About Jamal Jones
“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” - Proverbs 11:14 (ESV)
Becoming A Therapist Has Been My Life Calling
My pursuits throughout life—whether they be academic, athletic, public speaking, or therapy—have always been motivated by my love for God and people. As the youngest of five children whose father was a Christian pastor, our family spent a lot of time at church. This was where I was taught to live a gospel-centered life characterized by sacrificial love and service.
My decision to become a therapist is in response to God’s call on my life to accomplish all he has set out for me to do. As Ephesians 2:10 states, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
In my work as a therapist, I am walking in my divine calling as a person of faith as well as a mental health professional. It is my mission to show people that God loves them and cares deeply about their mental health. When they struggle with life’s challenges, temptations, transitions, and setbacks, there are trained professionals available who can guide and support them back to well-being.
My Practice
It has been my privilege and honor to help high-achieving Christian professionals overcome trauma, depression, anxiety, and relationship problems. No matter where they start on their journey to mental and spiritual wellness, I aim for my clients to find clarity, confidence, and courage in the areas of their life that matter most.
Because of my unique background, I also specialize in working with church leaders and those involved in athletics. I can relate to and deeply empathize with the unique challenges that pastors, ministry leaders, healthcare providers, and other helping professionals deal with. Being an anchor of the community who is expected to be perpetually supportive and available to others can lead to compassion fatigue and burnout. They may also need help maintaining work-life balance and practicing self-care, something I can assist with.
Additionally, I have first-hand experience with collegiate athletics from the student-athlete perspective. The demands bestowed on athletes can be intense and comes at an age when the pressure can be hard to handle. I’m also aware of the stress, demands, and expectations that coaches, athletic trainers, administrators, and support staff involved in athletics cope with on regular basis.
My Counseling Philosophy
People who embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ usually think differently about mental health than those who don’t. Christ-followers pursue God and live with an eternal mindset. They value prayer, scripture, the work of the Holy Spirit, a transparent community, and the role of the Church. They also account for divine intervention within the process of change.
However, Christians also tend to be exceptionally hard on themselves. They often hold themselves to unrealistically high standards that, when not reached, can lead to shame, self-judgment, and a crisis of faith. Reconciling faith with mental health can be a challenge. That’s why in recognition of the need for more faith-based mental healthcare providers in the Central Valley region, I established Central Valley Christian Counsel in 2019.
My counseling philosophy integrates spirituality, biblical wisdom, principles of recovery, realistic hope, positive psychology, and a results-oriented approach within a cognitive-behavioral framework. By integrating the most current evidence-based therapeutic modalities with faith-based principles, my clients can find healing, mental wellness, and spiritual transformation.
As a man of passion, I’ve been blessed with the gift of encouraging others. I understand the importance of trust and transparency in all relationships and strive to model these qualities to my clients. Therapy offers a safe haven to my clients where they are free to shed the expectations they may feel tethered to and be able to be vulnerable and honest with their thoughts and feelings.
A Little More About Me
I am a dedicated husband, father, leader, friend, and mentor. When I am not working, my self-care, family, and other life-giving relationships are a main priority. I love good meals, movies, and am a huge sports fan. I enjoy watching ESPN sports shows like First Take, supporting Bulldog Athletics, and following the NFL and NBA seasons.
Additionally, I am actively involved in the life of my Church and love giving back to the community. I currently serve as a co-facilitator of a men’s group. I am also a member of the Fresno State Bulldog Foundation (BDF) and President Jiménez Sandoval's Commission for the Future of Fresno State Athletics.
Jamal Jones is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Certified Prepare-Enrich Couples Facilitator based in Fresno, California. After receiving a bachelor’s degree of Arts in Communication from Fresno State University in 2005, Jamal served as the Fresno State football team Chaplain and western region director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He received his Master’s Degree of Science in Counseling; Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy from the University of Phoenix in 2012. Jamal gained experience working as a therapist in various environments, including adult rehab centers, school campuses, community mental health, group homes, hospitals, child welfare and penal systems. Jamal has been licensed since 2017 and in private practice since 2019.
