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Practicum Survival Guide
University of San Diego
Marital and Family Therapy Program
Fall 2010
Introduction
Dear Practicum Student,
Welcome to Practicum! Are you feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! As you’ve surely
discovered, it can feel like a big leap to move from student to therapist. This guide was created by
fellow students to help you make that transition. We hope the reminders within will help you succeed
in the coming year and beyond. Below is a list of what you will find in this year’s guide:
Page(s)
Topic
3-4
Confidence as a Beginning Therapist
5
Recommended Books
6
Words of Wisdom from Former Students
7-8
Self Care
9-10
Tools for Diagnosing: Rule Out Rules, The Five Axes, and Useful Mnemonics
11
Genogram Symbols
12-14
Theories “Cheat Sheet”
15-16
Mandated Reporting
17-19
Useful Resources
Please share your feedback on this Survival Guide, including suggested additions,
so that it can be improved for next year’s trainees.
2
Confidence as a Beginning Therapist
A summary of:
Bischoff, R.J., Barton, M., Thober, J., & Hawley, R. (2002). Events and experiences impacting the
development of clinical self-confidence: A study of the first year of client contact. Journal of Marital and
Family Therapy, 28(3), 371-382.
As an aspiring Marital and Family Therapist, chances are strong that you’ve taken on helping
roles throughout your life. Still, with all of that informal experience, you are probably nervous about
this new role as a professional, and you may doubt your abilities. Research has shown that these
insecurities are completely normal in first year therapists.
Bischoff et al. surveyed 39 graduates over two years from the University of San Diego’s Marital
and Family Therapy program. Their findings correlated with that of previous researchers—that most
beginning therapists, despite sufficient training, lack confidence in their ability to help clients. Bischoff
et al. went a step further and examined what factors contributed most to the development of this selfconfidence.
They found that in order to build a foundation so that confidence can grow, new therapists first
need to “internalize their clinical experience, “ that is, have the opportunity to fully process and make
sense of what happens during sessions (p. 374). Once processed, therapists can then draw on these
past experiences as they face new clients. Over time, scenarios that were once completely new and
overwhelming become more familiar and manageable. Thus, self-confidence is built.
Four factors affect this internalization process. The first is obvious: contact with clients. You
cannot make sense of sessions until you have a few under your belt upon which to reflect. In the
beginning as a new therapist, you are faced with countless firsts, which is inherently anxiety provoking.
However, with time and more client contact, patterns start to emerge, and concepts are consolidated in
your mind. As you begin to mentally categorize situations and problems, fewer scenarios surprise you,
and doing therapy slowly feels easier.
This is not a steady incline, however. Ups and downs in confidence during these initial months
are common. You may feel elated after a sign of success with a client, but then a challenging session can
leave you questioning yourself all over again. Furthermore, just when you start to get the hang of
joining and assessing, it’s time to move on to a new phase of treatment, which can cause your
confidence to dip again. Clients may also cancel appointments or simply not show up, which can be
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discouraging even though it usually has nothing to do with you. As you ride this roller coaster of
confidence, rest assured you are not alone. This is all a normal part of development as a new therapist.
Another factor that can aid the internalization process is supervision. At first, it is hard to
objectively observe your own behavior and simultaneously take in all of the new information being
offered to you in session. This is where supervision comes in. A supervisor serves as a sounding board
and helps you process what goes on in sessions. He or she also gives you ideas and redirects you when
you’re off track. All of this adds to the foundation of experience that you can later draw on.
You may think that praise alone from a supervisor might boost your self-confidence, but Bischoff
et al. found that not to be true. Instead, trainees described a boost in their self-confidence when a
supervisor gave them specific feedback rather than broad compliments. Therefore, if your supervisor is
vague, be an advocate for your own growth and ask for details. It will clarify for you where you can
improve and assure you of precisely what you’re doing well.
