a is freaking Chik-fil-a, Wandas has great breakfast and the best steak quesadillas, and El-Monte is as good as Chipotle. CBU does give real world experience. I know as a business major there are some awesome professors that are all about real world experience. Dr. Weniger and Alderson are a couple that come to mind. You get out what you put into your classes and almost every single professor at the school is very open to spending time with you helping you out with homework or just life. Academics are pretty top tier, but professors do come and go and though most are great, some are much better than others, so do a little time looking round rate my professor if you want the best ones. CBU is great. Sure there are other universities that are great too (not to many that compare that are in Southern California though) but CBU is a well rounded school academically, socially and spiritually. No school/student body is perfect, that's just life, but CBU is a solid choice to spend 4 years growing academically and spiritually into who you are going to be the rest of your life.Jake Roque

Okay, so I went to this school originally considering a nursing degree. It's hard to have many nice things to say about this school.. The school looks nice, but the neighborhood area is crap. You have to drive kinda far to see or do anything nice. It's hardly in Riverside, CA. Feel more like Norco, armpit of California. They put most of their students in cheap housing. Much of it was temporary when I was there. Other housing was old folks homes. Weird cheap, and kinda gross. The major feature of this school is this: They want your money. That's all. It's nothing spectacular in any way, and based on the price, it's a really bad deal. They "award" small scholarships to practically any student for any reason. They try to bring in a bunch of students through their music school. A music degree is NOT WORTH 100k- 150k of debt. And please remember folks, if everybody gets a scholarship, it's not actually a scholarship. THINK about it.. They just want your attention and your money. ALSO, Please be aware they will be raising the tuition on you every year, by lots of money! If you start at 30-35k, You will probably end at 40-45k annually. It's probably costing something around or over 40 or more thousand per year now. And YOU WILL pay more than you think by the end of the year. It's a Christian school, which is fine if you're a Christian. They are relatively intolerant conservatives though. Very serious/ oppressive Christian all over the place. Many of the students are sheltered, and having moved on to a regular university, I can tell you it doesn't represent the real world experience, or normal people, for the most part. Regarding this: Don't bother going here unless you're a rich serious sheltered Christian. If that's what you value, then maybe you'll like this place. Some of the people are fairly friendly, and the food in the cafeteria was good WHEN I was there. That more than a year ago. Some of the teachers were alright as well. I mostly took science classes, for reference. In summary, if you're not a young Christian who has no desire for real-world experience,then don't go here. The price is so not worth it! It's an institution for profit! Go to your local community college and earn entrance to a great University! Even Ivy league schools are looking to replace young dropouts with students that did well in their community colleges! It's just not worth it. If you're a thinking person, you'll start hating this school not long after you get there. NOT WORTH ITMichael D. Bear

I loved all 4 years at this school! As a freshman, I lived in the dorms and met my group of closest friends that I still hang out with to this day. I loved the food and had to be careful with dessert in the cafeteria otherwise I would have packed on the calories. The school does a great job of setting up events that target every student and gives great deals for other off-campus events like cheap Lakers tickets, cheap tickets to theme parks, and other giveaways. I am Mexican and I have never once felt like I was discriminated against at this school, if anything there are plenty of people at this school who make an effort to talk about racial injustices among students. As far as the incident in Ontario, I just want to say that you can find that level of ingorance at any university and even more so outside of that setting. Two girls made a stupid decision to throw a drink on a guy and they happened to be CBU students. If I’m being real here, CBU does not turn many people away when it comes to the application process, so any person who has higher than a 2.5 GPA will most likely get in. CBU does not necessarily focus on whether you are a Christian or not because they’d rather have you here at this school than at a school where the chance of hearing the gospel is much lower. Now back to the point, CBU is honestly such a great school and if you’ve ever visited, you notice right away that the atmosphere is one that you can’t find in many other places. People treat you with love, respect, understanding, and kindness. CBU is a school that truly looks to serve the students in any way possible and that’s the truth. Don’t let others who are are upset about what happened in Ontario tear down the idea of coming to this school because you will definitely see that the number of students who will treat you with love and respect far outweighs the ones who would pour a drink on you for sitting during the national anthem. Christian or not, CBU will welcome you with open arms regardless of ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, gender, etc..Gabriel Lara

This school only employed extremely right wing, openly racist, often under-qualified staff when I was attending from 2003 until my graduation in 2006. The accreditation from this school was not recognized by any State schools or other colleges, so I had to remain at this bigoted institution unless I wanted to spend the time and money to start my education from scratch elsewhere. I really wish someone had told me what I am now sharing with you! Hope it helps, and happy hunting 🙂Kyrsten Schenck

A very nice campus in the OC. I went on a tour for counselors here about a year ago. This is a nice place if you want small classes and a nice living enviroment. Your professors really get to know you and you get plenty of connections before you graduate. Also, plenty of study abroad opportunities. My mom-in-law graduated here in the accelerated program for business and she loved it!Erica VSource

I think that there is no actual reviews of students. Just a bunch of paid 5 stars with blank reviews. Looks 🐟🐟🧐. People ask questions when spending thousands on a non accredited college. IVC is just down the street and it’s cheaper. School like this bankrupt all the time. And they make fake promises like job placement.G

The University campus is beautiful and full of fresh air and bright sunshine. The facility management and security systems are awesome. Everybody is so kind and helpful here that it stands tall on its claim of creating value through inclusiveness and by nurturing fundamental human qualities of courage, compassion and wisdom. I hope, wish and pray for every member of this community to live a truely contributive life and make this world a better place.Vineet

