20 Best Psyd 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

Southern California University of Health Sciences is a sham and the employees there are bullies! Don't waste your time, and more importantly your money applying or attending. I applied to both their DC and PA programs and was first accepted into their DC program. After my acceptance, I kept receiving admissions emails regarding my "admission to their PA program." When I called the school to report the irregularity, I was told by Ms Elizabeth Cruz the email had been sent in error. Strangely, Ms Elizabeth Cruz also told me at that time that applicants were expected to be "professional throughout the application process." – Apparently Ms Elizabeth Cruz says this to "everyone" (despite never saying this to me at any time during our previous phone calls before that). It wasn't after I called to follow up on my PA application (months later) that I was told (more so screamed at) by Mr David Coronado, who told me I would not be accepted into their PA program and that my DC acceptance had been rescinded because I had "altered" their admission emails… When I tried to ask where this accusation was coming from, Mr David Coronado refused to let me speak and threatened to report me to CASPA. When I tried to justify the validity of the emails I had received, Mr Coronado raised his voice at me and told me that my opinion did not matter. Well after months of being told I'd get a call back from the dean of the DC and PA program (which never occurred), I was able to settle the situation with the school and obtain an apology. The school did in fact report me to CASPA and I was also able to obtain a retraction for their libelous claim. At this point I have no desire to attend this school and was glad to see the reality about SCUHS before becoming part of the student body. Ultimately SCUHS and its staff lack the professionalism required to operate a health sciences school and SCUHS' action only discredits the legitimacy of the school. While SCHUS is tasked with training our future healthcare providers, the school doesn't seem to know what it is doing at the administrative level…Harold C

I go to this school for chiropractic and am closing in on graduation. My whole cohort feels the same way some teachers are great some are awful. The admin at this school is awful. They change things constantly in regards to events and important classes and let us know days before. Selectives are a complete joke at this school. Sports medicine is a complete joke and there are teachers here who hate adjusting. The gonstead club is banned because it’s too chiropractic for this school. There are numerous alumni who call this place LAPT because we come out of here so good at soft tissue and not at adjusting. This school teaches things the wrong way. Dean fachinatto is the worst dean possible she would not work with anyone to get an in person white coat ceremony without families in attendance. All we wanted was a Facebook live ceremony where we were presented our white coat on camera and put on the coat for our families to see at home, but she would not work with us at all and we were given the worst zoom ceremony ever. She even claimed it would be super special but it was literally our names on the screen being read off on zoom. Do your research on this place before you come.Mick Burney

Do not waste your time at this school, Please stay away, they have poor professionalism, quality of care, rude workers specifically at the billing center. They will tell you one price first and then on the day of payment tell you a 20% increased price. These people are not honest, and will steal from you, mind that if you do pay all this money you will get the worst customer service ever. I submitted a payment plan and never got a response back I had to initiate like hey I'm calling about my payment plan, they really set you up for failure. I asked to speak to a supervisor never got a call back. I cannot believe I had to pay $2,450 for a 100% online course. Be careful with hidden fees! They lie to you and will not help with solving any issues. I dunno if there is a Dean in the school but I have called many different "supervisors" never got an answer or call back, no one ever helped me solve my issue. Only one person was helping me from admissions but what was said from that person did not match with the billing department or register? STAY AWAYStephanie Garcia

This college has pros and cons just like any other institution. I was a business major, so I cannot speak for other programs. Some of the pros: -The campus is beautiful and very well maintained. -The campus is more-or-less contained in one area. -Some professors (not all) are very helpful if you show that you care. -The gym is actually useful. -The campus is expanding. -Very nice cafeteria. -There is a Starbucks next to the library, perfect for white girls. (FYI this is the only Starbucks in the USA that is franchised.) -Best school in NJ if you want to become a teacher. -STEM building is awesome. Cons: -Tuition is rising at an exponential rate. -Not exactly the most illustrious school. -Parking spaces are diminishing because of all the new buildings, adding to the HUGE parking problem that already plagues KU. -Not too engaging on campus since most people commute and leave right after their classes are over. -The grade curving is absolutely ridiculous. I worked my tail off to receive the same grade as the slackers. It got so bad that I had a 160% in a class one time. Had multiple classes where I received a +100%. How does that work? -Administration is horrible (especially admissions). -Not exactly located on the best side of town. -Student store is expensive (especially books). Student deli is extremely expensive (I'm talking $5-for-a-Red-Bull expensive.) -Some professors will avoid you like the plague outside of class. -Like anywhere else, some students don't care at all and you will have to deal with that. My overall experience with Kean was a good one. I transferred from a community college and Kean definitely was a step up.Robstat

