Novell & Novell Counseling Services - Temecula, California

Amy S.

I had a really bad experience with Jason Agneti. I went in to do trauma therapy and I left feeling very traumatized by him. I felt like he was very emotionally abusive in session and he put me down. I emailed him to tell him how I felt and I received no apology. As a therapist you’re supposed to do repair work with a client when there’s a rupture. He did no such thing. He strikes me as someone who lacks empathy and remorse. Be cautious when making an appointment especially if you’re a woman wanting to do EMDR therapy . His approach is anything but therapeutic. Go somewhere else.

Cyndi W. P.

Zero stars DO NOT recommend! My bonus child went 2x a month for over 2 yrs. Ben did nothing at all sessions except encouraged bio mom to continue coming even though my bonus child did not speak one word in 2 yrs during these sessions. Ben never met with my bonus child alone to find out his side, Ben just went off of what the bio mom said. It was all about collecting that $ from us! There was NO reunification & the way Ben handled the situation made it worse.

Keri T.

Liza is always professional and thorough in our communications, a pleasure to work with!

Haggard E.

Just had the worst experience with Shannon Montoya. She was assigned to me but is not a licensed therapist and ended up making my sessions about her and taking offense from my sessions when I clearly expressed that wasn't my intent. She would then just go silent and not respond to me saying that therapeutic silence was her response. What a charlatan. She has now made my experience with therapy worse and caused more trauma in my life. When I spoke with Ben Novell about this and asked if he just hires whoever and that I could do her job he replied that I couldn't do her job and was incapable. This office is trash all the way up to the receptionist who wouldn't book my next appointment without me having to speak with Ben and now I just have to wait for a call back to see when i can schedule with Jason who is supposedly licensed. Don't use Shannon Montoya and Ben I hope to see you soon.

huntyr S.

I have been coming here for years. I see Jason currently and he is amazing, very knowledgeable and has helped me view life with a much healthier perspective, each session brings me more and more peace. My life has changed, truly. I want to note that Dianna in the front is so kind and helpful. Every time I talk to her I can feel that she cares.

Tristian D. F.

My kids love this place. They don't have behavioral therapy but the correctional works!!! My youngest loves that she gets to play games and gets a sucker afterwards!!!

Kelsi S.

I was referred to Novell by another therapist. I expressed my concerns of the negative reviews of this place to which that therapist reassured me that many of the negative reviews are from the parent that “didn’t get their way in a court case” etc. I am not that parent; I am the full custodial parent whose child was the victim of abuse from the other parent. After waiting weeks for a return call, I spoke to Ben Novell. Granted I was in the middle of home school zoom classes for each of my children so my explanation/run down of our situation may have been scattered... (to which Ben could have asked for more clarification instead of concluding after a 2 minute conversation). I explained that I put them in play therapy immediately following the abuse but ended our therapy after 4 months due to: 1. she was not court compliant and we were suddenly in the middle of a court case. 2. She had very strict privacy policy and did not practice open communication with parents, which I understand in some cases is necessary, but for our situation didn’t work well with us. At the end of opening up and sharing our recent life story (the play therapist was a small part of our story) the first thing Ben says to me- the play therapist was in the right and my children have the right to privacy. (Yes of course, to an extent, but my child was 5 ?) Moving on, I explained that I was hoping to find a more relationship-building therapist that will keep me in the loop with my kids well-being and help be on the lookout for signs of emotional abuse or inappropriateness (as there has been history) as we eventually move to unsupervised visitation. Ben then tells me, rudely, that “it sounds like you just want a therapist you can dictate to what to do” and that he was not the right fit....... I was dumbfounded. I have never experienced such harshness and lack of emotional empathy in such a short conversation, and with someone who's in the field of understanding and helping people. Perhaps he thought that the court was lifting the supervised visitation and assumed I felt out of control and wanted to control their visitation by being in the loop I honestly have no idea. I am the one agreeing to their dad's request to lift supervision because he can’t afford it anymore, not the court.. He could’ve just asked me a few questions (he asked me none) to better understand my situation. I am nervous in making this decision and was hoping to find someone who could help my kids process the coming changes, and be another eye in ensuring my kid’s emotional well-being, and instead of receiving any understanding or assistance, I was insulted.

As a mom of a child who’s been through abuse, the last thing we need is statements that induce more guilt. A little respect and maybe 1-2 questions to better understand a potential client would have gone a long way. The way I was spoken to had me in tears at the end of the conversation.
I never take the time to write negative reviews. I am thankful he at least showed his character before opening up our lives to him.
Be wary of Ben Novell and his practice.

Kimberly R.

DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE!!!! they don't care about their patients the way a center should. We have had a terrible experience at this place. The front office girl name Brianna is completely RUDE! i took my son here for some help and the experience was so impersonal and no one in the center smiles. it is like everyone hates their job, what a terrible thing when you have depressed people looking for help to go to a center where the staff is rude. If i could have given this place no stars I would have.