Dr. Gary Zomalt: The basics of organizational restoration

Restoring an old, rundown organization is a very tall order in itself. Bringing it to the top tier is another. Dr. Gary Zomalt, a psychotherapist with a penchant for management, managed to achieve both in the Fresno County Department of Children and Family Services during his tenure as the organization’s Executive Director from 2001 to 2006.

Dr. Gary Zomalt Photo credit: Fresno CFS

Dr. Zomalt approached the problems systematically, focusing on means with which to cut the expenditures without damaging the organization’s growth. He did so by outsourcing them to external government and nonprofit organizations while at the same time finding new revenue sources. In doing so, he was able to solve the department’s budgetary crisis which would have led to the termination of 100 social workers.

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At the same time, Dr. Gary Zomalt improved the department’s organizational structure by recruiting a new executive team and working closely with local government institutions. The department was not only able to expand but also swiftly adopt national best practices, helping improve its service quality.


His efforts have had dramatic results. He was not only able to cut expenses without harming the department’s functions but also improving them, turning an underperforming department on the threat of financial collapse into a top-performing organization.

Dr. Gary ZomaltPhoto credit: Fresno CFS

Under Dr. Gary Zomalt, the Department was able to fix its problems without resorting to layoffs and, in effect, manage to reach national standards. More information on Dr. Zomalt’s career and accomplishments is available through his Facebook page.

Dr. Gary Zomalt: The benefits of positive emotional granularity

Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health, and is as friendly to the mind as to the body.

–Joseph Addison

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: NatalyaKorotkova

Psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt state that optimism is directly proportional to stable health. Studies have revealed that positive emotions serve a buffering function and provide an effective antidote to the stresses associated with negative emotions and poor health.


Positive emotional granularity or the tendency to represent experiences of positive emotion with precision and specificity is one good measure to determine the physical and psychological health of an individual. Highly “granular” individuals have the ability to set aside negative emotions and can manage their problems effectively. Individuals with “less granularity,” on the other hand, can hardly express positive emotions when distressful events wreak havoc in their lives. They tend to exude unhealthy responses and are therefore prone to depression, heart disorders, and anxiety, among other conditions.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Smart Recovery

Psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt believe that individuals with higher positive emotional granularity consider problems as manageable rather than stressful, and are more likely to develop coping mechanisms thoroughly rather than respond impulsively. Hence, they tend to have a more stable health because they are able to use their personal resources efficiently.


Accommodating positive emotions amid adversity could provide the much needed psychological rest an individual has to acquire in replenishing and restoring further coping efforts.

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For more information about Dr. Gary Zomalt, visit his Facebook page.

Dr. Gary Zomalt: Defining psychological resilience

Gary Zomalt Photo credit: Marit's Paper World

Psychological resilience refers to an individual’s willpower to cope with stress and adversity. Psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt agree that such a character management process may result in the individual’s bouncing back from being swamped by tragic events or depressive moments to a previous stage of normal functioning. As it is a dynamic process, resilience helps people exhibit positive behavioral adaptation when they encounter considerable personal adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even significant loads of stress.




Psychological resilience is a process, not a personal trait. It is the result of individuals’ positive interaction with their environments and undergoing of processes that have either promoted their well-being or protected them from the overwhelming influence of numerous risk factors. These processes can be individual coping strategies, or may be helped along by other people: mental health physicians like Dr. Gary Zomalt, family members, schools, communities, and social policies that make resilience more likely to prevail.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: NatalyaKorotkova

A number of factors could modify the downbeat effects of adverse life situations. Studies reveal that the most important factor is to have relationships that provide care and support, build love and trust, and offer encouragement, both within and outside the family. Other indicators for the prevalence of resilience in an individual’s behavior are the capacity to make realistic plans, a display of self-confidence and positive self image, the development of excellent communications skills, and the ability to manage strong feelings and impulses.

