How it Works
When a new participants is enrolled in St. Paul’s PACE, our clinical team assesses the individual’s needs to see if they could benefit from therapy or other behavioral health services. They are then paired with a mental health clinician who will meet with them in-person at our Wellness Center or remotely via tele-health, when appropriate. The clinician will work with the participant and interdisciplinary team to determine what type of counseling or services are best for their wellness journey.

Our Behavioral Health Program Features:
- Licensed Clinical Therapists
- One-on-one Counseling
- A Centralized Wellness Center
- A Full Spectrum of Care Partners
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Therapy
- Substance Abuse Therapy
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
- Life Skills Support
- Grief and Loss Support
- Pain Management/Recovery
- Self-Esteem Support
St. Paul’s PACE Wellness Center: Now Open!
In the spring of 2022, St. Paul’s PACE opened the doors to its first Wellness Center, a centralized space dedicated to serving the mental health and wellness needs of PACE seniors throughout San Diego County.
At the Wellness Center in Bankers Hill, PACE participants can come from anywhere in San Diego to visit with their clinician face-to-face to experience the benefits of in-person counseling. However, telehealth appointments are still available for those who prefer to stay in the comfort of their home, when appropriate.
The vision for the St. Paul’s Wellness Center is to foster independence and enable seniors to stay living safe at home by offering a full range of services including counseling, educational events, group classes and even support groups for care partners.
“Our vision is to bring a diverse team of staff on board, connect closely with services in the San Diego community, and provide education and training to all of our PACE team. We are excited to open our Wellness Center as a vital step in fulfilling our mission!”
-Carol Hubbard, St. Paul’s PACE CEO
Mission
The mission of the St. Paul’s PACE Wellness Center is to provide high quality mental health, wellness, and health promotion services. Within the framework guided by St. Paul’s Senior Homes and Services values, we care for the whole person by partnering with participants and community members to promote well-being, healthy lifestyle choices, skills and experiences that empower them to achieve individually tailored health and wellness goals.
Vision
St. Paul’s PACE Wellness Center is every Participant’s preferred choice for behavioral health, wellness, and health education services. The Wellness Center leads the way in fulfilling St. Paul’s PACE commitment to provide a network of services that fosters independence, preserves individual dignity, and enables seniors to remain at home, involved with their family, friends and community.
Your Wellness Team
Dr. Jacob Paulsen
Behavioral Health Program Manager

St. Paul’s PACE Behavioral Health Providers:
Elizabeth Ysla
ASW, MSW, JD – Associate of Social Work, Master of Social Work, Juris Doctor

Brian Mitchell
LCSW – Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Victor Acedo
CADC II – Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor

Shuna Ball
AMFT – Associate of Marriage and Family Therapy

Dr. Sean Hodges
Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Andres Marwick
Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Maria Torres
Psychological Associate

Dr. Robert Zaragoza
Psychiatrist

Robert LaVigne
PA – Psychiatry

Shannon Boyce
PA – Psychiatry

Negean Shahnematollahi
PMHNP – Psychiatry

Vanessa Caraveo
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Join Our Team: Behavioral Health Jobs in San Diego
Our San Diego Behavioral Health clinic is hiring! We are actively looking for new clinicians and providers to join our team at St. Paul’s PACE. Reach out to us at (619)677-3800 or check out our careers page at Our Careers to apply.
Call (619) 677-3800 to learn more about Behavioral Health Services at St. Paul’s PACE.
Last updated on August 28th, 2023 at 8:21 pm - St. Paul’s PACE website H5629 2102 - Approved on 3/23/2021