Vincent Staraci, MA, MFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a broad base of professional involvements and interest. He is a ministry leader, educator, consultant and clinical supervisor.

In his private practice, Vincent specializes in working with people who are recovering from trauma, abuse, abandonment and addiction in a framework of spiritual growth and development. His work naturally extends to individuals and couples across a wide range of relational and clinical issues including intimacy, communication, depression, anxiety, professional development, spiritual direction, mentoring and dream work.

Along with his private psychotherapy practice, Vincent serves as the Executive Director of Hosanna Counseling Ministries. Hosanna is a non-profit Christian counseling organization that delivers a full range of psychological services to individuals, couples, families and children. Additionally, the ministry offers pertinent, Biblically-based adult education in seminar format to the surrounding community; support services for the parents of children with special needs; and it is a training facility for interning Christian therapists. Hosanna has offices in Santa Monica and Malibu.

Vincent lectures and conducts seminars on topics ranging from “Sexuality, Authenticity and Grace” to “The Gift of Anger”.Additionally, he is a certified parenting educator and has lectured at the Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology, where he did his graduate training.

Susan Staraci, MA, MFT, is a wife, mother, and licensed therapist. Susan has been in clinical practice in Santa Monica for 15 years, and has worked extensively with individuals and groups, mothers and fathers, husbands and wives…and children of all ages.

For the past eight years, Susan’s personal experience and professional expertise have been shaped by her compassion for moms. As a mom herself (having gone through the adventures of pregnancy induced insomnia, two premature deliveries, mastering breast feeding, adapting to the changes in her marriage, and the countless, sleepless nights) she has vital hands-on experience doing “the hardest job you’ll ever love.” Susan has a heart for the full experience of motherhood-from the most touching moments to the most overwhelming of demands. She enjoys counseling parents through this process, both through individual therapy and support groups.

Susan is very active in the “special needs” community; serving on the Special Needs District Advisory Committee for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, advocating for parents who have children with special needs, and counseling them through their child’s Individualized Education Process (IEP).  Susan founded “The Parent Connection” at TWISPP/Therapy West, an early intervention program for toddlers and children in Culver City, California.  She coordinated groups, activities, and resources for those parents faced with the emotional challenges of raising children with a varying degree of “special needs.” Having a special needs child of her own, she is intimately acquainted with the physical and emotional challenges required on a daily basis.

Susan acts as psychological consultant to a Christian elementary school, in West Los Angeles. She works with the administrative staff and teachers providing them training and clinical expertise in the areas of the social, emotional, cognitive and physical development of their students. Susan also provides counseling and support to students (ages five though twelve) as needed.

As a graduate of U.C.L.A. Susan later trained at the Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology where she received her MA.

Carol McCallister, a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary as a Marriage and Family Therapist Intern, brings a grounded and integrated therapeutic approach to her work with individuals, couples and children. Built on a foundation of personal and professional experience, Carol uniquely provides a climate of trust and connection from which to pursue insight and lasting change. Using cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic theories within a framework of the Christian faith, Carol passionately challenges her clients to identify destructive attitudes and behavior patterns, regulate emotion, and build personal coping mechanisms, resulting in an authentic connection with God, self and others. Understanding one’s present challenges as an opportunity for enduring strength and hope brings a positive and exciting element to the therapeutic process.

In addition to her work as a therapist, Carol is a wife and mother of four. She is active in the Christian community, passionately encouraging others and engaging in her church family. With a deep appreciation for the uniqueness of each individual, Carol is a speaker on various topics such as temperament, emotional intelligence, love languages and principles of a successful marriage. Formerly an educator for elementary aged children, Carol has a developed an understanding of children and their needs within the family unit and the inherent challenges for parents. In addition to her work with clients, Carol guides mothers of young children (two and under) in “Mommy and Me” classes offered in 10-week sessions throughout the year. Outside of work and family time, you will find Carol hiking the Santa Monica Mountains, playing tennis or (on a really good day) reading a book under an umbrella at the beach.

Brooke Sprowl holds an MSW from UCLA, with a specialization in Clinical Mental Health. She has extensive experience conducting therapy with individuals, families and couples in both Spanish and English with a majority of her work focused on issues related to depression, anxiety and relationships. She holds a certificate in Communication Training and has additional special training in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Structural Family Therapy, substance abuse and addiction interventions and therapeutic interventions for children and adolescents. Brooke's clinical work is aimed at aiding people in arriving at their own insights and defining their own values, while helping them to identify patterns and make connections between past experiences and present decisions. She enjoys working with individuals from all backgrounds and walks of life and believes that healing must be holistic in order to be effective and tailors her therapy to the unique needs, goals and desires of each individual client.

Dr. Joe Metoyer’s journey to becoming a psychotherapist includes nearly 20 years as a Senior Pastor in Santa Monica and before that, over 25 years in broadcasting and sports marketing. His counseling credentials include a post Doctoral Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, a Masters Degree in Theology, and a Doctoral Degree in Theology.

Joe has been counseling people for a long time. As a therapist, his experience and expertise have been formed by many years of pastoral counseling, a solid foundation in Scripture and a passionate conviction to integrate psychotherapy with biblical principles and all the while remaining an empathic, non-judgmental listener.

Joe’s range of counseling experience includes individual therapy, couples therapy, marriage counseling, family therapy, premarital counseling, divorce counseling and working with people struggling with depression, anxiety, and addictions. As a longtime pastor, Joe also has a special heart for those have difficulty working through the grief and loss of loved ones.

Jim specializes in helping the pulled-in-ten-directions, multifaceted person who is confused about career; in guiding the immobilized person who feels derailed by divorce, mid-life crisis, an ‘empty nest’, etc.; and in aiding the directionless person who feels trapped in a mundane routine and yearns to discover his/her purpose in life.

Coaching is a process that brings clarity, options, and forward movement in situations where people are frustrated by lack-of-progress. By providing structure, goal-setting, accountability, and removing blocks, a coach can help a client accomplish in weeks or months what has often eluded them for years. Career clarification usually takes 6-8 sessions; life transitions may require two to six months, depending on the circumstances.

Jim received a BA degree from Pepperdine (Malibu), a Masters from Fuller Seminary (Pasadena), and a Coaching Certification from the Life Purpose Institute (San Diego). Along with pastoring churches, Jim has taught college at Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine and was Executive Director of the Door of Hope, a shelter in Pasadena. He is a popular guest speaker and his seminar topics include Faith @ Work, Cycling Through to Success, and 30 Days to a Dynamic Life.