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For more updates about Dr. Gary Zomalt and his counseling programs, visit his Facebook page.

Dr. Gary Zomalt: Minding your mental health

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People who show positive outlook in life indicate that they have the ideal mental state. But for others who do the opposite, professional assistance from psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt may well be required. As everyone is prone to emotional distress—regardless of age, race, sex, or economic status—the health of the mind is the one that is put to challenge.




Having stable mental health helps people feel good about themselves and be comfortable with others. It also propels them to effectively deal with the demands, challenges, and changes in everyday life. On the other hand, negative behaviors like anger, self-pity, and anxiety could cause serious troubles. As these emotional disturbances may come and go quite often, disturbing and interfering people’s daily lives for a long period of time, seeking professional help can be a wise resort.

Dr. Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: jepoirrier

Mental health physicians like Dr. Gary Zomalt reveal that psychological angst is a common condition among Americans. For a more vivid idea of this fact, here are the numbers:




• Between eight and 14 million Americans suffer from depression each year.

• About two percent of college students suffer from an eating disorder.

• Approximately 10 percent of Americans have phobias.

• About 21 percent of college students say that sleep difficulties affect their academic performance.

• More than 20 million Americans suffer from drug dependence or abuse.

• Nearly 25 percent of the elderly who are thought to be senile actually suffer some forms of mental illness.

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Visit Dr. Gary Zomalt’s Facebook page for more details.

Dr. Gary Zomalt co-presents workshop about youth on involuntary psychiatric hold

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Smart Recovery

October 18-23, 2011—the AACAP and CACAP Annual Joint Convention featured a workshop presented by Dr. George H. Stewart and Dr. Gary Zomalt. Titled Crisis Stabilization for Youth on an Involuntary Psychiatric Hold: Danger to Self, Danger to Others, or Gravely Disabled, the workshop aims to discuss and apply a Best Practices crisis stabilization model for the evaluation and treatment of youth with mental disorders who are put on involuntary psychiatric hold.

Suicide remains the third leading cause of death for youth aged 15–18 years in the United States. Ten percent of those who attempt suicide will do so again in 3 months, with the potential for fatality increasing with every attempt. The plans in use by the Seneca Crisis Stabilization Unit (Seneca CSU) for youth in Alameda County, California reflect an attempt to stem this on a local level. As discussed by Dr. Gary Zomalt and his partner, the Seneca CSU applies a new paradigm in dealing with crisis situations involving the youth. The presentation incorporates the various crisis plans used by the staff of the CSU in dealing with patients with mental disorders as well as the CSU’s legal background. Also tackled in the workshop are problems faced by CSUs in general, among others.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Aya

You may view the presentation of Drs. Zomalt and Stewart in the following links:


Presentation 1 (authorstream.com)

Presentation 2 (authorstream.com)

From Gary Zomalt

Dr. Zomalt continues to aim for excellence and efficiency in the management of organizations. More information can be accessed through his Facebook page.

Gary Zomalt’s legacy: The Fresno County Department of Children and Family Services

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Smart Recovery

From 2001 to 2006, Dr. Gary Zomalt served as one of the key figures in the revival of the Fresno County Department of Children and Family Services (Fresno CFS), leading a management team of six to turn the underfunded, underperforming department into a top-tier organization that adhered to national best practices.

Prior to 2001, the Department was in shambles. Fresno CFS had a funding deficit and was not meeting performance expectations. It sent over 3,200 children to foster care each year, causing an unprecedented level of injury within the system. The institutional health section was overfunded and taking a strain on the already unbearable strain on the department’s budget.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Aya

Under Dr. Gary Zomalt, the department eliminated its deficit by maximizing the number of legal revenue sources, working closely with other key organizations to improve operating practices, and slashed the funding for institutional health and diverted its key functions to external government and nonprofit organizations. The resulting surplus allowed the expansion of the department’s workforce, which increased coverage.