A third element in making sense of your experiences and building confidence is contact with
fellow new therapists. Share your anxieties and concerns with your peers, and you will discover they
feel the same way. Lean on each other for suggestions, and you will see, one, that your questions and
struggles are not unique and, two, that you do have wisdom to offer others. Also observe therapists
who are just a year ahead of you, and realize that you, too, will get to that place of experience and
confidence. Soon you will look back at the new trainees that follow you, and you will see how far you’ve
come.
One thing that can hamper your development as a new therapist is stress in your personal life.
Difficulties outside work can be a distraction, and it is challenging to absorb and sort through your
clinical experiences when your mind is elsewhere. Your energy will naturally go toward resolving your
own crises, taking away from what you can offer clients. If you find yourself in this position, be honest
with yourself and your supervisor, and get help where you need it.
Next time you find yourself sitting across from a client and feeling like you have no idea what
you are doing, take a deep breath and remember that every successful therapist once felt the same way.
It is all part of the learning process, and it will get easier.
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Recommended Books
Essential Skills in Family Therapy (2nd edition) by Jo Ellen Patterson, Lee Williams, Todd Edwards, Larry
Chamow & Claudia Grauf-Grounds (2009). New York: Guilford Press.
NOTE: See chapter 1 for common developmental issues for beginning therapists.
Essential Assessment Skills for Couple and Family Therapists by Lee Williams, Todd Edwards, Jo Ellen
Patterson, & Larry Chamow (2011). New York: Guilford Press.
Letters to a Young Therapist by Mary Pipher (2003). New York: Basic Books.
The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions by
Christopher K. Germer (2009). New York: Guilford Press.
DSM-IV-TR Casebook: A Learning Companion to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision by Robert L. Spitzer, Miriam Gibbon, Andrew Skodol, Janet B. W.
Williams, & Michael B. First (2002). Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Diagnosis Made Easier: Principles and Techniques for Mental Health Clinicians by James Morrison
(1995). New York: Guilford Press.
5
Words of Wisdom from Former Students
“Although you are a student and have the mindset of a scholar, you are now transitioning to a working
professional. With that, there are some things that one should also adopt as you go into a new
environment. Some examples include, but are not limited to, advocating for yourself to a supervisor or
other, being open to other coworkers and getting to know them as you would with a schoolmate, etc.”
“Self-care is extremely important, as we all know. One thing to notice if you are overwhelmed is that
you are just glazing over life aside from practicum. You might veg out in front of the TV more often than
you'd like, "waste" time with pointless activities, like hours of Facebook, because your brain is fried....
Try planning a "self-care time" everyday that energizes you and replenishes you. It can be 10 minutes or
an hour, but let it take your mind to a different state, other than worrying about your clients, for a little
bit, THEN you can start researching more about interventions, read, or update on theories.... “
“I would encourage students to focused on the relationship with the client, as long as they can, before
getting anxious and wanting to go straight in to apply interventions. Learn to take sessions in stride and
be yourself, then apply the interventions. Often, we can get caught up, as trainees, to know and utilize
interventions, but if we can give ourselves a little bit of legroom to adjust to doing therapy, our clients
will appreciate it as much as we do. It becomes more natural once you understand your style.”
“FOCUS ON YOUR OWN STYLE and what theory best matches. I got excited to try to use a number of
different theories that fit with different client scenarios, but that can get overwhelming. If you've
identified a theory you really like, stick to it for awhile, get to really know it, and then you can decide if
other theories fit better or you want to develop them more.”
“During practicum, continue to educate yourself either by reading or attending conferences such as
CFHA, AAMFT, etc. This not only keeps your mind stimulated, but helps in guiding your cases and
provides a continuous framework for your therapy.”
6
Self Care
Helping other people through their struggles can be draining for us. It is important that we take care of
ourselves so that we don’t burn out. Out of a genuine desire to help, we may be tempted to work
beyond our scheduled hours. However, we must recognize our own limits and set boundaries. If we are
not well, we cannot help anyone else achieve wellness.
