For Appointments Call 619-779-7900
Behavioral Health
Services
Family Wellness Unit
Mental and Behavioral Health Services. La
Maestra’s Family Wellness Unit (FWU) began providing
services in 2004. The objective of the FWU is to provide
linguistically and culturally competent mental and
behavioral health services focused on community education,
prevention and early intervention and treatment, and to
overcome stigmas and dispel myths of mental illness as
well as post traumatic shock syndrome for victims of
torture. The FWU is staffed with three full time licensed
Marriage and Family Therapists, two full time licensed
psychologists, one part time psychiatrist, a Comprehensive
Perinatal Health Worker, a Mental Health Coordinator and a
receptionist, who are culturally representative of the
targeted patient population and are fluent in Spanish,
Sudanese, Nuer in addition to English. All promotional and
educational materials are translated into the appropriate
languages as needed.
The FWU works closely with and receives referrals from the
San Diego Access and Crisis Line, the court system, local
Child Protection Services (CPS) agencies, Survivors of
Torture, and the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition (for
victims of human trafficking). La Maestra’s psychologists
are TERM (Treatment and Evaluation Resource Management
Program)-approved counselors and receive referrals from
the County Health and Human Services Agency for CPS, the
courts, and the welfare department for mandated
counseling. The FWU also provides psychological support
for pregnant females and their families during pregnancy,
including psychosocial assessment focusing on potential
causes of stress that could impact pregnancy, birth
outcomes and postpartum behavioral health; and individual,
couple and family therapy as needed.
Uninsured patients are screened for eligibility to
participate in one of the four programs the clinic
operates through its contract with the Council of
Community Clinics: IMPACT (Improving Mood-Promoting Access
to Collaborative Treatment), SED (Severely Emotionally
Disturbed), SMI (Severely Mentally Ill), and TERM
(Treatment and Evaluation Resource Management) Program.
For the past four years the FWU has provided an internship
program for students from local universities’ psychology,
social work and marriage and family therapy programs. The
clinic provides two internships per year although no
health insurance or other program reimburses the services
provided by interns of the supervision provided to them.
La Maestra has chosen to absorb the cost in order to
support this valuable service.
For general program or treatment related questions call:
Diana Alvarez, Unit Coordinator
Location:
4060 Fairmount Avenue
San Diego, CA 92105
Tel: 619-564-8765
Fax: 619-564-8786
Hours: Monday through Friday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday (by appointment only)
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Services
Languages: English and Spanish. Services in other
languages are provided with an interpreter.
The Family Wellness Unit provides culturally competent
services including but not limited to:
Counseling for pregnant women and their families.
Psycho-social services to pregnant and postnatal women as
a part of the Comprehensive Perinatal Service Program.
Individual and group sessions are available.
Spouses/partners are encouraged to attend.
Mental Health services to children, adolescents and
adults. Individual family and group psychotherapy.
Psychiatric evaluation and medication management. Support
group for Depression and Anxiety made possible by the
California Department of Justice, Antitrust Law Section.
Referrals to other community agencies are made if needed.
The Family Wellness Unit provides La Maestra’s patients
with publications from the National Institute of Mental
Health in Spanish and English. These materials address
clinical conditions such as depression, obsessive
compulsive disorders, social phobia, panic disorder,
generalized anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Our services are provided by culturally competent licensed
clinicians that have many years of experience in the
field:
Lorena Aguila, PhD
Berenice Ibanez, PhD
Luis Zapata, PhD
Linda Gallegos, MFT
Jorge Naranjo, MD
Payment options include Medi-Cal, sliding fee scale based
on monthly family income, or funding from MHSA.