Improvements to the system meant that over 900 children were not sent to foster care; with the support of the Casey Foundation, over 29% of eligible children were sent to good homes. Moreover, improvements to the department’s service and referral network were added through an Internet-based service directory, which was praised by both government entities and the community alike.

From Gary Zomalt

Dr. Zomalt continues to aim for excellence and efficiency in the management of organizations. More information can be accessed through his Facebook page.

Dr. Gary Zomalt: The requirements for becoming a full-fledged psychotherapist

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: jepoirrier

Dr. Gary Zomalt is the owner of 3R Counseling and Consulting, a firm that renders social service and mental health programs for residents in the California Bay Area. A psychotherapist since 1986, Dr. Zomalt has always been a key figure in helping people suffering from personal plights and mental instability cope with their conditions and get high ranks in the wellness index. Familiar about how external forces such as stress and family problems could influence, disturb, or ruin human behavior, he understands how important it is for an individual to receive psychiatric guidance from full-fledged specialists.



Entry requirements



To become a licensed psychotherapist like Dr. Gary Zomalt, applicants for training must have earned a degree in a relevant course and should be a qualified healthcare practitioner, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, mental health nurse, or clinical social worker. Where experience is required, it should be related to the field of psychotherapy in which the individual wishes to train.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Smart Recovery

Trainings and Practicum



Generally, trainings to become a psychotherapist take a few years to complete. These are approved and provided by a number of organizations normally accredited by various psychotherapy councils or associations. Clinical trainings consist of the intensive treatment of individual patients of different ages carried out under sound supervision. Clinical discussions that combine theory and practice are also held throughout the training period.



Aside from running his own counseling company, Dr. Gary Zomalt also serves as a program consultant at the Seneca Center’s crisis stabilization unit, accredited by The Joint Commission. He has also received an achievement award from the California State University in Fresno, and leadership awards from the Family Mosaic Project and the San Diego County Clinical Staff Association.

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For more updates about Dr. Gary Zomalt and his counseling programs, visit his Facebook page.

Dr. Gary Zomalt: Unveiling positive aura through psychotherapy

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: yepy_hardi

Every individual deserves a life fully lived — free from mental distress, emotional volatility, and other personal struggles. According to psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt, people’s behavioral patterns can be manifested in their physical disposition. The better they “glow,” the more they feel light inside. However, for individuals who have been deeply hampered by emotional nuisances like personal problems and hardships, disturbing behaviors may prevail. It is by then that psychotherapy sessions are most needed.



Psychotherapy is an interactive process, utilizing numerous techniques and methods that help patients deal with issues that affect their mental health and prevent their full maturity in a certain discipline. Without having to rely on chemical treatments and rigid rehabilitation, people may subtly improve their character through interactive counseling sessions. Psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt engage patients in exploratory, analytic, and psychodynamic dialogues during private meetings, incorporating these with dream work, psychodrama, movement exercises, reflection, meditation, and trance depending on patients’ specific needs.

Gary Zomalt Photo credit: Marit's Paper World

Held in high esteem by his colleagues and patients, Dr. Zomalt has created and managed major service programs that improved community health and wellbeing. His innate compassion and desire to be of service to people who need his expertise made him a necessity in the industry. At present, he runs his own consulting firm called 3R Counseling and Consulting, and serves as a program consultant at the Seneca Center’s crisis stabilization unit, a healthcare institution accredited by The Joint Commission.

From Gary Zomalt

For more updates about Dr. Gary Zomalt and his counseling programs, visit his Facebook page.

Dr. Gary Zomalt: Attaining self composure through Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: NatalyaKorotkova

The human body is an obvious outlet of one’s mental health. According to psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt, physical change can be attributed to the change in mental condition.



Setting oneself free from the perilous dynamics of internal forces and past struggles can plausibly become the key to exuding more confidence and a better aura. Psychological angst poses a toll on the body, just as bliss and liberty permit physical well-being. But for people who can hardly cope with life’s hardships, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) could provide substantial help.