The scenery of Soka is amazing in the early mornings and at sunset. The place is flourished with all sorts of plants. The food is amazing and the Dorms are high ceilings and spacious. I love coming here every summer for music programs, the campus is very homey and super welcoming. The architecture is gorgeous, especially the performance hall and the fountain out in the front.Arianna Rodriguez

Beautiful campus. It’s our first time to visit. It’s in the summer, only a few students are on campus. We walk through the main campus for an hour. Quiet and clean, a nice place for the students studying here.Zhiqian Dong

When I first started signing up for my MBA I advised them that I had just graduated with my bachelors degree. My goal was to start August 5, and I submitted all my necessary paperwork and cooperated as such. When it got to my transcripts I was advised I could not start because the conferral date was not on the transcripts. The enrollment specialist told me to reach out to my previous school. I did and it was a hassle. I called the enrollment specialist at Capella to advise of the updates to only find out that Capella’s registrar team had already been in contact with my school. I wanted to start on the 5th as it was very discouraging to go through the process to be turned away at last minute. 1). Total waist of time as I took time out of my day to complete orientation and do what they advised of me. 2) I asked to speak with a supervisor who was very vague and could not provide the information needed. 3) I again called Capella to try and escalate the situation, but the manager never returned my call. I feel as if they had me sign up because they were the ones to get paid for each student to enroll and failed to educate me properly in the beginning, which is very misleading and discouraging. Since no one wanted to comply and take responsibility I will be escalating this to the BBB as this is not my fault and I should had been able to start in the promised time given and should have been educated properly.Tearra McCray

The worst university ever! They made me waste my time and my money from the first day, every time I communicated with them each counselor told me something different, and more than a month passed and I did not have an accurate answer on the status of my application, after a month a person from human resources let me know that I had to do my transcripts equivalency again on another website because the one I had already sent twice to them waiting for they review it (and that they themselves told me it was okay to do it that way) was not valid for them to take me into account to start the course this past October. 1- First time the transcripts were not encrypted, so they asked my to ask the institution they send it again but encrypted this time and I did it and sent it again. And after that they let me know that didn’t work for them. So I wasted my time, my money and above all the opportunity to start on the desired date. A very bad job of the staff. Very bad communication with the students who want to start there, and they also contradict each other. They all say different things and waste your time. They are also very rude. I hope that no one has this bad experience, nor misses the opportunity to start the course on the date they planned, and due to the horrible work of other people you lose opportunities in life.Claudia Espinosa

From the beginning of my Master's level school search, Capella stood out. I had a great recommendation from a friend already, but in researching complete online programs to work with my schedule, Capella checked all of the boxes I needed. I had a wonderful experience with my admissions counselor and continue to have great interactions with all communication. I am happy with all faculty thus far and feel that I am learning exactly what I need for my future as a school counselor. The course load is what I expected it to be and the time I spend on classwork is time well spent. I feel very confident that I will be prepared to enter the field of school counseling when I graduate. The very first thing Capella does once you are enrolled is to start you in a class to help navigate your program and get you familiar with the online format. This helped immensely and calmed my nerves for entering into a graduate program online. I feel very well cared for and have not had a negative experience yet! I am 1 year into my program.Jenna Skophammer

Choc is convenient to me, but unfortunately, after my experience here, I will drive much further to receive care somewhere else. The experience with your hospital left me in tears and a baby without care for breathing difficulty and croup. After waiting seven hours with no updates or information (I asked several times for updates and to make sure they didn’t call me and I missed it), I left to seek care from my primary pediatrician. I was told they were going to administer a breathing treatment to my baby and then I could be discharged without having to wait to see a doctor. I saw everyone around me get called to be taken to a room, while I waited for hours and hours. No one ever came. Then I saw the nurse who told me my baby would be treated leave the hospital as his shift had ended. Still no communication. I arrived at 1:30 am and left at 8:30 am. Upon arrival, I had to park on the third floor of the parking garage, and none of the elevators were operating and so I had to go down the stairs with my baby in his stroller and diaper bag and all. It was unsafe and extraordinarily difficult. I will never consider using this hospital again, and I will be telling everyone I come across not to use this hospital, including every parent I know. I understand times may be challenging with increased wait times but this experience was beyond unacceptable leaving a mother with a baby having trouble breathing, barking like a seal (croup), and restricted airways sitting in the lobby for seven hours with no information, no one checking on us, no one offering any concern whatsoever. I gave this hospital one star because there wasn’t an option for zero stars.Rafael Garcia

I appreciate this place with all I have. My daughter was diagnosed with Chronic Asthma when she was two years old. We had been to so many hospitals where she was always provided temporary treatment. As soon as we arrived at the CHOC emergency room, (can’t remember the year, maybe 2017), my daughter was given the best care I had ever experienced in Southern California. I had been to USC Hospital – Los Angeles, St. Jude Hospital – Fullerton, Mercy Hospital – Merced, Children’s Hospital – Fresno, Miller Children’s Hospital – Long Beach, and many more. But when we arrived here they basically told me, “she has been hospitalized too many times, your daughter needs lasting treatment and assistance, we can set her up with a doctor here in our clinics”…. Ever since then my daughter, who is now turning 10, has been in great health because of her doctor at the pulmonary clinic! Glory be to God and I thank her doctor 👩‍⚕️ (Dr. Patricia Tate) for her immeasurable help and support in my daughters life. For four years she received 6-month check-ups and, every time, her doctor was helpful and understanding. Even when I wasn’t doing what was right as a parent (giving my daughter the prescription doses as often as prescribed), she showed a sincere concern to get us back on track. I would definitely recommend this place to any child who has chronic asthma. I’m not sure if you need to be an extreme case like my daughter was. She was in and out of emergency rooms for 3-4 years before we got referred to the pulmonary clinic.Kimberly Mendoza