Tuition is definitely affordable, and the campus is definitely nice. Professors are very understanding, and definitely help you when you need it. The only thing I have an issue with is the Trolley System. Sometimes I'd get out of class at 10:45 and my next class would be at 11 in East campus. Even if I got out of class and got to the Trolley stop by Kean Hall, sometimes the Trolley wouldn't come for 30 minutes. Maybe if the Kean App had a gps tracker on the Trolley to show where it was located, it would help a lot because sometimes you have to just hope it will come. Other than that I love this University. Miron Student Center is amazing, the information desk gives you all the information you need. Sandra Collins will always help you when you need it! There are many places to study in peace whether it be the library in a study room, Green Lane, East Campus, the Stem building, there's always a place to study in peace. There's also a variety of places to eat such as the cafe, Jersey Mike's, Auntie Anne's, or Smash Burger. Also, there are many clubs to join, and if you're a commuter doing extra curricular activities help kill time when you're waiting for parkway traffic to die down.Joshua Cadavos

EXCELLENT university! This university has a lot to offer to its students. Professors are very helpful and always encourage to become more independent and further your education within both the classroom and the future. Commuting can tough for those who drive (parking is an issue), but if your able to take NJ Transit then definitely do it. (Name another school that has a train station across the street from the campus.) Half hour from NYC, store outlets within a few miles for shopping. Kean has helped me immensely from not only an academic stand point, but also as an individual. Overall I've had a great student experience here and choosing Kean University has probably been the best decision I've ever made.Brendan Mc

This place is more church than it is a university. Undergrads are required to earn an additional 18 units, 9 credits of Humanities & 9 credits of Religion, on top of your traditional 120 units for a Bachelors. As well as 14 hours of “convo” each semester (look it up). Every staff / faculty member who works here complains about there pay to anyone who will listen. Student advisors and counselors will try to impress upon you their administrative powers. Student Veterans: Both, as a Yellow Ribbon student and (at about 3/4 of the way thru) as a VocRehab (Ch.33) student, Ella from student accounts would withhold all my grants and loans until the government paid the tuition it owed on my behalf. This place is known for its vistas not their academics. You won’t build much of a portfolio to show employers just by going here. Students in the Arts programs here focused more on who to know rather then what to know. Very “Right Wing” policies. Good WiFi in the buildings, not so much outside.Timothy Mitchell

I got accepted to two schools but wanted to start with a summer course at Pepperdine to see how it goes. I enrolled in one class and before the class started I asked professor for the syllabus, and few additional questions. He emailed me he would gladly speak to me about the class I want to take and gave me the phone number to call. I am not a native speaker and I have an accent. When I called, he was very rude, asked me who I am, and then he said I got the wrong number and hanged up on me. I withdrew the class immediately to get my money back and I decided to go to different university instead, with better reputation. There are other better schools out there.Mila Rosey

I graduated from Pepperdine in 2006… Thanks to Pepperdine I've met people and gained the educational foundation to realize the maximum potential in my life! I've traveled the world (through the study abroad opportunities and my due to my career after graduating), met some of the coolest people ever, and got to live near the beach in Malibu! For an all-around A+ university, go to Pepperdine. You won't be sorry!Matthew Steffen

I went to this school back in 2015-2016. I was living near the school at the time, but I had to move over 4 hours away after escaping domestic violence. This school hires professors that do not want to see domestic violence victims succeed. Put your money elsewhere. Here is my story: Even with my broken wrist, I managed to complete the courses and coursework, and for a time, the professors were understanding of my situation, since I was not cleared to go back to work yet and was relying on my financial aid to pay for basic things like my phone and my health bills related to my wrist. I ended up getting cleared to go back to work, and had the job opportunity of a lifetime present itself to me. I accepted so I could get back on my feet. However, this was around the same time I had to complete one of my first residency requirements. My student adviser at the time was willing to work with me and found a course that I could take to meet my work life needs. However, it was the only option available to me. Since I had to leave for training for two weeks, the work campus did not allow personal business to be conducted on their computers, which included school work. I emailed my professor, and explained to him the situation that I was going to be gone for training when the class began and explained to him my predicament, asking for a compromise so I wouldn't lose my job. Part of the coursework was to attend GoToMeeting lectures. However, due to the nature of my work, I was unable to stream these lectures as no recording cameras were allowed. I explained all of this to him in e-mails. He did not listen to my emails, giving me responses that made it seem like he wasn't even reading my e-mails, and forwarded me back to the student adviser and washed his hands of it. Ultimately, after enduring a layover at an airport after training had finished, this professor expected me to attend a Go-To-Meeting class with two hours of sleep, then berate me for my lack of participation, after explaining to him my job's requirements and rules, and what had happened since a hurricane caused a delay and lengthy layover on my flight. Thankfully, I am working now, but I wished I never had attend this school. This school only put me further in debt and now I can't even attend the school I want.Reika Chan

