Thomas E. Bell, MFT — Counselor in San Diego, CA

My family member (a minor) went to this “therapist”. Last time the therapist only talked/listened my relative for 4 minutes. He had no interest in what my relative was saying, dismissed his recent traumatic experience with his mom, and only cared about his own agenda (scheduling a session with his mom) saying “I have to give the courts something”. He had only talked to my 15 year old relative one time before this. My relative called up crying after the call. You can’t even call what this person does therapy. He doesn’t mind re-traumatizing his clients, instead only caring about himself. He shouldn’t have a license to practice.

Made a recommendation to the court that my kids were not being alienated from the dad. The court accepted it. Haven’t seen my kids in over 7 years. My children do not have their mothers love.

If I could give 0 starts I would. He's a liar and paid off by the justices system. He lied to my son and told him he wouldn't send him back to his father, then turned around and told the judge I he's better off with his dad. Never really spoke to my son yet he's supposed to advocate for him. He's unorganized and takes long to respond to calls, Texts, etc. Just like the corrupt system, he pbly cares about money. Stay away from this guy.

Very unprofessional. Can't remember who he represents. Isn't organized. Very disrespectful. Says awful things to me in front of my child. Compares me says I'm just like my mom which is so false. He needs to just quit and retire. He overloads his work. He is just money hungry. He is understanding or sensitive. He made me feel suicidal.

The judge in my family law matter recommended him for the reunification process with my children. I drove all the way down from Big Bear Lake for our first meeting only to wait 45 minutes in his lobby the first day I met him. Evidently he overbooked sessions that morning. As it turns out he’s terribly disorganized. My former wife and I did four sessions with him and the judge told me I needed to take care of another matter before reunification could begin. Now, after paying him several hundred dollars for four sessions he tells me he ‘has too many cases’ and ‘can’t devote the time that I’ll require.’ Excuse me? That’s right, he abandoned the case right in the very middle of it. Highly questionable and unethical conduct indeed. He’s not a very friendly fellow and for a marriage and family counselor, that’s highly unusual. For what it’s worth, I still haven’t seen my children during this whole period. If you want REAL RESULTS, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. This guy will waste your time AND your money and you’ll be right back where you started in the first place! Don’t you even dare try ringing this bell!

Terrible experience with Mr Tom Bell, very unprofessional stay away from this man, He is also extremely forgetful, I paid to see him for reunification sessions of my daughter at the request of my ex wife and her attorney Paul Lorelli. I saw him for one year I never saw my daughter once in any of the sessions, because he continued to forget to contact her . He said we would write letters together, back-and-forth to my daughter that never happened , my daughter was only there for one session. He did admit that he gets so busy he forgets to contact her .He cusses and becomes angry in sessions. He also failed to go to court when he was subpoenaed when I was trying to get custody for one day a month of my 13 year old daughter. I was also in the waiting room and another father told me he has been seeing Mr Bell for six months for reunification of his daughter and he has not seen or talked to his daughter once . Mr Bell also shared my information progress with the opposing attorney Paul Lorelli of Garden Grove regarding my sessions. I told Mr Bell not to share my information with anyone that I hired him and I signed a confidentiality form and he denied he shared my info. The info was then used against me in court that I missed one reunification session at a child custody court hearing by the opposing attorney.

Best in class. I’ve been to a number of therapist in my life time - this gentlemen is cool calm intelligent and has experienced more then most will in a lifetime in his career. Lots of nuggets of wisdom.

Unprofessional. STAY AWAY!!!