Counseling Programs for Theft & Shoplifting

THEFT COUNSELING - WE PREFER SOLUTIONS NOT SANCTIONS

At Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff LLP, we have referred clients to various counselors over the years. One of the programs that we respect is "Behavioral Management Group".

• Behavioral Management Group - Since 1993, BMG has helped adults and juveniles deal with behavior problems. During this time they have tailored and customized their program to specifically address the issues of individuals whom cannot find balance within today's fast moving and challenging society. Progressively expanding on their reputation, they service private clients and court ordered offenders in Los Angeles, Ventura, Antelope, San Gabriel, Riverside, and Orange Counties. Behavioral Management Group (BMG) deals with community problems relating to Theft, Anger and Hate, Vandalism, Sex, and Abuse issues.

  BMG's programs offer offenders a comprehensive educational approach and focus on cognitive therapy to help prevent further involvement in the criminal justice system. Their programs are used for individuals in need of help as well as offenders requiring pretrial diversion, propensity testing and sentencing assessments, alternative sentencing, plea bargain agreement, an additional sanction to condition of court sentence or probation, and as counsel strategy for pre court appearance. BMG can be contacted at (866) 382-3588 or by email here.

• Nancy Clark & Associates, Inc. - The Shoplifters Alternative Course
  
  A 12-week group counseling program aimed at identifying psychological triggers behind a shoplifter's actions, on-going support groups and individual counseling are available to course graduates. This program is nationally recognized and has a recidivism rate of less than 4%. Psychological assessments are available.

  Contact Information
  Nancy Clark & Associates
  471 Old Newport Road
  Suite 101
  Newport Beach, CA 92663
  (949) 631-0550
  (949) 631-4589 FAX
  E-Mail

• Ann B. Stanton M.A., M.F.T. - Petty Theft Counseling Program

27762 Forbes Road, #18E

Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

(949) 496-9823

 
• NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SHOPLIFTING PREVENTION (a national non-profit organization) has a confidential portion of their website.
  
  10 quick questions about yourself and shoplifting:
  • "I was caught shoplifting ... what do I do now?"
  • "Will I go to jail?"
  • "Why can't I go into stores and not be tempted to shoplift?"
  • "Why can't I seem to stop shoplifting?"
  • "What's wrong with me?"
  • "Do I have some psychological problem or am I just crazy?"
  • "Why do I shoplift?"

If you have an issue with shoplifting and want to learn more, this website will be able to answer almost all your questions and recommend a course of action for you to take.
You may be asking yourself some of the same questions we hear from others:


• "THEFT TALK"^TM Counseling Service Inc. (A nonprofit corporation)
  Since March of 1983 "THEFT TALK"^TM has been a nonprofit corporation and actively involved in theft diversion and prevention counseling.
  
  
• The Psychology of Stealing
  A manual for professional counselors, psychologists, therapists, social workers, practitioners, school counselors/psychologists, judges, probation and corrections officers. Authored by Steven Houseworth, MA, a practicing juvenile justice counselor for the past 25 years. He is a co-founder of "THEFT TALK" Counseling Service Inc., a Masters level Counseling Psychology graduate of Lewis & Clark College, an American Psychological Association affiliate member and college instructor. Mr. Houseworth has specialized in theft offender counseling for the past 21 years.
  
  
• The Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation (OCF)
  The Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation with more than 10,000 members, is an international not-for-profit organization composed of people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders, their families, friends, professionals and other concerned individuals. Founded by a group of individuals with OCD in 1986, the mission of the OCF is to educate the public and professional communities about OCD and related disorders; to provide assistance to individuals with OCD and related disorders, their family and friends; and to support research into the causes and effective treatments of OCD and related disorders.
  
  
• Mental Health Net - Kleptomania Symptoms
  Recurrent failure to resist impulses to steal objects that are not needed for personal use or for their monetary value. Increasing sense of tension immediately before committing the theft. Pleasure, gratification, or relief at the time of committing the theft. The stealing is not committed to express anger or vengeance and is not in response to a delusion or a hallucination.
  
  
• "Is your Child Stealing" A Guide for Parents
  Why do kids steal? What "signs" should parents look for to figure out if their child is stealing? What to do/not do if your child's been stealing? What can parent(s) do to help the child learn from the experience and stop the behavior. Where can parent(s) go for additional help.

At the Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff LLP law firm, our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our petty theft defense attorneys represent clients throughout Southern California including Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Ana, Long Beach, California, Anaheim, Torrance, Pasadena, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Ventura, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach, Fullerton, Rancho Cucamonga, Orange, Ontario, Riverside, Burbank, West Covina, Norwalk, Oxnard, Pomona, Westminster, Alhambra, Whittier, Laguna Niguel, Thousand Oaks, Mission Viejo, Simi Valley, and Bellflower.

CALL US. WE CAN HELP YOU!

Free consultation.

Call toll-free (866) 382-3588 or e-mail today.