I attended 9-11 years ago, so hopefully this has changed. The school psychology program was weirdly punitive. They shamed people for not knowing things like how to dress professionally instead of giving them concrete advice for what they expected. (This is classist.) They required us to be over-the-top obedient to professors and supervisors, even if they were doing something unethical. Meanwhile, they taught how kids do better with a strengths-based approach in which they are listened to. This is true and does not stop when a person turns 18. The professors make students retake classes and redo practicum hours for disagreeing or expressing concern. So students have to pay extra money to learn to suppress their critical thinking. They encourage students to think about "best practices" in their first year practicum. But in the second year their response to problems at practicum sites is "that's just how it is". I was discouraged to get involved with anything "political" like the teachers' strike and campaign to replace campus police officers with counselors because "no one will want to hire you". Their answer to disparities between wealthy suburban districts and underfunded districts like Chicago's was "don't work at CPS if you don't like it". 0/10 Do not recommend.Erin Rusmi

From the Counseling Psychology program perspective, my experience have been exceptional! From the knowledge of the professors to the structured placement process and classroom agendas, I love it! It has been a life changer for me, considering what I’ve learned during my 2 1/2 years here. The instructors are very knowledgeable and have experience on the subjects they’re teaching. You are provided a professional development coach to help maintain stability in classes and graduate on time. Someone is always there to answer questions or help in ways they can. All staff is professional and lead towards the process of your professional development as well . Classes are flexible and class sizes are comfortable ( max 15 students unless blended). I’m currently considering my Phd from here as well.Nia85 Moons

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

With more than 40 years in the University system, I have an extensive knowledge of campus life and degree programs. I evaluated 52 campuses before selecting Alliant International University for a PhD. The system offers diversity in majors, student body, as well as the faculty are academics and practitioners. I appreciate the instructional choices of face-to-face and online formats. I have completed both types of classes and the instructional quality holds steady in delivery and the students' ability to effectively learn. The overall strength of Alliant is also its ability to leverage resources for students. Belonging to a system is an advantage for all students. After I complete my degree, I plan to connect with the leadership teams for support, insight, and networking opportunities. Thank you Alliant International University.Becky Arce

Outstanding! The quality of instructors, methods, flexibility in classes, and collaboration with fellow PhD classmates were key to this great experience! I completed the basic PhD coursework in record time (while working full time). Also, the costs stayed well under my GI Bill cap. If you have money on the table from the GI Bill, consider getting your PhD from Alliant University. You'll be smarter for it!Bea Truesdale

I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology from Alliant. I believe this degree prepared me for my graduate program, especially the research aspect. I'm currently attending a MPH program and feel prepared for most of the curriculum. There are hiccups along the way, as with any program. However, I highly recommend!Christina Faulk

I’m so grateful to have found Dr. Kermott when I did. I’ve tried other therapists through the years, but they never really helped me. I was ready to just give up, and I don’t know why I tried therapy again, but I’m so glad I did and I’m so glad I found Dr. Kermott. The difference is that I really feel like he cares and listens to me and wants to help me. From talking to him on the phone and scheduling to today, he’s so caring and patient and understanding. He’s been a godsend and I can’t recommend him enough.Marie Roberts

Without going into too much personal detail, I originally reached out to Dr Kermott for help with a family member facing some mental and emotional distress. He ended up being an amazing resource for both of us. He gave me information that enabled me to get her the help she needed and helped me process my own experiences through insightful perspective. He is easy to talk to and I am lucky we found him!Lesley Geivett

Having worked with Dr. Kermott for a couple years, I can honestly say I still haven’t found someone as good as him. He has a little bit of a different style but it was what finally made a break through in my process. He was going to open his practice in Orange County which is why we stopped working together but if I could I would fly down there for weekly sessions.Carla Sedin

I’ve been attending Dr. Truitt and her team’s Self-Healing in Your Hands workshops/events and following the YouTube channel (the amount of content on there is insane!) since the beginning of the pandemic. One of my good friends worked with Rebecca awhile back with awesome results and turned me onto their work. I’m continually astounded by how gracious Dr. Kate and her team are with basically giving away their content. I’m currently an out of work content creator (ugh Covid) but I know how much time and effort goes into each video they produce. I’m so grateful for their generosity! They’re truly fulfill their vision of empowering humanity to do their own healing. Dr. Kate is warm, kind, goofy, and fun and also brilliant. I keep coming back to their workshops because they are constantly evolving and expanding and they address the concerns of present day life in real time. They aren’t robot presenters nor content creators. Even Dr. Kate’s blogs on their website are like 6 pages long and full of self-help exercises. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a healthcare business be so prolific in helping people heal themselves. Thank you Dr. Kate, Rebecca, Megan, and crew for your incredible generosity and sharing your knowledge and wisdom with the masses. As you always say – a healthy, resilient, and healing humanity is happy humanity. You’re amazing.Suzanne Winters