Here are some signs that you may be getting burned out. You:
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drag yourself into work most days.
find yourself repeating the same interpretations over and over
give advice as a shortcut rather than helping clients learn and grow
begin sessions late and/or end early
doze off or space out during sessions
experience a noticeable decline in empathy
do things that would make your former ethics professor cringe
push your theory, technique, or agenda rather than listening and adjusting
feel relieved when clients cancel
avoid reading anything psychology related
self disclose in ways that don’t help the client
fantasize about that high school job at the food court in the mall where you were appreciated,
got tips, and left work at work
Copied from Howes, R. (2008, November 13). Therapist burnout. Retrieved September 10, 2010,
from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-therapy/200811/therapist-burnout.
Remember the basics that we teach our clients:
1. Eat nutritious, balanced meals. That means taking breaks to eat rather than working straight
through the day.
2. Get a good night’s sleep every night. The average adult functions best on 7-8 hours of sleep.
3. Set clear boundaries and honor them.
4. Seek therapy yourself.
5. Work reasonable hours, and take vacations.
6. Leave work at work. Don’t take it home with you, either in paperwork form or by dwelling on
clients in your mind. Respond to phone calls and e-mails when you’re in the office, not during
your free time.
7. Stay socially connected with friends and family.
8. Take time to have fun!
Here is a list to get you started:
25 Fun and Free Things to Do in San Diego
1. Visit one of San Diego’s many beaches. Swim, surf, collect shells, or just relax in the sun.
2. Look for the “green flash” as the sunsets over the ocean.
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3.
4.
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Stroll Seaport Village.
Explore the Gaslamp Quarter.
Fly a kite in Mission Bay Park.
Enjoy a free concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park.
Wander back in time in Old Town.
Bike or jog along the scenic trails of Mission Bay Park.
Take a tour of the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista.
Stargaze outside the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. On the first Wednesday of the month, the
San Diego Astronomy Associations sets up huge telescopes for curious guests.
Enjoy a drive to Mt. Laguna and hike through the pine trees.
Delight in homemade apple pie in historic Julian.
Watch the hang-gliders soar near Torrey Pines.
Check out all the must-see places on the “59 Mile Scenic Drive.”
Rollerblade, skateboard, or bike along the Mission Beach Boardwalk.
Roam the pathways of Mission Trails Regional Park.
Scuba dive or snorkel at La Jolla Cove.
Bird watch at Torrey Pines State Reserve.
Marvel at the architecture, museums, and gardens in Balboa Park.
Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art on one of its many free days.
Snuggle up to a bonfire on the beach.
Search for sea anemones and crabs in the tide pools in Point Loma.
Take in a 360-degree view at Mt. Soledad or Mt. Helix.
Explore the natural beauty of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Peruse the many shops and restaurants along the “Big Bay.”
Adapted from www.sandiego.org/article/Visitors/795
Visit the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau website at www.sandiego.org for even more ideas
and a calendar of upcoming events.
Need some company?
Join a social or professional organization to meet new people. Almost every community has groups like
a Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, or Exchange Club. Local alumni groups can be another great
outlet. Many colleges, fraternities, and sororities have chapters across the nation. You can also find
like-minded people on websites like www.meetup.com. There are groups doing everything from
watching classic movies to zumba. You are sure to find somewhere you fit in.
Need some extra support?
The Counseling Center at USD offers a variety of services. Students can receive free, short term
counseling, or the Center can refer you to an affordable mental health provider in the community. The
staff as the Counseling Center also lead various support groups throughout the year, including one for
helping professionals like us. Call for details. Also check out their website for a host of useful links.
Serra Hall, Room 300 (Walk In Hours: Monday through Friday 11 AM - 3 PM)
619-260-4655
www.sandiego.edu/usdcc
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Tools for Diagnosing
When determining if something is “normal,” consider the duration and intensity of symptoms and their
impact on the client’s functioning.
