Dr. Joe Raphael, DrPH, MBA, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #LMFT-77740
(424) 361-6196
With God’s help, we will work together to better understand and resolve the current challenges in your life to give you hope for a more fulfilling and meaningful future in Christ. Some common concerns that my clients share include dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, sleep issues, emotional eating, weight concerns, chronic illness, and more. Whether you’re looking for extra support and guidance through a challenging situation or you’re just ready to move in a new direction in your life, I look forward to partnering with you to achieve your goals.
San Diego – Mon, Wed and Thu
Irvine – Tue, Fri and Sat
Online Counseling
I offer a highly personalized, faith-based approach combined with specialized training tailored to meet your individual needs. My unique blend of training includes an MBA, a doctorate in Clinical Preventative Care, and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology. With more than 15 years of counseling experience, my ultimate passion is to help you regain your voice and maintain your health. Together we’ll work to get to the root of your concerns, then empower you with the right tools to attain the personal growth you desire.
My Goal as a Christian Counselor
My goal is to educate, equip, and empower you with the tools and resources you need in order to uncover your true potential and lead a life worth celebrating. I want you to reach a point where you know exactly how to overcome the struggles you face and achieve the goals you desire for your life. My hope is for you to gain a deeper sense of purpose as you turn the page to the next chapter and move forward with confidence to face whatever life brings.
What I Offer in Christian Counseling
I offer one-on-one, couples, and family sessions, and work with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues, providing services that span from therapy for depression and grief to parenting support, couples counseling, and beyond. In session you’ll enjoy a safe, supportive space where you can feel comfortable and free to be yourself. I’m committed to providing a trustworthy environment so you can receive the maximum benefits from your treatment. If you decide that my counseling style or approach is not the best fit for you, I will gladly guide you toward a better option for your individual needs.
My Approach to Christian Counseling
As a Christian practitioner, my goal is to help you grow by focusing on treating the whole person: body, mind, spirit, and relationships. I realize that not everyone comes seeking Christian counseling, and I will not impose any certain set beliefs on you. I would, however, love to follow your lead as we explore how you connect to God, and how and why faith connects your purpose and values.
Qualifications & Experience
I received my MA in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University and went on to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I was trained at Loma Linda University, where I earned a DrPH Doctorate in Clinical Preventive Care and an MBA in Business Administration. I am also a Certified Health Education Specialist and Board Certified Holistic Alternative Psychology Master. I am an active participant with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American College of Sports Medicine, the American College of Healthcare Executives and California Association of Marriage and Family Therapist.
I’ve been counseling for over fifteen years, working with those suffering from both physical and mental concerns within many levels of care from private practice, outpatient, inpatient, IOP, EOP, and nursing facilities.
More About Me/On a Personal Note
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, riding bicycles, going to the beach, being in the ocean, and exercising. I also enjoy learning and experiencing new things.
Areas of Expertise/Specialties
- Abandonment and Neglect
- ADHD
- Anger Management
- Anxiety
- Chemical Dependency
- Coaching
- Counseling for Children
- Counseling for Teens
- Couples Counseling
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Family Counseling
- Grief and Loss
- Group Counseling
- Individual Counseling
- Infidelity and Affairs
- Marriage Counseling
- Men’s Issues
- Online Counseling
- Personal Development
- Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Premarital Counseling
- Professional Development
- Psychological Testing (Cognitive and Brief Neuropsychological)
- Relationship Issues
- Spiritual Development
- Trauma
- Weight Loss
- Women’s Issues
Individual Counseling
Whether you are dealing with chronic illness, ongoing stress, thoughts that seem out of control, or other issues, I am here to help. Perhaps you feel misunderstood. Maybe you’re having difficulty explaining what you’re experiencing, or maybe you’re just tired of trying. Maybe you know what you could do, but are struggling to initiate or sustain the next steps. Perhaps all you know is that you do not like where you are. Whatever the situation, I look forward to hearing your story. If you are a teen, adult, executive, mom, dad – or anyone, really – we all have these moments. Come learn how to use these experiences to your advantage and live the life you desire to live.
Anxiety and Depression
Do you experience racing thoughts, muscle tension, tightness in your chest, or difficulty concentrating? Maybe you feel hopeless, as if you know what to do, just not how to do it. Anxiety and depression can feel terrible, but they do not have to. Learn how you can control your symptoms – or better yet, prevent them from appearing at all.
Personal Development
Do you know what you need to do to become healthier but can’t seem to find the best way to achieve your aspirations? If so, I can help. My goal is to help you better understand your objectives and guide you toward sustainable solutions. You are not defined by your illness or a current state of mind. You can get your life back.