I’ve been to the ER quite a few times with both of my children (my daughter has diabetes and my son has breathing issues), and I will never take my kids to any other ER if I can help it. First off, every single nurse and doctor I’ve encountered in the ER has been courteous, caring, gentle, and playful with my children. They listen to everything I have to say and explain in detail what is happening to my children. Secondly this is truly a hospital that is geared specifically towards kids. For example, when my daughter got an IV placed or my son got stitches they brought in an employee who’s job it is to distract and make sure my kids didn’t know what was going on. I could literally make a list of 10 other “kid specific” things this hospital does to make sure kids are well taken care of. They’re just amazing! My daughter is also seen in their Clinic and again everyone is AMAZING! They talk to her on her level, they roll with her 5 year old tangents, and they play with her. On one specific visit everyone that came into the exam room knew the floor was lava and played along with my daughters game. It was amazing! If you have to choose an ER to go to with your kids, come here. If you have the option to have care here, do it. It’s an amazing hospital!Jami Olsen

The emergency room doctor was awful-incompetent and non caring! My husband was brought in by ambulance as I believed he had suffered a stroke. The emergency room Dr. tried to tell me he got dizzy because he ripped off a bandaid – kinda like when someone sees blood and faints! I was speechless-I asked him if his father or wife had the same symptoms would he send them home and he said yes he would. I told him I wanted my husband to have an MRI first. He said “Well, you’ll be waiting all night. There’s a lot of other people waiting for an MRI.” He told us he’d give us a few minutes to decide. He came back to the room and I said “ the CDC guidelines post the symptoms of a stroke and my husband has all them! He then said “ok, you are staying the night then.” A few minutes later a wonderful Dr. came in and from there my husband was put in the progressive stroke care unit and everyone there was absolutely fabulous. I give them FIVE stars!! My husband did stroke in three parts of his brain- thank God, I didn’t take the “advice” of the emergency room doctor. He shouldn’t be working as a doctor!1 star for the emergency room Dr.Claudia Nelson

My mother was seen last night in ED Mission Hospital. We had a terrible experience. The laboratory and Radiology ( X-RAY) turn around time is a disaster. As a Trauma hospital the Turn around time for laboratory test results must be available <45 minutes. It takes >4 hours to get all the results back. My mom was negative for COVID they didn’t even test RSV or Flu. She has fever for 2 days didn’t even test her for Lactate for possible Sepsis. At the end they test her for Flu. …omg its positive Flu A. Can’t you imagine it takes them > 4 hours to rule out FLU A ( the test takes only 20-30 minutes) all i hear from the receptionist is “ we are very busy” … are you guys out of Ratio? Hows your patient experience? I think your patient length of stay is Terrible. Should we discuss this with CDPH to check your hospital performance as a level 1 Trauma hospital?Randz R

The worst ER room I’ve been to and I’m from a higher population city. They misdiagnosed me until I demanded tests, were snarky that I was upset, down right rude, after the results of tests were severe they were apologetic. After being referred to a surgeon I was unable to see them because I was out of area, I returned with worsening symptoms, and everything on my sheet they gave me to return to ER if I was experiencing. In extreme pain with a worsening symptoms they left me in ER waiting room for over 6 hours. I left to be miserable at least in a bed. Awful management, they don't listen to women, barely give exam or run any tests. The nurse said his only job was to get me out of there. Do not go here your life depends on it! Oh when I got a room it had no bed- I was sat in a waiting room chair in an ER exam room with a cervical injury.Jackie Lenz

I highly recommend furthering your education elsewhere. I was told INCORRECT information by those who likely get paid handsomely to tell their students CORRECT information. I am 1 1/2 years into their Masters program for MFT with 8 classes left. I withdrew from a class during their 2nd Spring AFTER inquiring from both my advisor AND the one stop coordinator Alexis. I was informed by both that I would be fine withdrawing (because I took 2 classes in Spring 1), I would maintain my FA eligibility, all would be good… fast forward 2 months, a slew of emails (initiated by mostly myself) because of multiple balance changes on my account, I am now in arrears for $900 which is expected to be paid before I can enroll in any more classes. I'm disgusted at the way they have handled this and would NEVER recommend Brandman to anyone. This comes on the heels of me having to track down a Professor because of a discrepancy on my grade (my first C). It took this Professor 6 weeks to respond to me, although I really am not surprised considering he felt it necessary to plan a personal vacation our 2nd week of an 8 week class and then called in sick the 3rd class. I mean, its not like the students aren't paying upwards of $2000 for each class, right?! I have filed a complaint with the Dept of Education and will continue to file complaints with whoever I can, because this place should not be allowed to be running with such incompetent individuals handling something as important as a person's education.Kelley C

VETERAN STUDENTS.I have been attending UmassGlobal since it was Brandman. They have dealt with the transition smoothly and ensured my accommodations for my GI Bills were met to receive full BAH. My one stop specialist Lindsey Elsensohn and campus director Melissa Brunson helped me through rough patches when the VA wouldn’t process payment due to online/name change. This school has marketed their military services but never did I expect a freaking campus director to reach out to a student to make sure I was ok. This is the only educational institution where I attended where the staff makes the first move and reaches out to their veteran students rather than wait for something to go wrong and have their students reach out to them. I can’t speak on behalf of everyone as it is not my nor anyone’s place to do so but I will say that UmassGlobal has very military friendly staff members and will go above and beyond to make sure us Vets get full use of the GI bill we earned. If you are a Vet l, like flexible course times, and are tired of “kids” at conventional university I would highly recommend this placeNathan Chin