Before diagnosing, first think about the following:
 Rule out substance abuse, medication, toxin exposure
 Rule out a general medical condition (GMC)
 Rule out mood disorders
 Rule out factitious/malingering (conscious or unconscious feigning)
 Differentiate among similar disorders (Decision trees can be helpful!)
 Consider Subthreshold: Adjustment Disorder or Not Otherwise Specified or no disorder
The Five Axes of the Multiaxial System in the DSM-IV:
Axis I – Clinical Disorders or Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention
Axis II – Personality Disorders or Mental Retardation (lifelong and more intractable to treatment)
Axis III – General Medical Conditions
Axis IV – Psychosocial and Environmental Problems (current stressors like relationship or work conflicts)
Axis V – Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF)
To remember the major categories of disorders in the DSM-IV:
“Depressed Patients Seem Anxious, So Claim Psychiatrists”
Depression and other mood disorders
Personality disorders
Substance abuse disorders
Anxiety disorders
Somatization disorder/eating disorder (disorders of bodily perception)
Cognitive Disorders
Psychotic Disorders
To Screen for Depression: “SIGECAPS”
Sleep disorder (increase or decrease)
Interest deficit (a.k.a. anhedonia)
Guilt and hopelessness
Energy deficit
Concentration deficit
Appetite disorder (increase or decrease)
Psychomotor retardation or agitation
Suicidality
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To Screen for Suicide: “Is Path Warm?”
I – Ideation
S - Substance abuse
P - Purposelessness
A - Anxiety
T - Trapped
H – Hopelessness
W - Withdrawal
A - Anger
R - Recklessness
M - Mood change
To Screen for Mania: “DIGFAST”
Distractibility
Indiscretion (excessive involvement in pleasurable activities)
Grandiosity
Flight of ideas
Activity increase
Sleep deficit (decreased need for sleep)
Talkativeness (pressured speech)
To Screen for Borderline Personality Disorder: “I DESPAIRR”
Identity problem
Disordered affect
Empty feeling
Suicidal behavior
Paranoia or dissociative symptoms
Abandonment terror
Impulsivity
Rage
Relationship instability
To Screen for Substance Abuse: “CAGE”
C- Have you ever felt the need to CUT down on your drinking/drug use?
A- Do you get ANNOYED at criticism by others about your drinking/drug use?
G- Have you ever felt GUILTY about your drinking/drug use or something you have done while
drinking/using?
E- EYE OPENER: Have you ever felt the need for a drink early in the morning?
To Screen for Somatization Disorder: “Recipe 4 Pain: Convert 2 Stomachs to 1 Sex”
Presence of 4 pain symptoms (recipe 4 pain)
One conversion symptom (convert)
Two gastrointestinal symptoms (2 stomachs)
One sexual symptom (1 sex)
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Copied from http://courses.wcupa.edu/ttreadwe/courses/02courses/standardsymbols.htm
11
Theories “Cheat Sheet”
Theory
Bowen Family
Systems Theory
CognitiveBehavioral Therapy
(CBT)
Main Ideas
Stress of burdens or a lack of
differentiation leads to anxiety.
Families manage anxiety through
conflict, distance, cutoff, over or
underfunctioning, or triangling.
Distorted thoughts cause maladaptive
emotions and behaviors. Brief and
structured approach.
Emotionally
Focused Therapy
Goal is to heal attachment injuries and
encourage expression of primary
emotion between couples or families.
Clients learn to identify and
communicate feelings through practice
in session. Short-term therapy (8-20
sessions).
Functional Family
Therapy
Empirically grounded. Useful in
treating difficult or poorly motivated
families. Effective family intervention
for at-risk youth.
Key Strategies/Interventions
Create a genogram to look for
patterns. Ask process questions (e.g.,
"Is this how you usually fight?"). Use
"I" statements. Work toward
differentiation
Techniques include keeping a log of
situations and associated automatic
thoughts, emotions, and behaviors;
questioning cognitive distortions and
replacing them with alternative
thoughts; and gradual exposure to
previously avoided activities.
