Dr. Charlie E. Nelson

Psychologist, PhD, Charlie Nelson, Ph.D.

(858) 546-9255
5405 Morehouse Drive
Suite 330
San Diego,, CA 92121

General Information

Therapist Type: Psychologist
Gender: Male
Year Practice Began: 1976
Avg. Cost Per Session: $200-210
Sliding Scale? No
Free Phone Consult? No
Free In-Person Consult? No
Available Evenings? No
Available Weekends? No
Payment Methods: Check, Cash, PayPal

Credentials

Graduate School: Alliant International University (formerly USIU)
License Number: PSY 11241

Social Networks

LinkedIn


Insurance Accepted

  • Out of Network Provider
  • Aetna
  • Anthem
  • BlueCross and/or BlueShield
  • Cigna
  • UBH / United

Treatment Specialties

  • Cognitive Behavioral
  • Eclectic
  • Family / Marital Therapy
  • Family Systems Therapy
  • Humanistic
  • Hypnotherapy
  • Interpersonal
  • Psychodynamic
  • Relational Therapy

Access

Nearby Towns: North County Rancho Santa Fe Fairbanks Ranch Scripps Point Loma Mission Hills Valley Encinitas Leucadia Solana Del Mar Sorrento
Nearby Zip Codes: 92101 92131 92014 92024 92122 92067 92121 92130 92037 92075 92106 92067
 

About Me

Charlie is recognized as a seasoned, direct, warm, ethical, "practical" therapist with experience since 1973. He's licensed as both Psychologist & Marriage and Family Therapist, competently helping individuals, couples, and families. Along with a broad general practice, he also specializes in: Relationship Issues (premarital & marital problems, communication, co-parenting, financial stress, affairs, infidelity, divorce, sexual health); Substance Abuse and Behavioral addictions (alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, codependence, ACOA, enabling, gambling, "sex addiction", out of control sexual behavior); Trauma Recovery (crime victims, post traumatic stress, loss, death, dying, grief, identity theft); Men's Issues: ("Men behaving badly", fatherhood, communication problems, intimacy concerns).
Charlie believes that most people achieve their treatment goals more effectively and efficiently when meeting with a therapist with a warm, honest, open, intelligent approach blended with a timely sense of humor and wisdom...not dry, confusing, contrived, "psychobabble".

Professional concentration incorporates clinical practice, executive coaching, training (domestic and international), research, writing, consultation, and broad volunteer community service. Effort is made to remain in the forefront of ethical, effective, and efficient diagnostic and treatment modalities.


Client Expertise

Age: Adolescent
Adult
Elder
Religion: Athiest
Christian
Jewish

Issue Specialties

  • Relationship Issues
  • Couples Counseling
  • Addictions or Substance Abuse
  • PTSD and Trauma

  • Codependency
  • Divorce
  • Family
  • Life Transitions
  • Loss or Grief
  • Male Issues
  • Self-Esteem / Growth
  • Sex Addiction
  • Stress
  • Twelve Step

Organizations

  • BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ADVISORY BOARD POSITIONS

    Identity Theft Resource Center - Board of Directors 2003 - 2014
    Director Emeritus 2014 - Present
    Board Member since inception of this internationally respected
    organization dedicated to community education, understanding, and
    prevention of the crime of identity theft.

    Scripps Memorial Hospital at La Jolla - McDonald Center for Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Treatment Alumni Association, Advisory Board Member 2004 - 2006

    Survivors of Violent Loss Program - Advisory Board, 2001 - 2004

    National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence - S.D. Chapter - Board of Directors, 1997 - 1998

    San Diego County Victim Assistance Coordinating Council - Board of Directors, 1988 - 1995, President: 1989-1990, Vice Pres. 1995, Chairperson By-laws Committee & Elections Committee

    Crime Victims Fund - Board of Directors, 1990 - 1993

    Scripps Ranch Planning Group - Elected by local planning organization to Executive Board. 1989 - 1992

    Sexual Assault Coordinating Council - Board of Directors, 1982 - 1989
    Charter Member, President (twice), Vice-President, Historian, wrote by-laws.