Given the sensitivity of what was happening with my 11 year old daughter, I can not begin to convey my gratitude with the results and healing we achieved working with Dr Kate Truitt & Associates and specifically, Dr Justin Carter. I am convinced they are complete and total  Earth Angels. We had a complex and sensitive issue with my daughter that was handled masterfully by 'Justin'. And I do mean Masterfully. Not only was he able to provide a comfortable atmosphere, he had a brilliant way of connecting with my daughter by creating a playful ease that allowed her the space to open up, feel comfortable to do the work and ultimately, heal!  It was beautiful to witness ~ especially from me,  a very worried Mom not knowing what to do or how to handle the situation. I can't imagine what this issue could have turned in to.  Not only did Justin help my daughter work through a difficult issue, he taught us and  gave us tools on 'havening' we can do at home. Thank you Dr Kate Truitt and Dr Justin Carter for all you have done for my daughter and our family. For helping and guiding us through a complex issue very simply.  I just couldn't be more thankful.Kimmy Terrell

The process of this place is really solid. I was impressed that Dr. Truitt did an initial phone consult and the explicit idea of finding me a best fit for my problems. In the consultation she made it clear her goal was getting me the best care. I called about anxiety in my marriage and was surprised to find myself also talking about the fact that I struggle ED (and I don't mean an eating disorder). She was super easy to talk to. Towards the end of our call we discussed treatment options and she told me about her team members and also gave me other names of other local therapists who work with performance problems in the bedroom. I was really nervous about working with a woman but I kept coming back to how Dr. Truitt had talked about ED and anxiety and the tools her team uses. Eventually I made an appointment. Dr. Truitt was super solid in her assessment and professional in really trying to help and not just herd people into her facility. I highly recommend.Gregory B

My teenage son and I first began seeing Dr. Kevin Downing two years ago to repair a disconnect that was evolving in our relationship during a contested divorce and child custody proceedings. Our weekly sessions with Dr. Downing proved to be invaluable. Dr. Downing was an incredible listener who assembled and managed volumes of information from my son and myself before introducing suggested remedies with a pragmatic approach founded upon many of years of professional experience. I know I also speak for my son when I say that we attribute Dr. Downing and his counseling methods for the significant positive changes we have experienced in our relationship. I highly recommend consulting with Dr. Downing if you are looking for a rational and proven approach to your counseling and therapy needs.David Borsari

Dr. Downing is absolutely wonderful! Looking for a trusted therapist, one who could meet my specific needs, felt like an impossible task at first. I wasn't sure if I would find what I was looking for, but thankfully, I was able to put those worries to rest after I met him. From our initial conversation, and throughout our many sessions, he's been consistently compassionate, understanding, and helpful. I always feel comfortable discussing matters with him even though the content we cover can be incredibly difficult. He truly cares for my well-being. But the most important thing about what Dr. Downing does is effectually accomplish the goals of therapy. He's been pivotal in my healing process and I can't imagine where I'd be without his expertise. Thank you so much, Dr. Downing!Steph G

I was an undergraduate student intern at Turning Point Counseling, and my experience was very delightful. Dr. Kevin Downing is an experienced therapist with a deep passion for helping others. I had the amazing opportunity to observe therapy session (with client permission) to which he always expressed warmth and compassion. I did my internship in my last semester as an undergraduate and I was uncertain of my next academic steps, but Dr. Downing took the time to listen and discussed career options as well as guided me to further resources. I truly appreciated his academic advice as well as life advice. I came out of my internship with a stronger desire to pursue a career as a marriage and family therapist!Rachel Yu

