Would You Like Some Help?
We all need help sometimes. Our souls need care. Talking with a counselor skilled in self-reflection can be tremendously healing. It can help you move past whatever is bothering you. There is really nothing more important for our happiness than paying attention to how we need to grow as a person. Maybe you need help making a decision or changing a bad habit. Maybe you need some healing from a past trauma. Maybe you just want to accept yourself more fully as you are. Therapy at Shine a Light is one way to move forward to a more fulfilling and satisfying life, based on your own goals and your unique unfolding. Learn more about Individual Therapy for Adults.
Concerned About a Family Member?
In addition to therapy for adults, we provide counseling for children, youth, teens and families. We help younger children through play therapy and mentoring. We help teens by providing a place they can discuss the difficult situations, strong feelings and important decisions they face in their lives. Sometimes, we believe that we can help best by including family members in the therapy, so that everyone can learn to communicate effectively with each other. Learn more about Child, Teen and Family Therapy.
Do You Want a More Satisfying Relationship?
Relationships are so important to human beings. When they go well we feel wonderful. When they are rocky, it can be very painful. Shine a Light offers couple counseling for people who want to improve their relationships. Whether your goal is to reduce conflict, recover from hurt feelings, or rebuild intimacy and security in your partnership, our relationship therapists can help. Learn more about Couple Counseling.
Appointments Available Now
We have openings in our Monterey, Santa Cruz and Watsonville offices. Thus, you don’t have to wait around on a wait list, or call ten offices before you find someone with openings. Use the form below to get connected with a marriage counselor or psychotherapist today. Please note, however, that we do not bill any insurance companies other than Medi-Cal with Carelon or Anthem provider panels. Request an appointment now.
Offices in
Santa Cruz
Watsonville
Scotts Valley
Monterey and
San Francisco
In-Person & Televideo Therapy Available
What Will it Cost?
Shine a Light is a nonprofit Counseling Center is committed to making therapy affordable. We accept Medi-Cal, Victim Compensation Payments, and we have a sliding scale for everyone else. Learn more.
Want to Talk?
For a quick response, let’s connect using the Contact Form below ↓
Teen Girls Group
Single Moms Group
Men’s Group
Request an Appointment
Our Therapists
Our psychotherapists provide high quality, yet affordable psychotherapy and counseling services to individuals, couples, families, and groups. Shine a Light counselors are mostly master’s level Associates and Trainees who are supervised by licensed therapists.
Our staff of counselors is carefully chosen to make sure our clients are well supported. We are here to provide you a relaxed, safe, and supportive environment for you to explore and grow. We want to empower you to make positive changes in your life and relationships. Explore our therapists.
Our Mission
Shine a Light Counseling Center is a 501(c) non-profit counseling center offering services on a sliding scale and free therapy for Medi-Cal clients. Our mission is to provide therapy to those who would not otherwise be able to afford it, and to train and supervise new therapists. Learn how to support our mission here.
Request an Appointment
To Request an Appointment at Shine a Light or NPCC, please fill out this form. Please note *We respond to inquiries Monday through Friday 8AM to 8PM. All inquiries we receive on the weekends or holidays will be processed the next business day. Thank you for your patience.
Agency Inquiries
New Office in San Francisco!
Shine a Light Counseling Center is please to merge with New Perspectives Center for Counseling. NPCC has been serving the San Francisco community for thirty years. Now NPCC is transitioning to become the San Francisco site for Shine a Light. NPCC will retain its name, character and history. For information about NPCC or counseling in San Francisco:
New Perspectives Center for Counseling
Emergency Contact
Shine a Light does not provide crisis services. If you have a mental health emergency, call 988 or 911. Or click here for more Crisis Resources
Telephone Contact
You can call Shine a Light at 831-996-1222, but we encourage you to use the email forms to the left. If you call, please leave the following:
- Phone number
- Preferred location
- Best times to meet
- Issue you want help with
- What insurance you have (if any)
FAX us at: 831-417-0443
Good Faith Estimate
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Your fee will be set according to a sliding scale, in collaboration with your therapist, prior to your first counseling session. Total costs depend upon the number of sessions you choose to utilize.
If you have private health insurance, please be aware that your costs for therapy may be less by using an in-network provider for your insurance company. This will depend upon your plan's deductible amounts and co-payments. In some cases, counseling at Shine a Light is less costly than using private insurance.
If you hope to use "out of network" benefits through your private insurance, please be aware that many plans will not reimburse for services provided by pre-licensed therapists (most of our staff).
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