I began my studies for my masters during the pandemic and chose brandman / UMass global because our kids highschool used them to allow students to earn both highschool and college credits. However , since I have attended and am almost done, financial aid support greatly lacks , many teachers should not be teaching, and advisors not really helping but referring you to other advisors. Everyone gives you vague answers when you do get a response and there is a great lack of communication among departments. Had someone given me a heads-up I would have waited a little longer and gone to one of the other schools that accepted me, brandman just had a faster start time. I have talked to other grads and they all feel the same as I do. So please save yourself the headache and learn from us , do your homework ask questions and make sure you feel comfortable before attending here, also once you start your credits are not transferable if you decide to switch schools. This school needs alot of work.Dan

We were so excited to have our first piano lesson with my 6 year-old daughter at WePlay Music Academy today! We enjoyed everything, since it was the first lesson I asked permission to stay and watch. Despite it was an introduction lesson, the approach was serious and professional – we went through the program and textbooks, received written summary of the lesson and homework and finished with the explanation about Royal conservatory exam. I love that during the trial lesson they spent time checking how the piano works and talking for a while about famous composers. What I also liked is that this school has a lot of space inside with some small but nice things like a coffee machine, musical book store and saxophone store, and cozy chairs so you can comfortably wait till the end of the lesson. My daughters's first phrase was “This does not look like school” and the last was: “It was a very special day, I made thunder with the piano”:) I want to wish the very best of luck to WePlay Music Academy! I hope that my daughter will take her piano lessons seriously, and we will stay with you for long years to come!Katya Kazaryan

My son participated in WePlay Music's Piano Master Class by Dr. Josh Vigran. We were absolutely amazed at the deep level of analysis and evaluation of his performance. I'd love to list a lot here but I know that wont be able to provide justice to this gift of instructions he was able to obtain in this Master Class =) The professionalism, authenticity and the thoughtful ways and quality of the scrutiny of the play was truly astonishing. The ability to explain the issues, impart what the "essence" that the composer was trying to convey and to guide him to correct/adjust the techniques on the spot was mind blowing. I know that his play would greatly improve and can get to the next level incorporating just some of these recommendations. Truly grateful and appreciative of WePlay Musics work and special thanks to Dr. Vigran for all the instructions.Resty Arquiza

We play music school is one of the most modern I've ever seen. Very pleasant and colourful rooms. The staff and teachers are very committed, helpful and always welcoming. Teachers build very friendly relationships with young students and in the same time they are requiring, so after-school are always music activities give a lot of enjoy and motivation. I truly recommend We play music school 😉Malgorzata Mierzwa

I want to thank the entire staff at Atria Del Sol in Mission Viejo. We moved my father in a year and a half ago after an extremely difficult year. Atria was exactly what he needed! He made friends and enjoyed lots of TLC which was greatly appreciated. He recovered so well that after a year and half, he decided to move into his own apartment! I could have never imaged he would regain all independence! During the pandemic, they kept all the residents safe and did everything they could to stay positive. It was a very challenging time for all of us, especially the seniors. I could not have asked for a better team to keep my dad safe. They kept him occupied, eating healthy, and offered so many activities on site, even when they couldn't leave their rooms. Reika was also so sweet and positive with all the residents. Finally when my dad could has elective surgery, Joanna and her team did a great job making sure he healed properly and quickly. The front desk staff was amazing and Nina was one of my dad's favorites. There were so many wonderfully kind staff, I cannot name them all. If you are looking for a caring staff that give just the right level of care in a beautiful facility and grounds, I highly recommend Atria!Kristine Nelson

We made the decision to place my mom here 5 months ago since she was no longer able to be alone and take care of herself and we work full time. I went to numerous places and Atria, by far was the best. The people have been fantastic to me and to her and I never have to worry about her because I always know she is in excellent hands. I visit her frequently and the ladies that work there always dote on her and make her feel special. If I am worried about her and need her to be checked on they do it promptly and communicate with me. She has settled in really well with the community and she is now more involved in activities and outings and I couldn't be more pleased. Before her husband passed, she would just sit in the house day after day and never go anywhere. Well, that's not the case now! Thank you from the bottom of my heart all you folks at Atria! Jennifer, Ana, Jeremiah, Irma, Asal, Rena, Marie, Julia, Flor, Luis, Kat, Peyton, Divina and everyone else who does a wonderful job there! Please forgive my memory for not recalling all your names!! You guys rock!!!!! If you are looking for wonderful upbeat care in a beautiful resort like setting, please don't hesitate to reach out to these folks! 🙂Marina Songer

We were looking for a short term care facility for my husband in between hospital stay and home. We looked into several facilities and chose this one mainly because of Jennifer who was the sales representative. Jeremiah answered all of our questions and was very helpful the entire stay . The transportation was great to my husband‘s dialysis three times a week and doctors appointments . Perry, the driver, was extremely nice and professional . Physical therapy was great, five days a week with very professional technicians. My Husband was very confident with Judee, Nicole and Kristy. They worked him hard to get him ready to go home . Our at home physical therapist couldn’t believe how well he was doing.This was our first experience with anything like this so we were a little apprehensive at first. However, everything was clean. The staff is professional and very thoughtful and respectful. Every visit I was greeted with a smile when I walked in. The Receptionists were very thorough to make sure that temperatures were taken and masks were worn. Covid rules were very strict which I appreciated. Thanks to all of you!❤️Cindi Shively