Relaxation techniques are often used.
9 Steps: 1) Join and assess, identifying
the core issues using attachment
theory. 2) Identify the problematic
cycle that maintains attachment
insecurity. 3) Uncover primary
emotions. 4) Reframe the problems in
terms of a cycle with underlying
emotions and unmet needs. 5)
Encourage individual acceptance of
needs. 6) Promote acceptance of
partner’s vulnerability. 7) Facilitate
expression of specific needs and wants
("This is what I hear. Can you say that
to him? How does it feel to say that?"
"How does it feel to hear that?"). 8)
Identify solutions to ongoing problems.
9) Summarize progress and promote
generalizability of lessons.
Phase 1— Maximize factors that boost
confidence in treatment and minimize
obstacles, build therapeutic alliance,
and reframe maladaptive perceptions
to build hope for change. Phase 2 –
Implement specific and uniquely
tailored behavior change plans. Phase
3 – Generalize positive changes to
other problems and systems.
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Theory
Internal Family
Systems Theory
Interpersonal
Psychotherapy
Main Ideas
All people have a pure core “self” that
serves as our wise conscience. We all
have multiple conflicting inner voices,
or “parts.” All parts can play a positive
role. Parts can become extreme and
destructive because of life experiences.
Our parts interact in complicated ways.
Changes in how these inner voices
work together will change behavior.
Originally developed to treat
depression. Short and focused
therapy. Focuses on current and
interpersonal rather than intrapsychic
issues. Therapist takes an active
coaching role.
Multisystemic
Therapy (MST)
Addresses all systems (home, school,
community, peers) that contribute to
serious antisocial behaviors of children
and adolescents. Short term but
intense--meet 2-3 times/week for a
few months.
Narrative Therapy
People’s stories shape their lives,
sometimes in problematic ways.
Therapy can help people find positive
alternative meaning for their stories.
Also challenges social and cultural
beliefs that are unjust or destructive.
Key Strategies/Interventions
Help client recognize that the parts are
not the self and that the self is good
and trustworthy. Identify and make
sense of each of the parts. Help the
parts achieve harmony. Visualizations
are a common technique.
Diagnose patient and assign "sick role."
Validate that depression is reasonable
given their circumstances. Target
problem area (grief, interpersonal role
disputes, role transition, interpersonal
deficits). Generalize lessons to future
problems.
Design interventions that build on
existing strengths and develop new
strengths. Emphasize the positive to
keep people engaged and motivated.
Organize problems into 1-2 themes the
entire family can agree on. Stay
present-focused and action-oriented.
Target specific problems for immediate
change. Interventions should require
regular effort by all family members.
Evaluate progress continually and
adjust approach as necessary.
Interventions should promote
generalization and long-term
maintenance.
Listen openly. Externalize the
problem. Find a “unique outcome”
when the problem was not a problem.
Use questions to help client create a
new story. Find examples of the
unique outcome in the past. Invite the
client to envision how life will be
different with the new story. Circulate
the new story. Also can help people
separate from dominant cultural
narratives and deconstruct unhelpful
beliefs.
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Theory
Object Relations
Therapy
Main Ideas
Relationships are the main focus.
Dysfunctional behaviors are seen as a
result of early attachment traumas.
Therapy allows the resolution of the
trauma through the therapeutic
relationship. Long-term process.
Solution-Focused
Therapy
Very brief therapy. Focuses on
solutions, not problems.
Strategic Family
Therapy
Families are stuck in positive feedback
loops that maintain problems.
Symptoms serve a purpose. Making a
change will have ripple effects
throughout the system. Focuses on
fixing symptoms rather than sorting
through underlying problems. Brief
therapy.
Therapist takes a directive approach.
Modifies the organization of the family
to end dysfunctional patterns.
Structural Family
Therapy
Key Strategies/Interventions
Create a safe place for client. Client
will attempt to pull therapist into
maladaptive relational pattern.
Confront these patterns empathically
until client learns new ways of relating.
