Clinic Counseling Services:

Almaden Valley Counseling Service provides low cost counseling services for children, adolescents, individual, couples and families. Services are provided by Marriage and Family Therapist interns and trainees, who are supervised by licensed professional therapists (MFTs).

What to expect:

Counseling sessions are 50 minutes in length. Generally, clients are seen once per week, on a regular schedule. Available appointment times vary with therapist schedules but are offered between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm Monday through Thursday, Friday 10:00am to 4:00pm, and Saturday 10:00am-1:00pm.

Adults/Couples/Families:

Counseling often involves talking about emotions, experiences, and relationships in order to gain insight, change patterns, and learn new coping skills for dealing with life stress.

Adolescents:

We encourage you to talk to your teen before bringing them to counseling. If your child is not willing, therapy may be of limited value. At the first session, the therapist may ask to see you and your child together, or prefer to meet with you individually to get a clear picture of your concerns before meeting with the teen. You may discuss these options when scheduling the initial appointment.

Children:

While therapy with adults is frequently talking, children often struggle with the skills to verbalize emotions. Counseling with children may involve art, play therapy, games, clay, or sand tray to allow the child to communicate their experience and work through it in their own way.

Confidentiality:

Knowing that information will be kept private is important to developing a trusting therapeutic relationship. The content of your sessions will be kept between you and your therapist, except where required by law to ensure safety. As a mandated reporter, your therapist will honor confidentiality except in cases of real threats of harm exist. You may also provide a release of information for your counselor to speak with others as relevant to your care. As interns and trainees, your case will be overseen by your therapist's licensed supervisor, in confidence.

Cost:

AVCS works on a sliding scale depending on your household income. Please call for a quote on the cost per session. Payment is accepted at time of service, either cash or check; we are unable to take payment via credit card.

Time and expense is incurred by our therapists and staff when appointments are missed. If you must miss or change an appointment time, please call your therapist as soon as possible to let them know of the change. Payment is due for any sessions that are missed or cancelled with less than 24 hours notice.

We are a Victim Witness Compensation Program provider, for victims of and/or witnesses to a violent crime, who are in need of mental health counseling and support. AVCS provides counseling to families that meet Dept. of Family and Children Services requirements for DFCS Special Funds.

Insurance:

We do not directly bill insurance, however many clients report that our sliding scale fee is less than their insurance copayments. You may request receipts to submit for reimbursement. As our therapists are not licensed, reimbursement may not be approved.Your insurance's approval of reimbursement may also depend on your diagnosis. Contact your insurance company directly for more information about your coverage.

How to prepare:

Please arrive 15 minutes early to your first session to fill out some initial paperwork prior to your appointment. You do not need to bring anything except payment to your session, however having certain information available to provide your therapist may be helpful. Information of this nature may include: the names and dosages of any medications you are taking, contact information for any other health professional, such as medical doctors or psychiatrists.

Who seeks counseling?

On a daily basis, we talk to people who are hurting emotionally…
Whose lives have been disrupted by the overwhelming stress of dealing with everyday issues:

They call because they are grieving over the death of a loved one, or the end of their marriage.
They can’t understand why they are making the choices they do, but recognize that they are unhealthy and they need to learn new ways of coping.
They’ve been a victim of abuse and are in need of healing emotionally.
They are dealing with cancer or other life threatening illnesses.
They are lonely, isolated, lacking in self-esteem, socially awkward, or being bullied.
They are parents dealing with stress over money concerns, children, aging parents and a changing relationship with their spouse.

They are your neighbors, your friends, your siblings, your parents, you.
We are here…..and we will help.

For information, questions, or to call for an appointment

Call (408) 997-0200

Calls will generally be returned between 11:30am — 3:30pm.

AVCS
6529 Crown Blvd, Suite D
San Jose, CA 95120
(408) 997-0200

Working To Promote Emotional Well–being

COC - Counseling on Campus Program

Our program involves a close working relationship between our counselors and the teachers, staff, and administrators. With all of these people working together, we are able to pinpoint the students who need special attention and intervene to provide them the one-on-one guidance and consistency of services that they require, at no charge to the student or their families.