Anger-filled. Defeated. Disconnected. Troubled. Toxic. Broken. Those are just some of the adjectives to describe how my marriage was before my husband and I saw Dr. Robbins. Needless to say, after dealing with the aftermath of cancer treatments + chemo, IVF, career changes, setbacks, and major curveballs thrown our way, my husband and I were on the brink of divorce. We were growing apart, we stopped communicating with each other in a healthy way, and we knew we desperately needed help from a skilled therapist. I quickly did my research and found Dr. Robbins. I immediately texted my husband Dr. Robbins’ information and mentioned we needed to book an appointment ASAP. Within a week of calling, we had our first appointment with Dr. Robbins. My husband and I were nervous (and, naturally, a bit embarrassed) to share about our struggles, but we left our first appointment with so much hope. Dr. Robbins put us at ease and reminded us that our struggles were fixable if we put in the work. He was on the side of marriage and provided us with the tools we needed to get back on track. I love that he used personal examples whenever he could, infused God + faith into our conversations, and set attainable goals for each of us + our marriage. Dr. Robbins is kind, empathetic, warm, and easy to talk to. My husband and I always felt like we were visiting with a compassionate friend or family member instead of a typical therapist. After approximately 10 sessions, I can wholeheartedly say my husband and I are more united than we ever have been in our almost 10 years of marriage. We are 100% in-tune with each other and have the tools we need to keep improving our marriage. Thanks to Dr. Robbins, we learned how to work through our issues instead of thinking divorce was our answer. Overall, my husband and I are so blessed to have met Dr. Robbins and to have received his valuable guidance + expertise. It’s safe to say he completely saved our marriage. If you’re desperate to improve or save your marriage too, I highly recommend Dr. Robbins. You won’t regret it!Kimberly Morrow

Be very careful in trusting Peter Robbins. From my two meetings with him, he appears to be very irrational and unprofessional. For example, he talked extensively about his own life and shared many sordid details about his childhood including, "his father punching his mother in the face in the middle of a restaurant on the day of their wedding". These comments were not relevant to the context of the issues my ex-wife and I were dealing with. My ex-wife and I trusted him to resolve normal martial communication issues, and Peter Robbins digressed into his own personal issues and projected them onto us. He also many other remarks that were sweeping generalizations based on his personal stereotypes. Im not sure if he was just exhausted, under the influence of chemical substances, apathetic, intentionally malicious, or just not very intelligent. He also made many other assumptions based his emotions and did not ask many relevant questions or seek to clarify facts. He did rather honestly admit, "Im not like other therapists, and I take sides." This approach may be valid, but only after one garners all the relevant facts instead of operating from a personal bias. I'm honestly astonished & dismayed he is allowed to practice as a licensed therapist. PS Im using my real name in this review, so please feel free to contact me if you need further details.Deep Mangat

I've been VERY impressed with Dr. Robbins and the way he was able to figure out what the real issues were in my relationships (in my case, with my teenage daughters) and offer really well-thought and impactful solutions. I had gone to another family therapist in the past who was frankly a waste of time. But Dr. Robbins is different in that he worked actively with me to figure out solutions. He's been in the business for quite a while, so he really knows his stuff and I'm sure he's seen every difficult relationship out there. In regards to my strained relationship with my teenage daughters, Dr. Robbins offered several wonderful techniques and suggestions to bring us back together (not an easy task with teenagers). If you're looking for a top-notch marriage and family counselor, who can tackle very serious family problems, and you've perhaps been frustrated with the sea of less-than impressive marriage & family therapists out there, then I recommend touching base with Dr. Robbins. He's been outstanding for me and my family, and his philosophies about life and relationships are just wonderful. Great teacher. Smart guy.Bob K

My Wife goes here and it is possibly the most frustrating thing for me to watch… This school is honestly a huge scam. I really dont know how else to put it. They will charge you INSANE amounts of money for these classes (well over 200K for the Masters program after interest) and you "professors" are in the PHD program. what is that? I am not saying that they have some legit teachers and a few students teaching, I am saying that nearly ALL of the teachers are students. Let me be very clear about this, the teachers are HORRIBLE. The faculty is HORRIBLE. We just found out today that they didn't report to my Wife's FedLoan for our students loans that she was still enrolled and taking classes. What this means is, now FedLoans thinks that we are no longer in school, and that our loan is no longer differed. When she emailed the school faculty, they said this was HER responsibility…. are you kidding me? so we pay 60K per year before taxes for you to have students teach classes for $10 an hour… NOT submit proper paperwork to FedLoans and have absolutely zero leadership at the helm… When my Wife attended a "town hall" meeting with the Dean of the CA campuses, she asked when all of the grandiose things that were promised in admissions would be taking place… such as observation rooms on campus, real life experiences etc etc, and what did the Dean tell her? he said "if you would like to see these things happen, than you should initiate them yourself and start them up yourself"…. really? THAT is your answer to the student that is paying TOP dollar to go to this school? oh, and we just found out today thru some super vague email, that the Dean stepped down…. Please, trust this frustrated husband, DO NOT go to this school… I am a smart person… seriously TRUST ME…Adam

