The PPSC Counseling Department is dedicated to providing for mental health needs in Southern Sonoma County. We believe that everyone wants to grow. It is not a weakness to seek out psychotherapy; it is an act of courage. We offer a sliding fee scale to better serve the counseling needs of individuals, couples, families, and children.  PPSC provides individual, family, group and couples counseling.  Our staff has experience with a wide variety of issues including: 

PPSC provides services in Spanish.  We will accept Medi-Cal for children, Victim Assistance, Child Welfare, other private insurance and private pay. Many of our programs are Evidenced Based programs and are on the Sonoma County Upstream Initiative Clearing House.  Se habla Espanol.

Psychotherapy

PPSC provides individual, family, group and couples counseling.  Our staff has experience with a wide variety of issues including: 

• Relationship Difficulties
• Parenting
• Anger, Behavior Problems,
• Triple P (Positive Parenting)
• School Problems, Adolescent Issues
• Anxiety and Panic, Depression
• Stress
• Divorce
• Physical Abuse
• Co-Parenting: Parenting After Divorce
• Screening and treatment for Perinatal Mood Disorder
• Social & Emotional Screening for children (0-5),
• Drug and Alcohol Abuse
• Grief and Loss, Aging
• Domestic Violence, Sexual Abuse
• Life Transitions

Prevention & Early Interventions Programs

PPSC offers a comprehensive system of care for children 0-5 and their families. Almost every family has experienced a time when their child behaves in ways that seem very different from his/her usual behavior. There are many types of challenging behavior that may seem confusing, inappropriate or even frightening. Some children may act out in violent ways, like biting, kicking, or hitting themselves or others with objects. Understanding why this behavior occurs and addressing it in a positive way can help prevent future occurrences. Our Prevention and Early Intervention program is designed to screen, assess and address challenging behavior in children and their families.

• Psychological Assessment: If you are concerned about the cognitive and mental health of a child in your care, Petaluma People Services Center offers a variety of screening and assessment tools to evaluate your child. Services are available in English and Spanish and are tailored to meet the individual needs of the child and family.
• Triple P Positive Parenting Program: PPSC is now offering three levels of intervention in both English and Spanish. Level 2 Seminar: Large group format, topics include: The Power of Positive Parenting; Raising Confident Competent Children; Raising Resilient Children. Level 3 Primary: Serves individual parents in four brief sessions to address a specific behavioral challenge such as tantrums, separation anxiety or bedtime problems. Level 4 Standard: an intensive individualized program of 10 or more on-hour sessions for children with multiple challenging behaviors including ADHD, and exposure to violence or trauma.
• Perinatal Mood Disorder: Perinatal Mood Disorder (PMD) includes symptoms or periods of low mood, despair, tearfulness, anxiety, irritability, feeling worthless or guilty, difficulty sleeping even when baby is asleep, lack of motivation, appetite disturbance, difficulty concentrating and getting organized. If you feel that yourself or a loved one is experience severe depression or anxiety during pregnancy or after the birth of a child, we offer screening for Perinatal Mood Disorder and treatment. We also can facilitate linkages to services.

Families In Action

Families In Action provides a family intake assessment interview for all youth and their parents, resulting in a case management plan and completion of the Program Entry and Service Plan. At this time an AOD screening tool will be used to determine the severity of the substance abuse and need for referral.

Over a period of six weeks, the program provides six, two and one-half hour educational support groups for both the youth and parents. These six groups are dedicated to the provision and fidelity of the Families In Action curriculum, including: pre-Assessment, presentation of the course material, and post-assessment. Finally, there is a final case management meeting for determination and desire for other family support services. An Exit Interview is then conducted and documented.

This program provides youth with more than just information about the negative social and physical effects of substance abuse; rather it emphasizes teaching a combination of general life and social resistance skills as well as providing opportunities to practice these skills.  Kids Project includes modules on parent-child communication, positive behavior management, interpersonal relationships for adolescents, and the factors that promote school success.  Sliding Scale, preference to referrals from Petaluma Police Department and School Administration.

Co-Parenting: Parenting After Divorce

Relationships don't just disappear when couples end their partnership. Parents must continue to communicate with each other in matters of child-rearing. The parents’ behavior greatly affects how well a child adapts to the new family structure. Unrelenting parental conflict harms children. Research shows it is the single most important predictor of poor adjustment in children following a divorce.

Cooperative Parenting and Divorce is an innovative program that creates promising solutions and strategies co-parents can use to prevent parental conflict. The 8-session program is designed to promote effective co-parenting for divorced, divorcing, and unmarried parents while educating them about children's and teens' issues with family separation and divorce.

Cooperative Parenting and Divorce uses an evidence based approach--the program works. PPSC offers the program in an 8-week, 2 hour class format.