If I could give 0 stars I would gladly do so. These people do not care about their patients. I signed my daughter up for for therapy and she had one session. It is hard enough to find a good therapist and have a teen open up about her issues/troubles. Then, to be left hanging by someone who obviously didn't have enough courtesy to cancel a session. Then she is rescheduled because the old therapist quit and no one logs in once again. Yet, I have received several invoices for appointments that did not take place. What a joke. 🙁 Needless to say we are done with this practice. Response to your reply: I understand a scheduling error but unfortunately, it was a cancelation, then a no show, then a scheduling error. Too many excuses at this point its simply unacceptable. Sorry, but I do appreciate the effort to respond. I do not feel I'm being unreasonable, if it was your child you would feel the same.c c

Wings of the Future paired me with such an amazing therapist to help me manage my anxiety and stress. Deanna has been such a positive outlet in my life and cannot thank this establishment enough for pairing us together. With her help I was able to better manage my anxious tendencies and continue to work through my issues. The office has been great at answering any questions I had regarding payment and scheduling. I get weekly appointment reminders so I never forget a session. I would recommend this office to anyone seeking help.Chelsea L

Working with Krystal absolutely changed my life. She was a great influence on helping me change my way of thinking and understanding issues that I was dealing with on the daily that were blocking me from growing and becoming a better person. After working with Krystal, listening and applying what she said I saw rapid growth in a short period of time. I can’t thank her enough for her guidance and wisdom.Maxwell Owens

This review reflects my experience with Natalia Salinas. I initially choose her because she had such great reviews and her Psychology Today profile expressed everything I had been looking for in a therapist. During our first in-person interaction, she was not wearing a mask and I asked her, “Do you not believe in wearing a mask?”. She stated that she does and goes to the grocery store in a mask. She explained how we are sitting 6 feet apart and had even measured the ground to ensure the distance. She asked me if I wanted to measure the floor and I told her no. We were in an enclosed space and her office is very small and I told her that it has been recommended by public health officials to wear a mask indoors. This were her response, “well clients have already been in the room” and she stated that she does not make it mandatory for her clients to wear a mask and because she has already been vaccinated she does not wear a mask. This is very concerning that she was trying to find an excuse and reaffirm her stance on not wearing a mask but at the end of a brief uncomfortable conversation, she asked me “Would you feel more comfortable if I wore a mask?” I stated yes. While she may be vaccinated, she does not know the lifestyles of her clients and if they are socially distancing and I feel that she is placing her clients at risk by allowing them not to wear a mask. As a social worker, I assumed she would be doing her best to protect her community, not harm it. The tone of the session shifted, and I felt that she was annoyed by me, but we began session. I was there to discuss leading an alcohol-free life. I had not had a drink since November and wanted to meet with a therapist to assist me with sustaining this alcohol-free lifestyle. For most of the session, she described addiction from an educational standpoint which I understand is necessary to do at times for your clients. However, this clinician is working from an abstinence only model for substance use and uses a cookie cutter approach which is a “one-size fits all” approach instead of making a customized treatment plan based on individual needs and situation. I discovered this when I asked about marijuana use and she stated that it will lead to the same negative consequences. I attempted to explain that this is harm reduction approach where I would not consume alcohol but was thinking about engaging in marijuana use, she stated “go ahead and test your theory if you want.” I felt she was speaking to me in a condescending manner and was attempting to predict my outcomes by saying marijuana use will lead to the same devastating outcomes as alcohol. She wanted me to attend AA classes and read the 12-step guide which I was totally open to doing. The reason I stopped seeing this therapist is because she is not strength-based or person-centered as she claims to be. I attempted to tell a story a couple times and she kept interrupting me. When I did tell a story, she moved on and did not reflect any of my feelings or statements as social workers are trained to do. There was no therapeutic relationship with her, and she plays more of an authoritative role. In her bio she states, “Together, we will work to bolster your existing strengths and identify your personal needs” yet she did not acknowledge any of my strengths which were that I came in voluntarily, am actively seeking help, and I had not drank since November. She also gave me homework which was to write a “goodbye letter to my disease” and to start reading from the 12-step guide. Most of the content from the guide is deficit-based meaning it preaches that individuals are powerless to alcohol and other substances. I just want to emphasis to any individual reading this that you are not powerless, you are a powerful and resilient person who is capable of recovery. While I understand that the AA model and 12 step-guide has brought many benefits to some, it does not work for all. I believe her style is not up to date with how social workers are currently being trained and educated and I just wanted to emphasis that.Anonymous Raccoon

Natalia Salinas is more than a professional mental health clinician. She is also a personal angel who assisted me in my 4 1/2 years of recovery from alcohol and drugs. With her skills and experience, she approaches each counseling session with an earnest, compassionate, and productive attitude to not only address personal issues, but set realistic/ effective goals for recovery in all aspects of life. My personal emotional, physical, and spiritual healing occured in those 4 walls. All in all, it was an honor to have someone there for me who really cared about me, scars and all.Richard Ceniseroz

Natalia is the most understanding , caring , efficient woman. She scheduled me right away , she continues to make me feel a lot better her office is so wonderfully peaceful every time I’m there it feels like home. She always gives the best advice and always answers her phone when I need her. She’s really good at checking up on her patients and giving her 100 Percent. I’d definitely recommend her.Valerie Romero