Lifestyle Assessments
A Personalized Medical Lifestyle Assessment involves the collection and analysis of health-related information that is used to support healthy behaviors and change behaviors.
The reality is that many diseases and disorders are preventable and can be managed with lifestyle choices.
This assessment provides an overview of nutrition, exercise, drinking/smoking/drug use, sleep patterns, stress levels, and overall health status. This assessment gives your care team the opportunity to examine health status for health risks and prevent, reverse, or eradicate chronic diseases.
A Personalized Medical Lifestyle Assessment is not a diagnostic tool, a complete medical history or a medical test.
Dr. Joe Raphael, DrPH, MBA, LMFT, FACLM, CHES, HAPM is a Preventive Care Specialist and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. The aim of a Lifestyle Assessment is to improve health, purpose, and add years to life and life to years.
Bariatric Surgery Assessments
The purpose of the Bariatric Surgery Assessment is done prior to any surgery. A history of physical and psychology illness including prior weight loss attempts, readiness, nutritional patterns, exercise patterns, preparedness, and additional screening tools are often reviewed. Dr. Joe Raphael, DrPH, MBA, LMFT, FACLM, CHES, HAPM is a Preventive Care Specialist, licensed psychotherapist, and American College of Lifestyle Medicine Fellow. He has been completing Bariatric Surgery Assessments for ten years and looks forward to working with your medical team.
Brief Cognitive Functioning Assessments
The Kaufman Short Neuropsychological Assessment is a brief measure of cognitive functioning for adolescents and adults. The K-SNAP can be used as a short evaluation of cognitive function and often part of a more comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. The purpose of a Neuropsychological Assessment is to define specific cognitive strengths and weaknesses and to identify relationships between medical and psychiatric conditions.
The most common referrals include brain injury, recovery from cancers, and other neurological concerns. Some additional referrals are obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, depression, and behavioral concerns.
The MicroCog Assessment for Cognitive Functioning is an automated neuropsychological battery. The MicroCog is one of the first computerized assessments developed to detect early signs of cognitive impairment. This assessment evaluates spatial processing, reaction time, mental control, memory, reasoning, and calculation. This is not a full assessment but rather a screening tool.
Dr. Joe Raphael, DrPH, MBA, LMFT, FACLM, CHES, HAPM is a Preventive Care Specialist, licensed psychotherapist, and American College of Lifestyle Medicine Fellow who completed post-doctoral studies in neuropsychology. He looks forward to working alongside your multidisciplinary team.
Availability (by office location):
- San Diego – Monday and Wednesday
- Irvine – Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
- Online Counseling
Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for Individuals, Couples, Families, and Groups looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived.
Insurance: As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), some insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals and couples.
Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
Testimonials
“Joe is both a therapist and a serial entrepreneur. As such, he understands the challenges inherent to building businesses and leading teams. More than that, he also brings keen insights into the psychological components that often operate quietly in the background of executives and team leaders.
Joe’s insights have helped me to unpack several of my previously “”hidden”” motives. Once he and I identified and unpacked these motives, it became much easier for me to navigate big decisions in my business and personal life.”
Dustin Steeve
Google Review
I’ve been in counseling with Dr. Joe for about a year. He has always been kind, helping me gain a broader perspective of myself and how I respond to situations based on learned coping mechanisms. He has helped me develop a more constructive way to think about things, and I have learned so much about myself. I would definitely recommend Dr. Joe and Irvine Christian counseling
Rachele Concepcion
Google Review
I highly recommend Dr. Joe Raphael. It was very easy for me to speak with him about all my issues from relationship distress, problems at work and even some mental health issues I was experiencing. I really like the way he explains things and finds ways to help me cope with them. Thank you, Dr. Joe
Enzio Clarke
Google Review
Dr. Joe is one of a kind! He is not only very professional and knowledgeable he has a heart of compassion for his clients. He is humble and listens to understand. My family is blessed to have Dr. Joe as our therapist. His counseling and transparency has helped my family trust him and open up. My family has begun our healing journeyHe truly cares for his clients. I highly recommend Dr. Joe Raphael. We meet with him at the San Diego location. Thank you Dr. Joe
Mary altemus
Google Review
Dr. Joe has been very helpful to me in dealing with the trauma I experienced in my childhood, as well as in dealing with the challenges I face today. He is empathetic as well as professional. I am learning to live life to the fullest with his help.
Charlotte Gordon
Google Review
Working w/ Joe Raphael from Christian Counseling has been a pleasure. He has helped me and my fiance tremendously in many areas of our relationship. One of things I like most about working with Joe is that he extremely well rounded n the fashion that he can counsel on many different topics outside of relationship counseling.
Sean Siegler
Google Review
