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
• Coaching (Executive Coaching)(Health Coaching)(Business Coaching)
• Counseling for Teens
• Couples Counseling
• Depression
• Group Counseling
• Individual Counseling
• Marriage Counseling (Intensives)
• Men’s Issues
• Online Counseling
• Professional Development
• Relationship Issues
• Sex and Porn Addiction
• Trauma
• Weight Loss
• Women’s Issues
• Diabetes
• Heart Disease(s)
• Neurological Disease(s)
• Cancer(s)

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.

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

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).