Help client generalize these healthier
ways of relating to other relationships.
Use positive language and presuppose
change. Look for exceptions to
problem and then build on that. Have
client do more of what works.
Techniques include miracle questions
and scaling questions.
Identify the positive feedback loop that
reinforces the problem behavior.
Determine the family “rules” that
support those interactions. Find a way
to change the rules or interactions
through techniques such as reframing,
exaggeration, paradox, prescribing the
symptom, ritual, and metaphor.
Join with the entire family. Observe or
facilitate enactment. Assess the
family’s structure. Highlight and
modify patterns of interaction.
Strengthen boundaries (enmeshment)
or break down walls (disengagement)
as appropriate. Unbalance the power
hierarchy. Challenge unproductive
assumptions.
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Mandated Reporting
In any case where there is suspected abuse or danger, talk to your supervisor for guidance. Remember,
it is better to err on the side of caution and over-report. Here are the laws in California, for your
reference.
Child Abuse
The Child Abuse Neglect and Reporting Act (CANRA) applies to minors (anyone under age 18) and
requires us to report suspicion of or the potential for the following when we are in our professional role:
 Physical Abuse
 Sexual Abuse
 Neglect
 Abandonment
 Isolation
A verbal report should be made immediately or as soon as possible, followed by a written report within
36 hours (including weekends).
In the state of California, if a minor has consensual sexual intercourse with an older (or younger)
partner, must mandated reporters make a child abuse report?
Age of
Partner
Age of
Client
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
12
13
14
15
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
16
17
18
19
20
21
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Chart based on design by David Knopf, LCSW, UCSF
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Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
Y = Yes, report required based solely on age difference between partner and client.
N = No, report not required based solely on age. Reporter only must report if the or she has a
reasonable suspicion of abuse, e.g., that activity was no consensual.
San Diego County Child Protective Services:
858-560-2191 or 800-344-6000
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Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse
An elder is defined as someone age 65 or older. A dependent adult is any individual between 18 and 64
who is dependent on others for their welfare. We should contact Adult Protective Services if we
witness, see evidence of, or are told about the following:
 Physical Abuse
 Sexual Abuse
 Neglect
 Abandonment
 Isolation
 Financial Abuse
A verbal report by phone should be made immediate or as soon as possible, and a written report filed
within two business days.
San Diego County Adult Protective Services:
800-510-2020
Additional Notes About Breaching Confidentiality
You must breach confidentiality in the case of suspected child abuse, elder or dependent adult abuse, if
a client is a danger to him/herself (Bellah vs. Greenson), or if the client or client’s immediate family tells
you directly of a serious threat of physical harm against a reasonably identifiable victim (Tarasoff). With
Tarasoff, you must warn both law enforcement and the intended victim to obtain immunity from
liability.
You may also breach confidentiality to avert intended harm under Evidence Code 1024, when a client is
a danger to him/herself, others, or the property of others due to a mental or emotional disorder.
Evidence Code 1024 can by used only if necessary to stop the intended harm.
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Useful Resources
Resources for Clients
San Diego 211:
211 or 800-227-0997
www.211sandiego.org
The main directory for all social services in San Diego. Specialists are available over the phone 24 hours a
day to assess needs and direct callers to the best resource. Assistance is confidential and offered in more
than 150 languages. Website has a comprehensive database of nearly 3,000 services that can be
searched by program and location.
Behavioral Health Access and Crisis Line:
800-479-3339
Professional counselors are available 24 hours a day for crisis counseling or referrals to other services.
Assistance is available in several languages.
