Donald W. Welch
Ph.D., M.S., LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
LMFT 50129
Phone: 619-858-3105 x 130
Mission Valley Office
Dr. Welch brings a unique voice to discussions of relationship and the Bible. He has been counseling couples, families, and individuals in various settings for over thirty years. Along with being a published author, he is a versatile and accomplished communicator who speaks about relational issues at conferences, churches, retreats, and seminars throughout the United States.
Dr. Welch is also a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist in Kansas where he has been in private practice since 1998. Currently, he is CEO and Founder of Center for Enriching Relationships, Inc. where he is in practice as a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#MFC 50129). He oversees the professional partnership between Point Loma Nazarene University's Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling program and the Center for Enriching Relationships' professional clinic. His clinical experience and history include having worked as a family therapist staff member at Charter Behavioral Health System of Kansas City, a psychiatric hospital once located in Overland Park, Kansas.
As a 30-year veteran professor, Dr. Welch has worked as an Adjunct Clinical Psychology Professor at Azusa Pacific University's graduate program, an Adjunct Psychology Professor at Point Loma Nazarene University's Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling program, Adjunct Psychology Professor at Point Loma Nazarene University's undergraduate psychology department, and full Professor of Christian Education and Family Studies at MidAmerica Nazarene University, Olathe Kansas.
He has also accepted invitations to lecture and serve as Adjunct Professor at Friends University and Point Loma Nazarene University’s School of Theology and Christian Ministry (his alma mater).
Therapeutic Approach
The type of therapy you will receive is a problem solving systemic approach. This means that the focus of therapy will be an understanding of your goals for treatment and working together to solve these problems in a focused and planned way. This may include assignments to be completed between sessions. Also, treatment will look at the systems in which you and your situation exist including family, work, religion, society, etc., and seek to understand how these factors affect your situation.
Other areas where Dr. Welch may assist you and/or your family:
Medicare Provider
EMDR and CBT treatments for trauma
Persistent problems with a child's behavior, school adjustment, and performance
Feelings of depression, failure, anxiety, and loneliness
Difficulty in talking with family members, friends, and co-workers
Alcohol and drug abuse
Repeated financial difficulties
Drastic weight fluctuations and irregular eating patterns
Chronic work difficulties and frequent job changes
Unmanageable anger, hostility, and violence
Persistent feelings of dissatisfaction with marriage and family life
Persistent difficulty coping with stresses arising from life crises such as death, divorce, acute and chronic illness and unemployment
Stepfamily adjustments
Sex Therapy Specialties as a Certified Sex Therapist with the American Board of Christian Sex Therapists: couples on sexual issues in their marriage from communication around sexuality to dysfunction to specific difficulties, such as low desire and arousal, erectile dysfunction, vaginal pain, premature ejaculation, and orgasmic dysfunction.
Parent/Child Relationship
Play Therapy with school-age beginning at age 3 for ADHD, frustration tolerance, anger, trauma, conflict resolution
Dr. Welch, CEO and Founder of the Center for Enriching Relationships, Inc. website:
www.EnrichingRelationships.org
The Center for Enriching Relationships, Inc. accomplishes its mission as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt counseling center supplying professional psychotherapy services with biblically consistent approaches and other resources at reasonable and affordable fees while serving San Diego's underserved populations.