(UPDATED after completing doctoral coursework) My experience has been outstanding. This is a five-star institution, through and through. After completing my PhD coursework here, I can say this school really did deliver on promises and I feel lucky to have been part of this program. Our classes have top notch professionals from Southern California and various major US cities who fly in for the executive format, on-ground business psychology doctoral program. Faculty have been top caliber for the area, coming from academia and professional practice. I leave classes inspired and energized. I entered with my MBA and 10 years in my field. This is a program for people with work experience. It is not for folks who want school directly from undergrad with an internship, although they accommodate that with various master's programs. This program has been one of the strongest positive forces for me life. I matured so much, professionally and psychologically. If I could go back in time to choose where to do my doctoral coursework, or whether to pursue doctoral studies at all, I would stay at Chicago School in LA to do it all the same way. The big question for me was whether to focus on research or practice, since I already had work experience and could decide how big of a pivot the doctorate would be. Students from this program go into academia and industry. This school is really big on diversity, service, community, and academics. I went to a big school for undergraduate work. Between all the different departments, people, and majors, it was easy to lose myself. Chicago School is focused, so here, it was easy to find myself.Benjamin Theisen

One of the best decisions I ever made in my academic career. Faculty members,at least most that I have met and had as professors, are educated, supportive, tense, and knowledgeable within their fields. Many of the professors own their private practices and work independently outside of the school. Students are challenged and they will not be baby because it will not work and they better hope to not get kicked out of here.Dominique Bryant-Freeland

Social Growth Center is where you want to go when you're seeking support for yourself or loved one. Dr. Vo, the founder, is phenomenal at what she does. Her many years in the field have earned her a great reputation and her insight and interventions help create change in the lives of those she serves. Dr. Vo has been a great source of support for me, and her clinical skills are accurate and true. Her dedication to her clients is what you want from a therapist. I highly recommend Social Growth Center for young adults who are struggling.karin awad

Dr. Vo and her team are awesome! Her clinic is beautifully decorated and welcoming. Dr. Vo truly places her clients first and cares for their wellbeing. She has a very warm approach to her work and makes sure to stay open and flexible. Their social skills groups are also great. The group facilitators are very patient and took their time to ensure that everyone understood what they were discussing. I would definitely recommend her and her team to parents and families looking for excellent and life-changing support for their children!Ashley Nguyen

I worked with Dr. Lucy Vo for about two years as her clinical supervisor, prior to her leaving to start Social Growth Center. Watching her grow into the amazing clinician she is today has been so rewarding. Dr. Vo is a compassionate, caring therapist who truly believes in the mission of helping those with social struggles thrive. When you work with her, you'll feel that passion and drive to help you every time you interact with her. If you're in Orange County and struggle socially, then definitely see Dr. Vo!Dr. Crystal I. Lee

I’ve only had one short experience in the past with therapy and it ended very badly. So, for a long time, I was very reluctant to try again. But the last few years have been very difficult especially as I was slowly losing to cancer the person that I loved the most. Grief has been and is still extremely painful to bear, so I’ve decided to give therapy another chance. So far, so (very) good! Indeed, I’ve only had 5 sessions with Dr. Ghukassian but I am already feeling a change for the better. What I like the most is that we are having conversations. It is not just a one-way street where I talk and Dr. Ghukassian listen and nods. No. Even though (of course), I am talking more than him, listening to his own experiences, getting his feedback, and advices is most valuable to me. It puts me at ease and starts to break my fear about therapy. Well wait… I almost forgot to mention something else I appreciate deeply: his sense of humor! And coming from me… Therefore, I am very much looking forward to having more sessions with Dr. G 🙂Stephanie Batailler

Dr. Ghukassian is an amazing therapist. He has empathy, is compassionate, nonjudgmental, and a great motivational person that guides you in the right direction. Always directs me to take care of myself and do what I enjoy most in making me happy. Is very enthusiastic and gives great examples to help me to focus on the positive. After our therapy session, I feel relieved and happy knowing what I feel is real and directs my thought process in the right direction. I would highly recommend him because he has changed my thought process, relationships with my husband, children and not to mention my work experiences with my bosses and co-workers. He is amazing! He has changed my way of thinking and helped me with emotional intelligence. Great therapist! So glad for my friend recommending me to him.Lourdes Hernandez

I have been consistently going to therapy for 3 years leading up to the events due to covid. I had to stop therapy for 2 years to focus and adjust on survival. Even though things started getting better, it was getting harder for me to cope and I knew had to get into therapy again. That's when I got in touch with Dr. Ghukassian. I was skeptical of doing telehealth (over the phone) rather than doing in person meetings but they have proven to be just as beneficial for my mental health. Getting back into therapy was one of the most important things I could do for myself. Just having someone I can talk to about issues that helps identify how you should approach it has been a huge help in my life. Do not hesitate to call because Dr. Ghukassian is an easy person to talk to and he's just a phone call away.Kyle Bowman

