Individual Counseling

The center provides a wide variety of mental health services for people of all ages who live, primarily, in the South Central and Southeast areas of Los Angeles. Services include community mental health education; crisis intervention, both in person and telephone; family counseling; general counseling services for all ages; individual and group counseling; mental health evaluation; postpartum counseling; psychiatric day treatment for adults and children; psychiatric medication monitoring; behavior modification. Geographic restrictions apply.

Services are also provided out of Kedren Vernon, Kedren Western and Kedren Figueroa, although all intake, assessment, and case planning is done through the corporate office.

The agency is particularly dedicated to serving low income, high-risk residents of the inner city in an effort to assist people who may not be reached by traditional mental health services, to prevent mental health problems, and to enhance the mental health of people in the community. The center offers special outreach to chronically mentally ill adults, older adults, low income inner city Black families, families who are at risk for child abuse, and people who are experiencing a psychiatric crisis; and also provides general adult, youth, and family services.

The center provides phone and in-person crisis intervention in psychiatric emergencies, assessment and evaluation, inpatient treatment for adults age 18 to 65 and for children age 5 to 12, outpatient counseling for people age 3 and older, day treatment for children age 5 to 12 and adults, ages 18 to 65, case management, and community education services for professionals and the public. If necessary, staff can also hospitalize people involuntarily, prescribe and monitor medication. People who are in crisis can contact the center by phone or in person for assistance, evaluation, and treatment as indicated. In an emergency, people who live out of the area may also be seen if they are in crisis if they are able to go to the center.

People who want mental health services are seen for an intake appointment and a coordinated treatment plan is developed to meet the individual needs of the client or family. The plan may include any of the service components offered by the center and, in some instances, referrals for services at other facilities. Individual, conjoint, family, and group counseling are available for children age 5 and older, adolescents, and adults. The focus of the time-limited groups changes with client need. Counseling may deal with issues like parent-child conflict, adjustments of childhood or adolescence, child abuse, parenting, elder abuse, problems related to aging, dealing with grief and loss, depression, or anxiety. The center does not provide treatment for people whose primary problem is substance abuse.

Day treatment programs are also available for adults and for children, age 5 through 12, which may include counseling, medication, socialization and recreation activities. These programs are appropriate for people who can benefit from a structured, supportive environment for part of the day to enhance their coping skills. Adolescents who need inpatient or day treatment services are referred to other resources. Case management services are available, if needed, for any center client to provide support and coordination of services.

Medi-Cal eligible youth, ages 5 to 18 may receive social-emotional/Behavioral Therapy through the CHDP program.

Presentations can be provided on topics like alcohol or drug abuse and prevention, child abuse and prevention, stress reduction, and a variety of mental health-related issues. Anyone may call for information or to arrange a presentation.