We provide services that will address mental health needs throughout a child’s life, including prevention and early intervention for kids and families, and intensive, outpatient mental health services, trauma informed care and case management for youth ages 12-20 who are experiencing homelessness or running away from home. We also work with children and their families to improve adult-child relationships both at school and in the home.
Counseling Cove
Services for youth ages 12-20 who are experiencing homelessness or running away from home. Monday – Friday, 9am – 6pm Evenings and weekends by appointment
Our East County Prevention and Early Intervention team works with children and their families to improve adult-child relationships both at school and in the home.
San Diego Youth Services Counseling Cove provides intensive, outpatient mental health services, trauma informed care and case management for youth ages 12-20 who are experiencing homelessness or running away from home. Counseling Cove uses a comprehensive approach that is community-based, client and family-driven and culturally competent.
Services are strength-based, focusing on resilience and recovery. Under the Mental Health Services Act, Counseling Cove is a Full Service Partnership Program. As such, staff do “whatever it takes” and follow the “no wrong door policy” to meet needs.
The Counseling Cove team makes significant efforts to locate and engage youth experiencing homelessness to help increase access to mental health services. Last year, the team helped 117 youth participating in the program and 1,199 youth through outreach.
Providing Support for:
Addressing Basic Needs
Alcohol & Drug Misuse
Depression & Anxiety
Family Relationships
Healthy Relationships
Safe Coping Skills
Sexual Health
Trauma-related Issues
Services
Clinicians
Support Partners
Psychiatry
Community-based Outreach and Support
24-hour Support
Community Training and Education
Contact
(619) 525-9903 Monday – Friday 9am – 6pm Evenings and weekends by appointment
Referrals can be made by phone, fax or walk in. Download our referral form. For more information or to make a referral by phone, please call (619) 525-9903.
Camp Mariposa
Camp Mariposa
Camp Mariposa is a free mentoring and addiction prevention camp and program for youth affected by a family member’s substance abuse.
The program is a partnership of San Diego Youth Services and Eluna, a fellow charity supporting children and families impacted by grief or addition.
Youth ages 9-12 attend transformational three-day weekend camps, with six camps being offered during the year. Last year, 30 youth attended Camp Mariposa.
Campers participate in fun, traditional camp activities combined with education and support exercises led by mental health professionals and trained mentors.
Referrals can be turned in by fax (619) 258-0676 or in person at our Spring Valley and East Communities Campus in the San Diego Youth Services reception, 3845 Spring Drive, Spring Valley, CA 91977.
The East County Behavioral Health Clinic provides trauma informed, outpatient mental health services, and case management to youth (4-21 years old) and their families who are low-income or uninsured, full scope Medi-Cal beneficiaries, or eligible for services through the Mental Health Service Act. As a Full Service Partnership program, we provide comprehensive, culturally responsive services to assist youth and families in achieving their goals. These behavioral health services are part of SchoolLink, a partnership between school districts and the County of San Diego.
We provide services at our clinic, over the phone, in a youth’s school or home, or in a community setting.
Services offered:
• Individual and Family Therapy • Group Therapy • Case Management • Psychiatric Services/Psychiatric evaluation (Medication is only provided in conjunction with psychotherapy)
Clinic and Tele-Health Services
We can serve youth from any part of the East County Region at our clinic site, as well as over the phone or video.
School-Based Services
On-site, school-based services are provided during the school day to select schools in the following districts: Santee School District: Carlton Hills Elementary School, Carlton Oaks Elementary School, Chet F. Harritt Elementary School Lakeside Union School District: Lakeside Middle School, Tierra del Sol Middle School Grossmont Union High School District: El Cajon Valley High School, El Capitan High School, Monte Vista High School
A Family Therapy Approach
The clinic uses a family therapy, strengths-based approach to empower youth and their families to improve their overall wellbeing. This approach emphasizes the interconnection between all family members and uses those connections to assist families in successfully overcoming various difficulties. This approach recognizes the inherent strengths and important role that family members have in each other’s lives and supports the uniqueness of the family system.
Location & Contact
1870 Cordell Court Suite 101 El Cajon, CA 92020
Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Evenings by appointment
(619) 448-9700
Funded by
Prevention and Early Intervention
Prevention and Early Intervention
Our East County Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) team works with children and their families to improve adult-child relationships both at school and in the home. Last year, PEI provided services to 765 children in preschool through third grade. The team also provided services to 1,219 participants at events. All services offered are free!
The program’s goals are to prevent behavioral problems and serious mental illness in elementary school-aged children and to support families who are struggling with these concerns.
East County PEI uses the Incredible Years evidence-based model to improve the lives of children and families in the community.
Assist your child in expressing their feelings and solve their own problems
Connect with other families
Enable your child to do better in school
Find supportive resources in your community
Help your child make friends
Increase communication with your children
Learn new positive parenting skills
Reduce negative behavior at home
Services
Classroom Activities Students (Preschool to 2nd grade) participate in weekly Dinosaur School lessons in the classroom. The classroom activities include topics such as:
Appropriate school behavior
Feelings identification
Problem solving
School rules
Social skills
Child Behavior Groups After School Child Behavior Groups (Preschool to 3rd grade) are designed to support children who are struggling with their behavior at home and/or in school. The groups focus on the following:
Building confidence and self-esteem
Concentrating and following directions
Expressing emotions in a healthy manner
Improving adult-child interactions
Increasing positive behaviors
Parent/Family Services
Parenting Support Groups Parents and family members are introduced to similar strategies the PEI team uses with the children during classroom activities and Child Behavior Groups. These strategies include positive discipline and how to effectively teach your child new positive behaviors.
Skills learned can be used to improve parent-child relationships and help children succeed. Participants also build a support system by getting to know other parents in the community.
Family Workshops Family wellness activities are available to the community to promote well-being, self-care and community involvement such as:
Academics
Cultural Awareness
Dance/Exercise
Drug Prevention
Financial Planning
Nutrition and Wellness
PEI provides free childcare during all parent support groups.
The Family Resource Center provides self-sufficiency and supportive services to youth and families in the El Cajon Valley School District who are experiencing a range of needs.
Services
Parent/Family Services