The first month with my first child was rough. Nursing was challenging, and despite all my efforts, the hospital lactation consultant told me, "breastfeeding is not for everyone." I was doing two hour cycles of nursing on each side, pumping while my husband gave a bottle of breast milk or formula, and… we were all just exhausted. Enter Megan and Marlee–my heroes!! They came to my home when I was a mess, un-showered, and spent, and were the most gentle with me. They checked on how I was doing, listened to my birth story, and asked how they could help. Marlee showed me some new cozy ways to safely nurse my newborn! She also showed my husband and I how to use a bottle in a way that would encourage breastfeeding. I felt so at peace and confident to move forward because of Megan and Marlee. My husband also felt really comfortable and confident with helping feed our son after their visit. I really don't know what I would have done without them. I ended up nursing my son for almost 21 months! I rejoice in the gifts and talents of this team, and would absolutely recommend their services to any mama.Kathleen Clark

These ladies are fantastic! My wife and I could not be happier with all the support and advice we received from Megan and Marlee. We opted to take all four of the classes they offer and we are so glad we did! Each class was the perfect mix of reflection, information, and time for questions. They stay up to date with new researchers in various fields and had tons of invaluable information and insight. This was our first pregnancy and birth, so we had tons of questions. It was so nice to talk out our hopes and fears with them, I definitely felt more at ease after the classes. At our birth, we ended up working with both Megan and marlee (my labor was a bit long). After the birth, I was struggling with breastfeeding. Marlee was able to provide excellent advice and help us stick with it! Both of them are amazing and have wonderful tools and bedside manner. All the tips and tricks they recommend really do work! If you are looking for kind, open minded, knowledgeable, and passionate doulas, look no further!Samantha Heller

We had heard wonderful things about doulas and were really excited to find two wonderful doulas in Megan and Marlee. However, we completely underestimated just how wonderful and transformative working with them would be. From deep knowledge about labor, birth, and postpartum, to exceptional emotional and compassionate support, to patient listening and brainstorming, to non-judgmental support however you want to birth and live your life, (the list goes on!) Megan and Marlee are a dream. My spouse and I truly don't want to imagine what it would have been like without them! We only have positive things to say about working with Marlee and Megan, and we had this experience during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Their virtual support during the birth of our child and postpartum was and continues to be beyond our wildest expectations. Thank you so much, Megan and Marlee. We are so thankful that you are on this journey with us.Natascha Trellinger Buswell

Sholeh is a wonderful attorney and person. When I was going trough a very difficult divorce and stressed about renewing my residency, she was extremely helpful and responsive and made sure I had no issue renewing my permanent residency in a very short time. She also recommended me to the best divorce attorney and was always by my side trough the divorce process. Thanks to her she helped my divorce attorney get me lifetime spousal support trough immigration law providing him with case laws and immigration documents to do so. And this after already representing me for my immigration renewal only. I would highly recommend her to anyone who needs an attorney as she’s full of ressources, very responsive and makes sure the work gets done as soon as possible. She is also always here whenever you need her. Thank you Sholeh for everything you did for me and my family it was a pleasure to work with you.Sind Slaoui

It is with great pleasure to share our experience with Attorney Sholeh Iravantchi. She from the start has displayed a remarkable ability to handle a complexed case in a high-stress situation. She managed our case with confidence and efficiently demonstrating her strong background. I could not have asked for more, and she went way and beyond, she was always there for us (client) -her advises, responses are beyond five stars rating, ***** plus in my book. She is dynamic. The most commendable in Sholeh is the magnitude of experience she had in her entire portfolio; her skill complemented and provided value on each step. I am happy and HIGHLY recommend her services, and I am confident that she has the utmost abilities, experience, and personality traits.Melody Benabou

My life was on the line because a former roommate stole my identity and framed me for a crime that was basically a life sentence. I was the only one on the lease for the apartment because she claimed her VISA expired and she was afraid of getting deported to Australia. The court system was trying to railroad me but Sholeh believe in my innocence and took the case. She with a little help proved my innocence and from what I understood got my former roommate to confess and I was glad I was able to move on with my life. I wish they would have charged my former roommate with some type of crime. Sholeh Iravantchi is a great attorney and fight hard for her clients.Robert McMurrer