Today’s children are often living in turbulent households and are being exposed to such emotional stressors as divorce, alcohol and substance abuse, anger, physical and sexual abuse, peer pressure, and parental pressure for academic success. Students bring these experiences and emotional issues to school, which can translate into disruptive classroom behavior, difficulty focusing, poor academic performance, and peer relationship issues.

Our counselors provide students with a safe, open environment in which they can feel free to express their emotions. Counselors are able to introduce students to techniques that will help them to deal with the stressors of their lives. This, in turn, encourages academic success, positive peer relationships and encourages healthy choices.

Schools Served:

San Jose Unified School District

Allen
Booksin
Carson
Graystone
Hacienda
Los Alamitos
Reed
Schallenberger
Simonds
Williams
Bret Harte
Castillero
Leland
Pioneer

Union School District

Alta Vista
Carlton
Guadalupe
Lietz
Noddin
Oster
Dartmouth
Union
Leigh

Franklin McKinley School District

Santee

Geriatric Advisory Program

Aging is a process unique to everyone, influenced by biological, social, psychological, environmental and even economic factors. As men and women age, both physical and mental health can affect their ability to live independently. Through early intervention from the Geriatric Advisory Program or G.A.P, older adults can improve their quality of life. The Geriatric Advisory Program assists older adults experiencing medical and/or psychological, intellectual and behavioral problems not associated with normal aging.

Our clinical approach emphasizes wellness, prevention, building and maintaining individual strengths and social connections and minimizes risk factors. At G.A.P., our team begins the evaluation process with an initial interdisciplinary assessment, followed by recommendations based upon assessment results. Services and follow-up visits are then planned based upon the clients' individual needs.

G.A.P. is a multi-disciplinary, clinical assessment and care management program designed to address the emotional, social and functional health of older individuals. The program helps detect early changes, provides early intervention, ensures ongoing monitoring of problematic issues and helps clients live the highest quality of life possible.

~An-Expert-&-Caring-Team~

Our clinical staff is educated, supervised and specially trained to serve clients in their later years. We have the dedication and reliability needed to provide clinical geriatric services with the high standard of quality and commitment you and your family deserve.

Our clinical staff is composed of state-registered interns with a master’s degree from a local university, working under the supervision of licensed MFTs. Our interns have additional education or experience working in the field of geriatrics and receive specialized training in geriatric assessments and case management.

G.A.P. services, along with all other services at Almaden Valley Counseling Service, are provided with a sliding scale fee structure. AVCS provides services to the community that individuals and families need but might otherwise not be able to afford.

~~ A Trusted Healthcare Partner~~

We care about you, your health, and what’s best for your family. A Geriatric Assessment is a complete health report which determines potential health and social problems so that we can best treat the symptoms. The Assessment looks at a person's physical, social, cognitive, emotional and environmental needs and abilities. We work with the client, family and health care provider to improve healthcare, well-being and functioning.

Geriatric Assessment–

A Geriatric Assessment is a comprehensive evaluation performed by a trained clinician that enables you and your family to understand your loved one's abilities and limitations. Our holistic approach to medical care treats the mind, body and spirit in a caring environment. A comprehensive Geriatric Assessment includes: a complete medical history and medication review, a social and psychological evaluation, an assessment of cognitive function and a solution-oriented plan of care. The goal of this extensive evaluation and review is to develop a custom written plan for your loved one that is both clear and practical.

Life Coaching –

Aging issues dealing with loss and change can be difficult and often overwhelming. We help clients and their families face these challenging days with dignity and compassion. Our team approach addresses the holistic needs and wishes of the Client, from timely referrals for medical and pain management or even household and nutritional assistance. We provide emotional and spiritual support to the family during this time of role change and life choices.

Care Plan–

Sometimes all a parent or loved one needs to remain independent at home is a little extra support. We have the resources to help develop a plan. A care plan that includes such needs as homecare, shopping, and household management for example. We can also suggest activities and methods of interaction to help loved ones get out and about to community and family events.