I passed my ASWB clinical exam! SWTP site is the Best Ever! If I did not know SWTP, I don't think I would write this happy comments at this time yet. Thank you so much for the free extensions and support until I passed! I already recommended SWTP for my friend who has been struggling from several test programs. SWTP purchase cost is very reasonable compare to other test program which I purchased bundle#5. I tried other social work test web sites to study for the exam and became frustrated and confused with them, one of them taught in a too easy way in which the actual exam is extremely complicated. Since I found SWTP, the study became much easier, your program is almost as same as the actual exams, it helped me get comfortable with the questions. I've learned an enormous knowledge through the rationale after each question and the suggested study, the follow up process helped me to expand clinical, ethical, legal , cultural perspectives. I really enjoyed to study. Thank you very much for your efforts and passion to help Social Workers! YoungYM H. K

Really good website! It helps a lot with practice questions and the rationales and additional resources are really helpful! I loved their study guide as well as it gave me motivation to past my LMSW exam! The great thing is they give you a free set of questions to try out before you even purchase the set of exams. I highly recommend them!Mira Patel

Passed my exam using the website 4 hour mock exams twice and reviewed and study questions! I would recommend this material to anyone! It helped me pass with ease and this was the most affordable test prep material!Yamilée

Wasted 2 precious years of my life and money at this school. This school lacks too many things to list here but I'll share with you a couple of them. First, the instructors are nice and well taught only thing is their equipment are old and not enough to go around. Secondly they need to hire a qualified Admin dept personnel, not a person off the street. And my biggest disappointment about this school is that you will NOT get a job after graduating from this school !!!! I am in debt right now as we speak for the tuition I owed, and if I can turn back the time, I will use this money on something useful. I will stay away from this school if I were you, there are other similar schools may cost a little bit more but they are and will be well worth your money and have a better chance at landing you the job after graduation. Please don't make the mistake that I made, you will thank me. If you don't believe me you should ask anyone you know who graduated this school before you make the decision.길보이

I've attended ATI College back in 2009. It was the best choice i made since. They sent me to Long Beach VA Hospital for my externship and It was amazing!! I learned soo much. Everyone @ ATI was really very pleasant and I had the Best Instructors. All the Instructors are ARDMS Certified and Experienced Doctors. I received emails wkly from the career services @ ATI. I was determined to find a job and so I took advantage using those emails and sending out my resumes. I found a job 3 mo's after graduating from ATI and have been working as a sonographer since. My experiences and payroll has increased 3xs. I know it is a difficult world we live in but it all starts with you. whether you want to succeed in this career or not. It's up to you!!! And, my phrase is if you have and family and kids then…… "MAKE IT HAPPEN"!!! (:Mary K

I attended ATI College in 2010. I was very lucky to have knowledgeable instructors who were always willing to help when I asked. They also set me up with a great externship site at a hospital where I gained a lot of experience and I was able to find a job within a month after finishing my externship. There were some people who were unable to find a job afterwards but those were usually the students who were always missing class or not using their class time wisely. Basically, you get back what you put in. I would recommend this school to anyone who is willing to put in the time and effort into a new career.Claudia S

Throughout my whole life I’ve spent time in and out of group therapy, individual therapy and many other things related to mental health. At almost age 55 I was introduced to a facility that offered an outpatient program. I entered into this program with some doubts, having experienced many failed attempts in the past years. The very first phone call was met with 100% kindness and caring. The staff made my transition very smoothly and quickly and two days later I was enrolled and anxious to get started. I the amount of time spent there is based individually for each patient. There is a whole team of people working to analyze, teach, and help you implement daily practice's into our lives. The program offers some of the most advanced treatment that I have ever experienced. There are daily groups that deal with intense healing and the opportunity to listen to others and their issues really adds to the environment. When I started at Pacific Solstice, I thought I would be this way for the rest of my life and never find a solution to my anxiety, depression and anger. The day I graduated was an emotional time because I realized that I honestly and truly have found happiness and love in my life again. To all the people at Pacific Solstice I had to say that you literally saved my life. Living day to day with anger, depression, and anxiety. I have finally for the first time in my life been able to wake up every day and use the tools and specialized training that I received to experience life in a way that I’ve never known before. I know that I will always have issues to deal with every day but I’ve learned how to manage these issues, and to live a fuller life. Please by any means possible if you have any of these things holding you back in your life. PTSD, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression, anger, etc. Take a few short weeks for the rest of your life and experience what I have experienced. Take that step and give Pacific Solstice a call and get well. Don’t wait. R. IrvinRichard irvin

I first encounter Pacific Solstice during the Out of the Darkness OC walk for suicide prevention. I am a graduate student and I wanted to explore and learn about the different tables. When I approached their table, I was greeted by a whole team of people from Pacific Solstice. The information they presented was very informative, interesting and innovative. Pacific Solstice has new options and treatments for mental health that many families and individuals need and have been looking for.Thank you Rams, Brianna, Britten, Narges, and Anh for sharing information about Pacific Solstice. They were so personable and attentive. Also, I had the opportunity to visit their office! The style of the clinic is modern, clean, welcoming and comfortable. It didn’t feel like I was in a hospital. I think just that alone sets them apart from many other clinics. You can really tell that this team has put lots of thought and effort in their mission and their environment to make it a safe place for their clients. From their dedicated team, and amazing guidance for families and individuals, I see why they have such successful improvements! I hope to see this company continue to grow and help people every step of the way.Megan Natividad