    California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists - San Diego Chapter, 1980 - 1984 Board of Directors. Elected by countywide membership.

    San Diego County Mental Health Advisory Board - Multi-Disciplinary Committee, 1982 - 1984

    Task Force on the Prevention of Domestic Violence - Board of Directors 1977-1982, Vice-President, Historian, co-wrote by-laws. Charter Member

    San Diego City Advisory Board on the Status of Women - Committee on Sexual Assault and Intra-Family Violence 1974 - 1979


    PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP:

    Society of Addiction Professionals (S.O.A.P.) 2016 –Present Co-wrote the Bylaws and Chairperson of the Nominations Committee

    San Diego Psychological Association - Member, 1993 - Present

    National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) - Life Member 1987 - Present

    California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) - Life Member, 1977 - Present, CAMFT - San Diego Chapter - Life Member 1980 - Present

    Men’s Association for Addiction Treatment (MAAT) – Charter Member, Inaugural speaker, 2014 - 2016

    National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) S.D. Chapter - Member, 1985 - 2013, Master of Ceremonies for monthly NCADD meetings. 1997 - 2013

    Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists (ATSS) - Member 1992 - 1998

    Psychology Law Society - Member 1979 - 1987, 1995 - 1996

    Coalition of Mental Health Professionals and Consumers - Member 1995 - 1996

    San Diego Domestic Violence Council - Member, 1993 - 1996

    Employee Assistance Professionals Association - Member, 1988 - 1996

    American Psychological Association - Division of General Psychology - Member, 1981 - 1992

    Coalition On Victims’ Equal Rights (COVER) - Member, 1991 - 1992

    San Diego Disaster Response Team - Member, 1988

    American Association of Counseling and Development - Member 1986 - 1988

    Research Council of The Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation - Charter Member, 1984 - 1986

    National Association for Media Psychology - Member, 1982 - 1985

    Battered Women Coalition - Member, 1981 - 1982

    Superior Court Domestic Violence Diversion Team - Charter Member, 1980




Publications

  • Publications, Books:

    Self-Esteem and the Family - Center City, MN. Hazelden Educational Materials. 1986

    Styles of Enabling in the Codependents of Cocaine Abusers - Doctoral Dissertation, 1984 San Diego. Alliant International University. Credited as being the first formal research project on “enabling” behavior and first book ever published with the word “Codependents” in its title.

    Rape: An Investigation Into Services Offered by Nationwide Police Departments, 1974 and Rape Crisis Centers - Masters Thesis. San Diego. Alliant International University.

    Chapters in Books:

    Victims of Crime and Their Families Handbook - Chapter: "Loved Ones’ Reactions." San Diego: Victim Assistance Coordinating Council
    and the United States Attorney’s Office - Southern District of California.

    Treating Cocaine Dependents, 1988 Chapter: "The Styles of Enabling Behavior." Center City, MN: Hazelden Educational Materials. Editor: David Smith, M.D.

    Treating the Cocaine Abuser, 1985 Chapter: "The Styles of Enabling Behavior." Center City, MN: Hazelden Educational Materials. Editor: David Smith, M.D.

    Sexual Assault Victim Information, 1982 Chapter: "Spouse, Family, and Friends' Reactions." San Diego: Sexual Assault Coordinating Council and The Office of the San Diego County District Attorney's Victim Assistance Program.

    Rape and Sexual Assault: Management and Intervention, 1980 Chapter: "Today's Victims, Who Are They?", Germantown, MD. Aspen Systems Corp. Editor: Carmen Warner.

    Publications: Articles:

    “Contagion Effect and Burn-out: Assessment, Prevention, and Help for Chemical Dependency Treatment Providers”, 1996- Published in NCADD Matters, San Diego. National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence

    “Practical Empowerment Tools for Crime Victims”, 1994 Published in EAPA Newsletter, San Diego. Employee Assistance Professionals Association

    “Tools for Parents Who Stay With Actively Chemically Dependent Partners”, 1993 Published in EAPA Newsletter, San Diego. Employee Assistance Professionals Association

    "The Effects of Parent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse on the Emotional Lives of Children", 1986 Published in The Magic Years, San Diego. Catholic Community Services. Editors: William Moredock, Ph.D. and Timothy Dunnigan, M.A.