San Diego Police Department
911 or 619-531-2065 (24 Hour Emergency)
619-531-2000 or 858-484-3154 (24 Hour Non-Emergency)
www.sandiego.gov/police
1401 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101 (headquarters)
San Diego Sheriff’s Department
911 (Emergency)
858-565-5200 (Non-Emergency)
www.sdsheriff.net
9621 Ridgehaven Ct., San Diego, CA 92123 (main office)
San Diego County
(858-94-3900, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
www.sdcounty.ca.gov
1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101
Comprehensive website provides information on all County services, including Child and Adult Protective
Services (under “Healthy Kids and Families” tab) and a list of certified treatment providers in anger
management, child abuse treatment, domestic violence treatment, elder abuse treatment, parenting, sex
offender treatment, and stalking offender treatment (under “Public Safety” tab and then “Probation”,
“Adult Information”, “Treatment Providers”).
Poison Control Center:
800-222-1222 (24 Hour, Over 100 languages available)
www.calpoison.org
San Diego Behavioral Health Network of Care:
http://sandiego.networkofcare.org/mh/home
A comprehensive website concerning behavioral health with links to area resources and more.
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National Mental Health Information Center:
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov
A comprehensive website with information about mental health and links to resources and treatment
programs nationally.
Community Health Improvement Partners
www.sdchip.org
Collaborative effort of healthcare providers. Informative website. CHIP publishes the resource book
entitled The Help Connection. Available in English or Spanish under “Chip Library” and then “BHWT
Publications.”
Neighborhood House Association
www.neighborhoodhouse.org
Offers a variety of employment, healthcare, child, family, and senior services, including Project Enable
(short-term intervention for adults with serious mental illness) and emergency services.
National Alliance on Mental Illness
619-543-1434 or 800-523-5933 (San Diego office)
www.namisandiego.org (local) or www.nami.org (national)
Advocates for people with mental illness. Offer support groups, classes, and a variety of other resources.
Community Research Foundation
619-275-0822
www.comresearch.org
1202 Morena Blvd Ste. 300, San Diego, CA 92110
CRF provides a variety of psychiatric services for children and adults, including individuals with cooccurring mental health and substance abuse problems. CRF runs the START Programs (Short Term
Acute Residential Treatment) Programs, crisis homes for voluntary adults. CRF also oversees PERT
(Psychiatric Emergency Response Team). Website has a comprehensive list of programs sorted by region
and types of services.
Family Justice Center:
866-933-HOPE (4673) or 619-533-6000
www.sandiegofamilyjusticecenter.org
1122 Broadway, Suite 200, San Diego, CA, 92101 (new address as of 9/21/10)
The FJC provides a variety of free services to victims of family violence, Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM.
Center for Community Solutions:
888-DV-LINKS (385-4657) (24 hour hotline, free, confidential, English and Spanish)
858-272-5777 (Coastal location)
619-697-7477 (East County location)
760-747-6282 (North County location)
www.ccssd.org
CCS provides services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
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Alcoholics Anonymous (AA):
619-265-8762 (24 Hours)
7075 Mission Gorge Rd., Ste. B, San Diego, CA 92120
www.aasandiego.org
Main office. Website lists all meeting dates and times.
Narcotics Anonymous (NA):
619-584-1007 or 800-479-0062
619-491-1984 (Spanish)
www.sandiegona.org
www.bajason-na.org Spanish
4689 Felton St., San Diego, CA 92116
Main office. Website lists all meeting dates and times.
Resources for Therapists
California Board of Behavioral Sciences:
916-574-7830 (Monday-Friday, 8 AM-5 PM)
www.bbs.ca.gov
1625 N Market Blvd., Suite S-200, Sacramento, CA 95834
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy:
703-838-9808
www.aamft.org
112 South Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists:
858-29-CAMFT (292-2638)
www.camft.org
7901 Raytheon Road, San Diego, CA 92111
Collaborative Family Healthcare Association:
585-482-8210
www.cfha.net
P.O. Box 23980, Rochester, NY 14692
BehaveNet:
www.behavenet.com
Behavioral healthcare information and resources, including an online version of the DSM-IV-TR
Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy:
www.mghacademy.org or www.mghcme.org
Become a member for free and gain access to a mental health resources and trainings.
International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals:
www.iaedp.com
The San Diego Chapter frequently offers free or low cost workshops.
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