Cooperative Parenting and Divorce will:

Parent Education – Triple P

This program address child abuse in the county by offering a matrix of services designed to prevent child abuse through education, counseling, collaboration, early interventions and ongoing treatment in abusive situations.

Family-centered clinical approach based on Triple P-Positive Parenting Program,
that focuses on families’ positive attributes and self-direction to strengthen their
capabilities while offering resource to help ensure positive outcomes.  PPSC provides clinically appropriate, culturally sensitive and strength-based mental health services.  Appropriate for parents of children 12 and under.

Measurable Outcomes:

Partners: Petaluma City Schools -McDowell Elementary, Family Resource Center currently serving mostly Latino families and their children from the community

Social and Emotional Screenings for Children aged 0-5

The ASQ is an accurate and parent-friendly way to identify children from one month to 5½ years with developmental delays.  Screening is provided at McDowell Elementary School free of charge to parents of children aged 0-5 ½.  Screening is also available at 1500 Petaluma Blvd South on a fee-for-service basis. 

Perinatal Mood Disorder Screening, Therapeutic Services and Referral

Pregnancy and childbirth can be one of life's most stressful and exciting events. The time after birth and adjusting to parenthood can be just as challenging. Mothers may experience many physical and emotional changes and some may be very confusing and perhaps frightening. Depression and anxiety around childbirth can affect any childbearing woman-regardless of race, income, culture, age, education, breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Even if your relationship is happy and you've had previous babies, postpartum depression can occur with any baby.

Postpartum depression can emerge any time during the first postpartum year. Most often symptoms include unexpected crying and tearfulness, mild anxiety, restlessness, fatigue and mood changes; worrying excessively about your health or feeling overly concerned about your baby's health; feeling panicky, "out of control," or anxious; having difficulty sleeping or being very fatigued and sleeping too much; having marked changes in your appetite; or not feeling close to your baby.  If you notice that you, or someone you know is feeling worse as time goes on, it's important for you to let someone know how you are feeling. Do not let feelings of guilt, shame or embarrassment get in the way of doing what you need to do to feel better. PPSC offers screening, treatment and referral for Perinatal Mood Disorder. 

Se Habla Español

Sicoterapia
PPSC ofrece servicios de consejería para individuos, familias, grupos y parejas. Nuestro personal tiene vasta experiencia en una gran variedad de problemas como:
Dificultades en Relaciones Personales
Educación de los Hijos
Enfurecimiento/Ira Incontrolable
Problemas de Comportamiento
Problemas en la Escuela
Problemas de Adolescentes
Ansiedad y Pánico
Depresión
Tensión (stress)
Divorcio
Abuso Físico
Alcoholismo y Drogadicción
Pérdida de Seres Queridos
Envejecimiento
Violencia Doméstica
Abuso Sexual
Cambios de Vida

Personal de Consejería
El Departamento de Consejeria está integrado por profesionales licenciados y individuos registrados que están completando su internado. Todo el personal recibe supervisión semanal y entrenamiento constante.

Girls Circle

When girls voice their ideas and opinions in a safe environment, it strengthens their confidence and encourages them to express themselves more fully. By examining cultural expectations in a safe and supportive setting, girls gain greater awareness of their options and strengthen their ability to make choices that are consistent with their values, interests, and talents.

Each week, a group of six to eight girls of similar age and development meet with a counselor.  During this time the girls take turns talking and listening to one another about their concerns and interests.  The girls express themselves further through creative and focused activities.  Themes relate to the girls’ lives, such as being a young woman, trusting ourselves, friendships, body image, goals, competition, decision-making and dating.  Sliding Scale, preference to referrals from Petaluma Police Department and School Administration.

Youth Diversion Services

Anger Management Our 10-week intervention program is designed to help children and adolescents improve social skill competence and moral reasoning, better manage anger, and reduce aggressive behavior.   The program combines Aggression Replacement Training® (ART®) techniques and other skill building techniques to help participants acquire and practice new skills to manage their anger. Clients attend a one-hour session each week.   Completion certificates awarded upon successful completion of the 10-week sessions.
Sliding Scale, preference to referrals from Petaluma Police Department and School Administration.

Senior Counseling Services

We provide counseling services for seniors in our community who are experiencing difficulties in their relationships, loss of a loved one, depressions, anxiety, problems with their adult children, drug and alcohol abuse and life transition issues.  We have a sliding scale to accommodate those seniors on a limited income.  PPSC also offers Meals on Wheels, Adult Day Care, Case Management, Caregiver Support and an Alzheimer’s Respite. 

Our counseling facilities are wheelchair accessible. 

Additional Programs

Counseling for COTS Families

Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment

Information and Referral