    "The Batterer: A Collective Responsibility", 1978 - Published in The Congressional Record, Vol. 5, No. 2, San Diego. Community Congress

    Publications Editor:

    Victims Voice - Managing Editor, 1989 - 1993 San Diego County Victim Assistance Coordinating Council. San Diego. Circulation: 25,000

    Journal of Psychoactive Drugs - Guest Editor, January - March 1986 Haight-Ashbury Publications. San Francisco, CA. Managing Editor: David Smith, M.D.

    Publications...Poetry:

    Poet of the Year - Nominee. Selected by the International Society of Poets. 2003, 2006

    International Poet of Merit Award - Chosen to present award-winning original work at the International Society of Poets' Spring Convention and Symposium. 2002 - 2006

    Poetry Ambassador - National Poetry Month, 2005 - 2006

    “Better Latent Than Never” - Original Poem Nominated for “The 2005 Poem of the Year Award”. Owings Mills, MD: International Library of Poetry. Managing Editor: Howard Ely

    “The Determined Vessel” - Original Poem, This work won The International Library of Poetry’s “Editor’s Choice Award” for
    “Outstanding Achievement in Poetry;” is highlighted in the anthology,
    Love and Luminaries; is profiled in the book A Garden of Dreams. February, 2002

    PUBLICATIONS: PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS/INVENTORIES

    The Nelson Drug Use Inventory (NDUI), January, 2001 San Diego. The Research and Community Education Program of Change with Direction

    The Nelson Stimulant Use Inventory, May, 1994 - The Research and Community Education Program of Change with Direction

    The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Inventory, November, 1992 San Diego. The Research and Community Education Program of Change with Direction









Honors

  • Psy Chi - International Honor Society in Psychology 1973 - Life Member

    Alpha Kappa Delta - International Honor Society in Sociology 1971 - Life Member

    Best of La Jolla Award: Mental Health Clinics Selected by the La Jolla Award Program “Honoring the achievements and accomplishments for best practices & implemented programs”.

    Master Speakers Series California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists - San Diego. Selected by the organization to be its inaugural honored speaker in “Most Seasoned Therapists” series.

    Crime Victim Advocate of the Year Award Selected for this honor by the San Diego County Victim Assistance Coordinating Council

    The Betty Ford Center at Eisenhower Selected as “Preferred Community Service Provider”

    Doris G. Tate Crime Victim Advocate Award Selected by the Governor of the State of California to be the recipient of his Crime Victim Advocate of the Year Award.

    National Disaster Response Training Selected to receive the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) inaugural disaster response training to help in the wake of such tragedies as:
    large scale catastrophes, workplace violence, airliner crashes, natural disasters, and so on.

    Who's Who Among Human Service Providers


Additional Information

TELEVISION, MOTION PICTURE, AND STAGE THEATRE CONSULTATION

Consultant to screenwriters, television, and stage theatre Directors regarding relationship dilemmas and other psychosocial issues facing script characters. Productions include (but are not limited to):

The Threepenny Opera - San Diego Repertory Theatre, 2009
The Kilo Steven Hensley, Sunstar Productions, 1994
Out of Purgatory Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, 1993
Can You Feel Me Dancing Robert Greenwald Productions, NBC, 1987
Liz, Child of an Alcoholic J-Television, Judythe London and James
Gross Productions, 1984
Trapper John, M.D, 20th Century Fox, CBS Television, 1984
Can We Fall In Love Again?, 20th Century Fox Studios, CBSTelevision 1982
Us Girls -Hanna Barbera, 1980
Eight is Enough, Lorimar Productions for ABC Television, 1980
To Teacher, With Love - Lorimar Productions for NBC Television, 1979
All in the Family - ABC Television, 1978


compulsive behaviors PTSD P.T.S.D. addictions, drug marijuana pot alcoholism alcoholic codependency codependents