Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Claffey.
Hi Angela, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I moved back to my hometown in Santa Clarita because I wanted to make a place I wish I had when I was a teenager who was struggling with an eating disorder. In 2023 I left my secure State Hospital job as a forensic psychologist to open The Well Counseling Center for individuals who struggle with mental health. My team currently is of 5 therapists who are passionate about holistic health. I opened the non proft sector of my business named Hungry Girl Ministries. We are in the process of getting Medical approved so we can help those who can not afford insurance and foster youth. We believe healing needs to be mind, body, and spirit. At 14 years old I was a suicide survivor due to a neighborhood boy came to find me when it was announced that I left a goodbye note and the police where trying to find me. He sat and talked to me until he gave me hope to walk back home together. I know God sent him and I survived for a reason and want to go after the person who is desperate to stop the pain and together we can find a way back to hope.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I had been injured by a patient sexually assaulting me at the forensic hosptial before leaving to open my own business which left me in severe pain and could barely walk. Not being able to physically do everything myself made me have to build a team to help more people.
I have also struggled with being a female CEO, comments that my business is “cute” or people pretending to want to help me with the non profit endeavers, but the real intention is date me. I am looking for other female leaders to help mentor me in how to keep a soft heart but be taken seriously as a force to be reckoned with in the mental health field.
My center specializes in faith integration in mental health. Psychology and the faith community can be antagonistic toward one another and finding creative ways to bridge the gap between churches and mental health services has been a barrier that I am passionate about pioneering in the field of psychology.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Under the floor boards of my counseling center I put pages that I took out of my journal that I had as a little girl who was struggling with an eating disorder and prayers to God to heal me. My ministry is built on Jesus answering those prayers and I know if I can walk in freedom and purpose, anyone can. I am currently writing a book named Hungry Girl, a hungry girls guide to an abundant life.
This is the mission statement I wrote for my non profit sector of my counseling center named Hungry Girl Ministries which focuses on helping women who struggle with eating disorders.
We are for her.
The girl carrying a broken heart.
The one at war with food.
The one starved for love.
The girl clinging in fear of being left.
The one who hates her own reflection.
The girl swallowed by loss…
And frozen by fear.
We are for her—
The one who is hungry for God.
We are for the hungry girls.
And we are with her.
As she takes her first step on the road to healing.
As she faces her fears.
As she makes peace with her body… and with food.
As her heart begins to believe she is truly loved.
As she hungers to find her purpose.
We are Hungry Girl Ministries.
We are for her.
And we are with her.
We offer individual, couples, children, adults, adolescents who struggle with mental health issues. We take insurances because we want therapy to be affordable and to help the underserved.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Creative and funny. I was in theater and made a one woman show on my recovery from an eating disorder.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thewellcounselingcenters.com
- Instagram: thewellcenters
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-claffey-psyd-305583b9?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app&original_referer=
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWellCounseling
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/angela-marie-claffey-stevenson-ranch-ca/1060792?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaer3-UHQg2CJNQko17aMyWl8OJYTW8sOxjsqJybcTzdjxuaH4oB-eyFea-iMg_aem_RZ80rGXM-JAmVIR7Jasyjw