I’m in a very hard time in my life dealing with my brother overdosing I wanted to find a good place for him to stay at to recover from his addiction and mental health. I've called multiple places and no one seems to care or want to help unless it has to do with money. Thankfully I ran in to Sarah pannell you could tell she loved her job and helping people she was what I needed at this moment in my life she went above and beyond to help me find a place for him. Unfortunately they did not accept medical but that did not stop her from going out of her way and helping me find a place for my brother. She is an angel she is what this world needs if your reading this thank you again words cannot describe how I feel you gave me a sense of direction while others turned away. You are amazing and the world is lucky to have someone like you!. She definitely deserves a raise thanks Sarah you were great help I hope you have an amazing life I wish you nothing but the best you deserve it!. When you guys start accept medical I will 100% be taking my brother here.anthony rodriguez

I was really struggling after the death of my Mom. My addiction and mental stability deteriorated. I relapsed and was spiraling out of control. I completed a residential program and needed to follow up my treatment with an Intensive Outpatient Program if I planned on having any real success at maintaining my recovery and staying sober. Roots through Recovery has a fresh innovative approach to addressing addiction and mental health issues. They are a breath of fresh air in the community. The facility is clean, the staff is professional and will pay special attention to your individual needs. I love this place, I honestly know that I would not be sober today if I hadn’t picked up the phone and called Roots. I’m able to be the wife, mother and grandmother that my family deserves. I will forever be grateful to this program.Rita Gomez

I’m a physical therapist that has been collaborating with Roots Through Recovery and I have to say the care they have for their patients is amazing. They saw a need for their patients experiencing chronic pain and brought me on board to work with them. All the clients I have seen in collaboration with them have said nothing but great things about their experience. They always tell me it’s the first time they really feel they are getting help and learning knowledge and skills that improve their independence in recovery. The collaborations with their therapists and staff have been amazing. I really feel the patients I see for chronic pain get the interdisciplinary care they need to get better, because they are finally having their bodies, minds, and life hardships addressed holistically.Michael Aquino

Every parent looking for immediate help for your teen experiencing depression, needing body image help, has anxiety, or need someone to talk too, this is the place!! I was looking for any help I could get, being that no one wants to accept new patients or is booked for months, I fell upon OC Teen Center on the internet and I was thinking to myself, it’s my lucky day! I happened to try to call the phone number listed just to leave a message since it was a Friday night at 9:00 pm, and to my surprise a friendly voice answered the phone!!!! I was in shock!!! I needed that phone call to be answered so bad, you have no idea!! I was then told that I could come in with my son on Monday to see what they are all about. We fell in love immediately knowing that there were two doctors on site, one for psychiatric care and the other for psychological therapy. They are the ones that work directly with your teen daily! When do you have that type of service to where they are monitoring your teen daily and know them on a personal level. I have never felt this good about a place in my life. My son absolutely needed this place from all that is going on around us and especially for his mental well being. Another thing I love is the small group therapy that is with teens around the same age that are growing through there own hard times and knowing that they all can feel comfortable talking about how they are feeling without being judged. Please reach out to OC Teen Center and don’t feel alone there are so many other parents going through the same thing right now!! Our teens need to be heard and get therapy so they can get through these tough times and become happy once again!!!!Kelly Craft

Don't let this place fool you…. They have only been open since June 2021 and learning as they go! They have a VERY high turnover in staff which leaves a lot of open questions. They are NOT equipped to handle children with mental disorders as they state during the initial intake… Issues we encountered: 1) Field trip with 6 other kids, only one (1) adult supervision. 2) Son locked himself inside RR, why does the RR have an inside lock in a treatment center. They did nothing and allowed by son to remain in the RR for over 15 min. The current phone guy (Cassy -unsure of spelling) very rude and unprofessional as I quote: quote " Dr. B has refused to treat your son, good luck" then hangs up….. Yes, we should have pulled our son out of this facility… Yes we know that! Unfortunately it is very difficult to find an opening at OPT centers. With this said, we received a text yes a text… NOT a phone call… Just a text. Stating that our son is not allowed to return to OC Teen Center. As medical professionals I don’t see how this is legal as we were not given another treatment plan or psychiatrist. I’m heartbroken over how OC Teen Center has treated my son/family.debra gonzales

The level of expertise at OC Teen Center is by far the highest I've seen. My child has been in 5 facilities and I've had a chance to compare. There's simply no other place like OC Teen Center. For starters, the psychiatrist is there every day. The 2nd in command is a PsyD, who is also there every day. These two doctors run most of the groups. I've never seen so many doctor-run groups at any other teen mental health facility. My daughter has made significant improvement while enrolled at OC Teen Center. I would recommend this place to anyone who has a child with depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues. I'm grateful to UCI hospital for recommending OC Teen Center. UCI is also top notch, and it's easy to see why OCT Teen Center is their top choice.B P

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