What counseling is, and what to expect.

Counseling is a confidential conversation with a trained mental health professional — usually one-on-one, sometimes with family members or in a small group. It’s a place to talk through what’s hard — stress, anxiety, sadness, conflict at home or school, big transitions — and learn practical ways to handle it.

It isn’t advice from a friend and it isn’t a lecture. A counselor listens, asks good questions, and helps you or your child build skills that keep working long after sessions end.

We work with kids (often right at their school), young adults and college students, and the parents and families who support them.

If you’re not sure whether counseling is the right fit, that’s exactly what the free consultation is for.

With permission from parents and the school, a counselor meets with your child during the school day in a private space on campus. It removes the hardest parts of getting help — driving across town, missing practice, fitting one more thing into the week.

We coordinate with parents and, where appropriate, with school staff so everyone is supporting your child the same way.

The first session is mostly getting to know each other. The counselor will ask what brought you in, what a good outcome would look like, and a bit about day-to-day life. For kids, it often looks more like talking and playing than sitting on a couch.

By the end you’ll have a sense of how often to meet and what you’ll work on together.

We are a Partnership Insurance preferred provider. If you have private insurance, check with your plan about coverage for counseling — we’re happy to help you figure out what to ask.

• Cash and checks accepted
• HSA/FSA cards accepted
• Superbill for private insurance (check with your insurer first)
• Free phone consultation before you commit to anything

Yes. What is said in counseling stays between the counselor and the client, with a few exceptions required by law — such as when someone is in danger. Parents are kept in the loop about progress and how to help at home, without turning every session into a report.

It depends on what you’re working on. Some people come for a handful of sessions around a specific situation; others find it helpful to keep meeting for a season. We check in regularly about how things are going and adjust together.

Any of the three. Younger students usually meet at school or in our Redding or Chico office. College students and adults often mix in-office visits with secure video sessions to fit classes and work.

We see clients at partner schools and in our offices in Redding and Chico, and we serve families across Shasta County, Tehama County, and Butte County — including Red Bluff, Anderson, and the surrounding communities. Telehealth sessions are available anywhere in California.

Call (530) 941-9003 for a free consultation, or send us a message through the contact form. Tell us a little about what’s going on and we’ll take it from there.