8 Best Psychology Grad Programs In Bakersfield, CA (2022 Updated)

I have been a patient of Dr. Bhurgri for several years, and I really appreciate him! I know that Psychiatrists should be somewhat personable and positive when dealing with their patients, but that has not been my experience in the past with the ones I have seen before Dr. Bhurgri. He has been great to work with! He always explains his current treatment plan and goals, and he has been very open to having me try different medications over time to find what works for me. I have enjoyed our interactions very much. He has a great personality and is very helpful, understanding, and kind. Plus, I like his sense of humor and "bedside manner". I have been getting the best care since I started seeing him. I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone. I have also found the staff to be friendly and helpful, and I have appreciated having the online appointments through the pandemic. One of the most helpful interventions for my serious depression was recommended by Dr. Bhurgri. It's called “TMS” (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and has been a game-changer! The TMS treatments take place in the Psychiatric Wellness Center office on Brimhall. Dr. Bhurgri gave me an overview of the process, and Jasmine (the TMS technician) spent plenty of time explaining the procedures and answering my questions. She is wonderful to work with. After a full course of TMS treatments, I was able to mostly eliminate my depression medications, and the depression symptoms decreased significantly. I hope to have a second round of TMS treatments within the month, after having finished the initial round 10 months ago. My serious depression had been going on for well over a decade. This has been the single most effective depression treatment I have experienced! I'll say upfront that the TMS sessions are just a bit uncomfortable, but I got used to them over the course of the treatments. To me, I KNEW it was doing something, rather than just wondering if I had felt nothing at all. A little discomfort is a very fair trade-off for the benefit I received from it. It was never painful, and an OCCASSIONAL slight headache for about an hour after treatment was the extent of the side effects. If you have the opportunity to get the TMS treatments, please strongly consider it! As I said before, it is a GAME CHANGER!Sean C

I am, for the most part, satisfied. There was a technical difficulty with a video appointment. I sent messages to the person I was supposed to be talking to during this time, advising them I was there and asking if they were there. I called the next day and explained the situation. I thought the matter was taken care of; however, my care provider noted I was a no-show. Because of this, I ran out of my meds. Although my prescription for Lorazepam was eventually refilled, I am still without the Clonidine I had been taking for my anxiety, even though I had made requests to have the prescription refilled.Norma White

Dr. Bhurgri has been an excellent provider since I began seeing him a few years ago. He is genuinely compassionate towards his patients, actively listens to concerns, and is collaborative, supportive, and knowledgeable in the process. Dr. Bhurgri introduced me to the TMS treatment and supported me from the evaluation through to the end of TMS treatment. I am very satisfied with the results of TMS for improved mood and feel I have only good things to say about Dr. Bhurgri as a provider and TMS as a treatment. Highly recommend speaking to Dr. Bhurgri if you're interested in TMS at all.Kayla Uimari

This school could use some updates. I applied to one of the graduate programs. I received an email indicating to fill out a printed version of the application to the program. Everything has to be printed on paper. I also had to make an order money check to pay for the application and other payments. I believe there should be options do to it online. I had to pay overnight shipping for I did not what my private information to be lost. There was a worker that has helped me a lot of the questions, but still made me uneasy about the program. I did not receive any notification when my application was received. The only way I knew it was received was because a worker called me to ask me a few questions about my application. Months went by. I called April and admissions did not know anything about my status on my application. I had to call someone in the program. (Same worker that was helping me). She said by mid April the school should know who they are accepting. Mid April pass now it is towards the end of May. I still have not received anything from the school. I called to ask again and the same worker told me end of May. There are only four days left for the end of May. Fall semester usually starts in August. No notification at all from the school. No rejection notification, nor waitlisted, nor acceptance. A friend even jokingly said “Does this school even exist?”. So disappointing. I cannot even plan my education without knowing if I got accepted or not. Maybe I should have applied to other schools.nvstar

Amazing experience. CSU Bakersfield doing Covid vaccines for anyone that wants one. All thats needed is photo ID. Very professional, very friendly, and very quick staff. The entire time from parking in the abundant parking spaces to walking to the facility, waiting in line, getting the show, waiting the 15 minutes, and leaving was less than an hour. Thank you to everyone the set up, ran, and administered the vaccines. Your staff are the real heros. The participants even were on point by following the guidelines to make the experience enjoyable.Kevin Butler

This is a good college, with many great professors, especially in the psychology department. This area has far fewer people, so it's easier to go to school here than some of the other more crowded universities down below. It's not a great place to live, not so much because it's a bad town, but because of the air-quality. But you're much more likely to pay lower rent, and find it easier to go to college here, if you're considering going to a CSU. I'm grateful for my time there.Brian Dillard