I can hardly find the words to express my gratitude for Pacific Solstice. From the very first conversation with them, to the plan for my teenage daughter's "graduation" from the program, we have felt cared for, important, and in the best possible hands. We have a comparison point as my daughter was in a different program and had to leave when she got Covid. It turned out to be the best thing that could have happened, since I never would have found PS otherwise. This program is life-changing, not only for the patients, but for the families. Your child will enter the doors feeling hopeless, and leave with tools and an emotional fortitude they will have for the rest of their lives. I recommend Pacific Solstice without any hesitation.Margo Christou

#saveandres At the very least this place should be concerned with its pr I for sure won't consider going to this university or its medical center.Zoe (Mother Goose)

I told my self I would wait but I couldn’t help but wait to tell the world how maculate Paula is and I must add her staff the young lady at the front desk is very respectful, kind and generous and will assist you in the best ability that she can do to the best of her ability to accommodate your schedule and or appointments that you have to book within Paula’s facility also Paula’s Pier that assist her with classes/groups is another compassionate intelligent lady ,….. not to mention PAULA!!!! She is the most outspoken lady I’ve ever known she AWARE! You of your RIGHTS! Also you learn a lot from her and her classes/groups I recommend any and everyone goin through anything wether it’s just rough time in life or deal with a case PAULA is there to help you and assist you in every way she actually hears you out and listen to what you have to say keep in mind she is in communication with whom ever your situation may concern so what you tell her is very critical and important be sure it’s the truth no lie shall be prospered she will support you and your decisions she cares about your feelings also your family/ life I look at her as my mentor in life she just doesn’t know she’s a inspiration to my life and others I’ve learned that I am in control of a lot of situations in my life she just awarded me of it I’ve also learned that when you have kids all things shall be age appropriate I’ve also learn not pertaining to my situation but I’ve learned there’s many different ways of abuse and what’s the signs when you are victimized I’ve also learn none the less already knew other ways to justify good parenting I’ve also learned speaking with someone individual counts such as it matters to your heart your feelings your emotions wether it’s to let go of something or take in something not neither referring to me I’ve learned also learned signs of a drug addict and or drug abuse… with Paula you learn new words new definitions and maybe even a new life not referring to me just basing my acknowledgement paying CLOSE ATTENTION to what Paula says in her classes I truly really recommend any and everyone to her for anything that her facility may accommodate you in it will be worth your wild your life and time I’m not saying worth your money because once you attend one class none the less will you think about the money you will forget you paid for the services it will seem more like a mentor through life!!!!!! I will never ever ever for get about Paula’s classes/groups neither Paula and or her stall and I will always be a part of her facility if Paula shall call on me for any advice and or situations as I called on her for mines!Denise Greene

Awesome team!!! Their so sweet and really helped me get my life in order. I will forever be grateful. I will always come back just to get a little of a reality check from Paula and Betty. They seen me at my worst and now Im shinning bright then ever. Without their expertise I would still be working at a dead end job now I have a career of teaching. I’m one happy client and love coming to visit my girls. They love their community and do so much they deserve nothing but the best and some. GREAT JOB LADIES!!Dyana Gonzalez

Friendly Staff, very understanding. Staff members work with you and are very understanding of your situation; tips, suggestions, and just common knowledge on how to handle your own dilemmas. Not to sound like a broken record, but friendly staff members, they work you and just want you to be the Best You.Jessica Garcia

WHAT AN AMAZING TEAM!!! From the first initial visit at my mom's apartment from Dr. Goodman, to follow up appointments by Nurse Regina, and the seamless transition to higher level of care of the hospice team at Geiss Med and then finally the sincere and loving care of hospice Nurse Lisa and mom's peaceful passing at home–it was as if angels were sent to help—and they did. Thank you EVERYONE at Geiss Med. Dignity and Healthcare at home at it's best.Diane Mello

I have worked with Geiss Med for residents at the senior living community I work for. All of the families I have ever referred them to have been so happy and raving about the communication between them and the doctors. It makes it very easy to continue to refer them to my new residence when they take such amazing care of everyone!tricia shelton

I'm employed as a Medical Social Worker for Geiss MED dba Apollo Hospice in Phoenix, AZ. I work with an amazing team! Management goes above and beyond to develop a cohesive and highly skilled team. I am excited and honored to be a part of this team and look forward to growing the best hospice in the Valley!Michelle L.M. Belle

Disappointed in Keck and their greed. My doctor and his staff are amazing but it's obvious at every visit that they are overwhelmed with patients. I've asked every assistant and doctor why the wait times are long and why everyone seems so stressed and the answer consistently across the board is that they are forced to see as many as 50 patients a day. I'm not sure if that's a line for an excuse or hyperbole but I know over worked and burnt out employees when I see them and it is a testament to their dedication to their profession that they still try as hard as they can. I hope their unions or whoever organize against USC because as a patient and as a human being I would expect a billion dollar medical group to do better. In addition they have administrators providing cheap, terrible instruments in the name of cost cutting which left me very uneasy about getting good care. Doctors and nurses can be the best but they can only work with what they have and USC seems hell bent on providing very little. I sure hope their compensation is at least above market.Alexandra Poss

Breast cancer can be scary but the team of Doctors from USC that I was blessed to have got me through it. Dr. Silberman and Maria got me through my initial mastectomy. Not fun. Then Dr. Kang helped me through my chemo and has been walking me through everything since. You're an 😇 and I thank God for you and your staff, Lori you are a Godsend. Also, if you have any other concerns you can count on Susan the Social worker. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!Cynthia Willie