Gary Zomalt Photo credit: Marit's Paper World

Cognitive Behavior Therapy is a type of psychotherapy that helps people manage or change unhealthy thinking habits, feelings, and behaviors. CBT may be used to treat problems including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, uncontrollable anger, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other personal problems. Psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt generally categorize CBT into four different stages:



Assessment. This includes filling out of various questionnaires to help people describe their particular problem and identify distressing symptoms.



Person education. The therapist provides written materials to help patients learn more about their psycho-emotional problem. The cliché ‘knowledge is power’ is a cornerstone of this process.



Goal setting. The therapist helps the patient formulate a list of goals he or she wishes to achieve from therapy.



Practice of strategies. This process utilizes a “story board” to role-play difficult social situations or come up with realistic self-talk to replace unhealthy or negative self-talk.

From Gary Zomalt

For more information about Dr. Gary Zomalt and his counseling programs, visit his Facebook page.

Dr. Gary Zomalt: Reclaiming one’s self from grief and loss through psychotherapy

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Aya

There is no right or wrong way to grieve — but there are healthy ways through which pain can be managed. Psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt work through phases with individuals suffering from grief and loss.



Availability to help aggrieved patients requires empathy and the right amount of advice to lighten up their emotional and mental loads, even leading them to face life’s toughest moments and enter a deep internal search for answers.



Sorrow could be the emotional or mental suffering people feel when something or someone they care about is separated from them permanently such as by death. While this feeling could be very frightening and overpowering, it is a normal reaction to loss.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Smart Recovery

Entering a therapy or counseling at these moments may be essential to begin a journey towards healing. Psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt provide helpful support and guidance to grieving individuals to help them regain their self-esteem, strengthen their emotional faculties, and enrich their lives in general.



Although sadness and yearning are the dominant emotions the bereaved often displays, guilt, regret, anger, and a sense of meaninglessness could also be present. Psychotherapy is a vital tool to help these individuals eschew from further emotional malignancies.



Grieving is an individual and highly personal experience. The ways by which people grieve depend on many factors, including their unique personalities and coping mechanism, their life experiences, culture, faith, and the nature of the loss. People’s deepest wounds may sometimes need privacy and exclusivity, but the genuine healing process often requires the strength, encouragement, and support of other people.

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For more information about Dr. Gary Zomalt and his counseling programs, visit his Facebook page.

Altruism in science: Dr. Gary Zomalt considers psychotherapy as a means to improve the quality of life

Dr. Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: jepoirrier

Psychotherapy is an interpersonal process offered and regulated by psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt, aiding clients in reaching their full potential or coping better with life’s challenges. Such a process is one way to cap the value of altruism from healthcare professionals who have deep concern over their patients’ well-being.


Psychotherapy requires a therapeutic environment characterized by an open-ended yet secure climate to guide patients to open up and release their inhibitions. The process often includes techniques to increase patients’ self-awareness, improve their behavior and cognition, and develop their insight and empathy. A desired result will heighten their sense of well-being and could allow a better self-management scheme with regard to subjective discomfort or distress. For counseling physicians like Dr. Gary Zomalt, psychotherapy could also improve perception of reality, enhance coping mechanism with grief and depression, boost response to medications, and build stronger social relationships.

Dr. Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Smart Recovery

Psychotherapy utilizes a range of techniques to influence or persuade the patient to adapt to or change in the direction he or she desires to follow. These techniques are all based on experiential relationship building, dialogue, communication, and adoption of behavior change strategies. Each is designed to uplift the mental health of an individual, or improve group relationships. Most forms of psychotherapy use spoken conversation only, although some also use other forms of communication such as a written message, artwork, drama, narrative story, or therapeutic touch.

Dr. Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: yepy_hardi

For more updates about Dr. Gary Zomalt and his counseling programs, visit his Facebook page.