I went here off an on for a.few years however I moved out of state for 2 yrs when I returned I went on to order transcripts and saw I had a bill In further review I saw there were classes added to my acct but the format they use now canvas and such isnt something I've used. It's been years since I've taken classes. Well the classes were never dropped and never paid for but they are charging me for them. Classes that are way off of anything I've ever taken. Well no one will help me they keep saying I added them etc etc. Rediculous. I was a pre nursing major and the classes are like wildlife law stuff. Idek what to do. Makes me sad bcuz I don't even want to send my daughter here now.Merri Suydam

I've heard that it's a good place to start at, that's it. Trying to get ahold of ANYONE in charge there is a lost cause. Trying to report baseballs hitting our cars in the neighborhood from their baseball practice, reporting student cars parked in front of my driveway, and now trying to get anything done about the excessively loud music played while their baseball practice is going on….no one responds. The neighbors and I can hear the music from six houses down across the street….and from inside our homes!!! Their coaches clearly are not concerned about teaching any moral values or respect.Bug Lover

Inconsiderate college. They have courses listed for students to sign up only for them to get cancelled shortly after. They claim "low enrollment" but the classes that are available are filled to capacity. There are 100 students in one of classes with no online option! They do not care of the risk COVID. Professors don't even answer their emails when you ask them about available classes they are teaching. Go to CSUB and stop wasting your time with these chumps!M C

I have been going to VPG for less than a year. Before that, I had been seen by almost 10 different therapists and psychologists. I had never found relieve of my symptoms. Worse, I never found someone that I thought was even on the same page as I was and understood what was going on with me. It was very frustrating. Since starting seeing Dr. Lancaster, I feel more understood than by any of the other professionals. He has been able to understand me personally, and diagnosed me with 2 diagnoses that I hadn't been given before. It's been a slow process, but I know that therapy can take time. He is very nice, knowledgeable, and caring. He also "gives it to you straight". Dr. Lancaster doesn't just keep seeing you because he wants to get paid (he offered to not see me if I felt I wasn't being helped and offered to recommend were I could go next). He has very advanced knowledge in spirituality, psychology, and also how they relate. He has specific psychological techniques that I had never tried before. The most important thing I can say about Dr. Lancaster, is he has true Wisdom. The front desk is helpful, and as far as scheduling they seem usually to be able to fit me in when I need it. Therefore it doesn't seem as an organization they are overloaded. I would rate my experience with him/them as an A or A+ (5 out of 5 stars).Matthew Rossi

The healing professionals at Valley Psychological Group (VPG) provide compassionate, state-of-the-art, psychological services to a wide variety of patients. Their training, knowledge, and authentic desire to help individuals who are experiencing emotional difficulties is evident in the manner in which ALL patients are treated with respect, kindness, and unconditional positive regard. At VPG, you will find a safe space where you can be vulnerable, and work through emotional, psychological, and/or spiritual pain and suffering in a non-judgemental, supportive environment. Additionally, the support staff at VPG are highly competent in handling any questions you may have regarding scheduling, payment for services, and insurance benefits. Thank you VPG for all the outstanding healing you provide to the Bakersfield community.Dr. Heidi Wolfson

They started off great! I went to them to get a psych eval done for a tubal surgery. They accommodated me to the furthest extent they could. Spent hours at my appointment where Dr said my tests all came back normal aside from some deep seated anxiety (I couldve told him that) and that he would give clearance for my procedure. GREAT… up until this point. Not only was it a hassle and a half to get them to send my surgeon the clearance, i had my consultation appointment today. The man straight lied directly to my face!! The "clearance" he gave was in fact a denial! I wasted a month and a half that i couldve been looking for another doctor because this man was too coward to tell me the truth. Dishonest and misogynistic.Dee

I took the OSHA 511 course and the material we reviewed was relevant and helpful. My instructor was Russ Barringer. He didn't answer peoples questions clearly and pressured the class participants to attend an additional lecture at a different location for an additional cost. Long story short I did not attend but I passed the class. He would give round about answers and default back to re-reading the slide(s). He allowed students to take over the course and because of that that the last two days of the course seemed rushed and inefficient.Karmela k

If you are in serious need of help please go somewhere else. If you're having a mental breakdown please reach out to the crisis line. College community services here on H Street would rather see you dead or in a mental health hospital than actually taking time to help you. Oh and if you're distress and you call here they'll hang up on you and never give you a call back. The people who work here need to be fired and yes I've made a complaint with the business department. I also just spoke with the manager. The manager said she'll speak with her employer to figure out what she can do to give the best help. I'm just saying I hope you do speak to her. If a person worse off then me called and was treated that way they could of ended up dead.Kerri Marlow

I can say this place was very professional the doctor was understanding the services they offer are great you must wear masks upon entering the building. They do not over book clients overall College Community Service five starsMike