My personal opinion is DO NOT see Dr. Azadeh A. Carr if you are a woman or Breast Cancer patient. She was not warm in her interactions with me as a patient, she did not exhibit thorough or unbiased judgment as a physician, and she REFUSED to give me care based on her arbitrary assumptions about my health. If you are in pain and concerned about your breast health and wellness, I'd admonish you to stay away from "Dr Azadeh Carr" and seek care elsewhere!p e

My child attended Excel Academy for the school year 2021-2022 and was in the homeschooling program. We had an overall good experience. We were interested in returning and enrolled our child for the school year 2022-2023. We had hoped to have the same TOR however, we were informed that was not possible. A few weeks after expressing our interest in returning (at the end of the school year) we received an email stating the school could no longer enroll our child, as the school was making changes to the program. After receiving the email, l reached out and spoke with Noel of registration to inquire and was told they could accommodate my child for virtual learning but not homeschooling. We elected to register our child and even received a "welcome back to school" document and we signed and returned as requested by Excel. We learned the day before school 8/31/22 that it was not an option after all and our child was no longer enrolled. This has created a lot of emotional stress and confusion for our family. I left many messages and emails requesting a call for further clarification. I received a call from Nick Romo, the new principal and he was very defensive and basically took no responsibility for the miscommunication and leading us to believe our child was enrolled in virtual learning. He was extremely cold and not empathetic with our experience. Mr. Nick Romo blamed the executive director, Heidi Gaska as being the one independently made the decision. When I asked to connect with her, he started she will tell you the samething I'm telling you, so not sure why you need to speak with her. He also had concern that I emailed and left several messages. Mr. Romo also shared there were many families impacted by the Excel decision to not re-enroll students and he spent most the summer hearing parents over the phone complain. He was very dismisive and found humor in it all. Now, we are scrambling to find a school for our child who is confused as to why he cannot attend Excel. I must also share we never received full access to the POS system to order supplies for our child last year, so we had to ask for supplies through our TOR. As a result the school kept about $2,000 from the state that never went to my child. And, when we inquired we were told we were not the only family with this issue and it would be absorbed into the school administration. I wonder how many other parents experienced the same? I also texted his prior TOR Lori Levine to see if she could assist to no avail. Very sad the administration of Excel academy has created such hardship on it students and parents.Emma Martinez

We’ve been with Excel for 5 years – just started 6th. I’m not sure that other homeschool charters are better, but Excel is very frustrating to say the least. They make big changes every year. Their communication is both overwhelming and poor (a million pointless emails that have nothing to do with grade level yet they don’t inform parents when a very popular vendor is not available. When asked, they give the runaround). We were switched to a new TOR the night before school started. We had to drop the curriculum we’ve been using for 3 years a few weeks before school started (way less freedom to choose now). When we had a problem we needed to solve with the school, elementary principal Nick Romo only regurgitated policies. Showed no interest in listening or trying to help us solve the problem. Director of operations Keri Schneeweis was by far the worst. Without introducing herself or asking about our problem, she hit the ground running with passive aggressive accusations that we were either lying or oblivious. Shockingly unprofessional and rude. At this point, we hate this school. We’ll likely stick it out this year because we get instructional funds to help us homeschool. I wish Excel would focus on being an asset to homeschooling families instead of a hindrance and waste of time. It feels like they just like to make us jump through hoops. If they’d allow TORs to make judgment calls (within reason) based on each individual family, it would be a much better school.Levi Myers

We’ve been with Excel for a long time now. My oldest started at the school since his 8th grade yr. He’ll be graduating h.s this year. Excel has been great, they offer AP classes, they have helpful resources when it’s needed, they’ve always been very helpful and responsive to all of my students’ needs. I have a 5th grader and my 5 year old is starting kindergarten this year. I feel like Excel has always helped us a lot, educationally. They offer instructional funds with a great list of vendors to choose from. My kids have been able to play hockey, take swimming lessons, kick boxing lessons, and order school supplies as needed. Teachers of records have been great! They have flexible personalized learning for your family’s needs. My kids love it!Deborah Ponce

They ask me to be there half hour before my schedule time, and I did , even a bit earlier, waited for 2 hours, asked several times what was going on, and got brush off they are with patient, no a single time no one was capable to said I am sorry for the wait , or anything, When finally I went in , 2 hours later, for a something that take by clock 5 minutes top, the response for the technician when I mention the long wait "was we were busy…" rolling her eyes. We have the most expensive health care system in the world and more and more, the worst . I will not be going there again. I have not been so furious in a long time.Ana Schram

My review is for the G. I. Floor. I went here for my endoscopy and colonoscopy. Every person I came in contact with was SO nice. The male RN that was getting me checked in and all my info was great! I'm a hard stick on an IV it always takes 3 people. They got my IV in on the 1st try, that's never happened before. Everytime any nurse walked by they always asked if I needed another warm blanket. I had a great experience. My only complaint is they said they would give me juice right after and didn't 😑 but my husband was there to pick me up very fast so I will forgive them lol.Gina W.

I have never been to a more beautiful center..and received such terrible care. I have been to ugly clinics, with no furniture other than folding chairs in other countries and received much better care. I have tried to contact a patient advocate for this center but there does not seem to be anyone looking out for patients here; there is nobody to speak to about problems. Reports are wrong, scheduling is a nightmare, and the workers have an attitude that they are doing patients favors when it is through their incompetence that the problem exists.K Smith