Schedule with Hinza

Hinza Berhe, MA, LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #LMFT-132681
619-877-2560

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I aim to cultivate a space that embraces your story and experiences while simultaneously promoting safety and comfort as we discuss the unique circumstances that bring you into session. Together, we will dive into these areas and work toward building a more enjoyable and sustaining life. With empathy, transparency, and optimism, I would be honored to walk alongside your journey of hope and healing.

San Diego – Mon, Tue, Wed & Thu

About Hinza

We all have our own unique way of dealing, coping, managing, making the most out of our situations . . . but what if that’s not enough? God’s purpose is greater than our own and sometimes we need someone to remind us what that looks like, especially if it’s not how we envisioned it to be. We fall short of His glory, but that’s not where He wants us to stay. You are meant to thrive and experience fulfillment, not to feel defeated. The Lord will forever be on your side, and as your therapist, I would be honored to witness His transforming work in your life through Christian counseling.

My Goal as a Christian Counselor

One of my goals as your counselor is to help you gain insight into how your actions impact your ability to connect with others and yourself. We all absorb information differently and how we make meaning of it is unique to our own way of understanding. Through your stories and past experiences, I hope to explore how you view life and help you find comfort amidst your area of distress.

What I Offer in Christian Counseling

My purpose as a clinician is to help you feel supported and to remind you that there are individuals out there rooting for your success. I do not have a conventional method of conducting therapy – I tailor my approach to your needs. Generally, my approaches are collaborative, as I don’t pretend to assume I know more about your circumstances than you know yourself. With your permission, we will explore different aspects of your life that may be contributing to your current conflict.

My Approach to Christian Counseling

Not everyone is fortunate enough to experience a feeling of genuine love from their family or peers, but that love was and always is accessible through Jesus. The benefits of adopting a Christian approach to counseling is that we can grow deeper with Him in a space that is direct, intentional, and personable. Therapy won’t be something that we invite Jesus into sometimes, but all the time. Each session will permit us to continuously consider our faith as we navigate through the intricacies that life brings.

Biography

Qualifications & Experience

I obtained my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at San Diego State University (SDSU) and my Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy from Bethel University.

After graduating from SDSU, and throughout my graduate program, I worked as a Counselor at a residential treatment facility for five years serving children who endured extensive trauma, exhibited behavioral challenges, and/or struggled with their mental health. During my last year of graduate studies and the two years that followed, I worked at an outpatient clinic providing therapeutic care to children ages 4 to 18, including providing monthly family therapy to help integrate the therapeutic progress into the family dynamic.

After three years, I started working in other capacities, such as an investigator for Child and Family Wellbeing (previously known as Child Welfare Services) and a professor at Azusa Pacific University. I later transitioned to working in a group private practice providing therapy to children, teens, and adults. There I learned specific modalities, such as Theraplay and was exposed to Emotion Focused Therapy for Families, or EFFT.

My Call to Christian Counseling

I love learning about how people think and their motivation behind what drives their decisions. Coming from an immigrant family, communication was a bit difficult at times due to language barriers and cultural differences. Through curiosity and some patience gained over time, deciphering one’s intentions wasn’t as impossible as I had thought.

I pursued counseling to help individuals better understand the intentions of others, so that they themselves could feel heard and understood in return. There are times when we may be blinded by what we think is right or appropriate in order to make sense of what we are challenged with. With better clarity regarding what people are wanting and attempting to express, I believe this will allow room for a more safe and secure relationship with those you hold dear.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

When I am not working, I enjoy spending uninterrupted time with family and friends, watching nostalgic movies and TV shows, listening to music, throwing or kicking the ball around, learning different languages, working on puzzles, or playing a game of cards.

Services & Specialties

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

Anxiety and Depression

Life can pull us in many different directions and it can feel overwhelming and exhausting trying to keep up with the demands that life brings. You may even want to curl up and hope it all passes. This can feel debilitating and prevent you from enjoying the things that matter. It’s important that we address these things so that they do not dictate the trajectory of how we experience life and the blessings God has for us.

Counseling for Teens

Adolescence can be an unforgettable time in your life, and it can also feel the most stressful. Relationships are tested, responsibilities are building, and you are pressured to make life-changing decisions. You may feel as though you are on your own and others can’t relate to the struggles you’re going through. I want you to know you are more than capable to overcome the obstacles life throws at you and I’m here to help you figure out how.

Counseling for Children

With children, I aim to foster a culture that is enjoyable and welcoming for you to feel safe and accustomed toward therapy in order to help normalize conversations that may otherwise feel uncomfortable or inappropriate to explore and share.

Progress in counseling for children is greatly influenced by caregivers’ participation and collaboration. I believe family therapy is extremely essential to transition the progress into the family dynamic and, when appropriate, will often incorporate it as a necessary component of treatment.

Individual Counseling

One-on-one therapy can be extremely beneficial as we focus on areas that are personable to you and how those areas impact your self-perception and/or your relationship with others. You may even find individual treatment to be a necessary healing process prior to entering couples therapy or family therapy. With individual therapy, I go at a pace that’s comfortable for you and strive to deliver compassion, patience, honesty, trust, and hope.

Payments & Forms

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, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

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. For ongoing treatment the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), most 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).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express).

Individual Form Couple Form

Focus Areas

Abandonment and Neglect
ADHD
Anger Management
Anxiety
Coaching
Counseling for Children
Counseling for Teens
Couples Counseling
Depression
Family Counseling
Grief and Loss
Group Counseling
Individual Counseling
Marriage Counseling
Men’s Issues
Online Counseling
Personal Development
Professional Development
Relationship Issues
Trauma

DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE

Articles are intended for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice; the Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All opinions expressed by authors and quoted sources are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, publishers or editorial boards of San Diego Christian Counseling. This website does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Site. Reliance on any information provided by this website is solely at your own risk.