Professional Speaking, Teaching and Writing:
Speaking engagements include preaching in a variety of denominations nationwide, revivals held at many churches, seminars on the family nationwide, keynote addresses at statewide organizations, original research presented at national conferences, radio guest appearances, and a monthly live streamed "My Therapist 'Sez'..." broadcast
A wide variety of articles in magazines, biblical commentaries and methodologies, and newspapers including Point Loma Nazarene University ViewPoint Magazine, Group Publishing, The Preachers Magazine, Bible Study Methodologies for Word Action Publishing, World Mission Magazine, and the Kansas City Star newspaper
Book Author: The Responsive Marriage (Finding The Path Out of Reactivity), Westbow Press, (November) 2023
Book Author: The Screen-Smart Kid, Westbow Press, 2024 (in process)
Handbook Author: The Welch Responsive Temperament Assessment (WRTA) Handbook, 2022
Contributions to several books and devotionals including the Evangelical Dictionary of Christian Education (Baker Books) and Introducing Christian Education (Baker Books), Nazarene Publishing House, and Beacon Hill Press
Editor for Quest for Success (a College Guide for Freshman university students)
Editoral Advisory Board for the Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association
Foreword for a 2005 book, For Better or for Worse (Tate Publishing)
Video on Learning How to FORGIVE Ourselves As We forgive Each Other (Word Action Publishing)
Author of Welch Responsive Temperament Assessment APP (Welchrta.com)
Responsive Relationship Development Program video series (30 videos) www.welchtherapyinstitute.com
Degrees and Licenses:
M.S. in Family Therapy from Friends University (1998)
Ph.D. in Education from the University of Kansas (1994)
M.Div. in Pastoral Ministry/Theology from Nazarene Theological Seminary (1986)
M.A. in Religion from Point Loma Nazarene University (1980)
B.A. in Religion from Point Loma Nazarene University with minor in Psychology (1978)
Certificate in Youth Ministries, Point Loma Nazarene University (1978)
Licensed in the state of Kansas as a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (#090) since 1998
Approved Supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (2005)
Ordained Minister in the Church of the Nazarene since 1985
Ordained Minister-Supply in The Wesleyan Church since 2007
California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, #MFC 50129
Affiliations:
Clinical Member in the American Association of Marriage and Family
Member, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
Member, Kansas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Welch Responsive Temperament Assessment Facilitator (Welchrta.com)
Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis® (T-JTA®) Authorized Instructor
Certified Human Behavior Consultant, Uniquely You, Inc.
Presenter, Prepare and Enrich, Life Innovations, Inc.
SYMBIS Facilitator
Certified Sex Therapist with the American Board of Christian Sex Therapists
The Gottman Institute Levels 1 & 2 Certification of Completion, Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Faculty and Administrative Associations:
2002-present, CEO and Founder, Center for Enriching Relationships, Inc.
2022-Present, President, Welch Family Therapy Institute (welchtherapyinstitute.com)
2009-2017, Azusa Pacific University, San Diego, California: Adjunct Professor in the M.S. Clinical Psychology department
2006-Present, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, California: Adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology and Adjunct professor in the Point Loma Nazarene University Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling program
1989-2005, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Olathe, Kansas: Coordinator, Department of Christian Education, Professor of Christian Education and Family Studies, Chairman of the Division of Management and Human Relations, Professor and supervisor of graduate students in the Masters in Counseling Program
2001, Friends University, Wichita, Kansas: Adjunct Professor in the graduate Family Therapy program
1989-1991, Nazarene Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri: Associate Registrar
1979-1983, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, California: Resident Director, Associate Dean of Students, and Assistant Chaplain
Pastoral Experiences:
2006-2022, Counseling Pastor (part-time), Skyline Church, Rancho San Diego, California: www.SkylineChurch.org
1987-2006, Interim Pastor of six churches in California, Kansas and Missouri
1987-1989, Pastoral Ministries Coordinator, International Headquarters, Church of the Nazarene, Kansas City, Missouri
1983-1987, Senior Minister, Rainbow Boulevard Church of the Nazarene, Kansas City, Kansas
1981-1983, Director of College Ministries, First Church of the Nazarene, San Diego, California
Honors and Awards:
Senator Joel Anderson California Heroes Award, 2018
Trademark Top Doctors of America Honors Edition, 2018
Top Ten Pro-Family Heroes of 2015 (on Defend The Family.com)
Strathmore's Who's Who, 2011
Continental Who's Who, 2011
Who's Who Alliance, 2010
Distinguished Professionals Online, 2010/2011
Presidential Who's Who, 2010
Biltmore Who’s Who, 2007
Cambridge Who’s Who, 2006
National Registers Who’s Who In Executives and Professionals, 2006
Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2002, 2004, 2005
Gamma Epsilon Donald S. Metz Award for Distinctive Academic Contributions (Teacher of the Year by vote of faculty and student body), MidAmerica Nazarene University, 2000-2001
Chi Psy Honor Society, 1998
International Who’s Who of Professionals, 1997
Outstanding Young Men In America: 1983, 1984, 1986