Dr. Gary Zomalt provides alternative recovery programs for addictive behaviors

The familiar 12-step program used by organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous works better for some people but not for others. Dr. Gary Zomalt applies a different program altogether to aid with addictive behaviors like substance abuse. His company, 3R Counseling and Consulting, employs the Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) program for addictive behaviors, which uses a different approach from the traditional 12-steps method.

From SMART Recovery

The SMART method aims for self-reliance and self-empowerment and encourages individuals to recover and live fulfilling lives. The program follows four main steps: enhancing and maintaining motivation; coping with urges; managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; and living a balanced life. To aid in addiction recovery, the SMART program incorporates not only the tools and appropriate use of prescribed medications (if any) but also meetings and open discussions.

From Gary Zomalt

SMART can apply for many different addictive behaviors, including substance abuse and gambling addictions. Dr. Gary Zomalt has seized the opportunity to adopt this program in his company; LCSW interns were trained for the SMART program to cope with increasing demand. A superior recovery rate was the result.

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Adopting best practice is one way through which Dr. Zomalt aims to reach his goal of becoming both a leader and an active participant in changing the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

More information on Dr. Zomalt is available on his Facebook page.

Dr. Gary Zomalt: Developing a strong character through experience

Dr. Gary Zomalt did not become a renowned and respected psychotherapist overnight. For this dedicated medical practitioner, the recognition that he is given and the reputation he has today are products of the hard work he executed over the years.

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Dr. Zomalt has a wide set of experiences in the field of healthcare -- experiences that have helped in defining how effective he is as a psychotherapist and as a part of different medical institutions. He once worked as a program manager for the San Diego County Mental Health Services Department. Because of the time and effort he has given to improve himself even early on in his career, Dr. Gary Zomalt was able to climb the corporate ladder and became the director of the Fresco County Department of Children and Family Services (CFS).

Dr. Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: jepoirrier

He is also regarded as a significant part of the implementation of the California Proposition 63 or the Mental Health Services Act that seeks to provide increased funding, personnel, and other resources in order to support county mental health programs, and also to monitor progress on medical goals set for children, adolescents, adults, and older people.


But beneath the high stature bequeathed to him by many, Dr. Zomalt still remains loyal to his original goal as a member of the healthcare industry and that is to aid people through his medical skills and knowledge.

Dr. Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: yepy_hardi

Know more about Dr. Gary Zomalt by visiting his Twitter and Facebook pages.

Dr. Gary Zomalt: A rundown of some of his accomplishments

Dr. Gary Zomalt aims to be a leader and collaborator in transforming the lives of the people he serves and works with. Throughout his fruitful career, he has helped countless patients overcome psychotherapeutic issues, improve their welfare, and ultimately, make life better for them. His numerous achievements speak volumes about his work ethic, his natural gift for psychotherapy and medicine, and his innate passion for public service.

From Gary Zomalt

Dr. Zomalt played a major role in the successful turnaround of poor service performance of health organizations in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Fresno, and other counties, ensuring that almost 900 children avoided foster care. He also employed previously untapped resources to optimize annual revenue production. Gary Zomalt successfully built strong, professional volunteer teams, optimizing service quality while meeting budget/regulatory requirements.

From Gary Zomalt

At present, Dr. Zomalt owns and serves as strategic consultant at 3R Counseling and Consulting, which renders psychotherapy training and consultation to mental health and social service providers throughout the Bay Area. Through his company, he initiated a viable alternative to the 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) approach and created a best practice recovery program for addictive behavior. He also implemented a Self-Management & Recovery Training (SMART) in Fresno, providing LCSW interns with SMART certification to cover expanding patient demands. Through the SMART process, interns help patients with abstinence, coping with urges, behavior management, and life balance in order to achieve superior recovery rate from alcohol addiction.

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More information on Dr. Zomalt’s achievements may be found on his Facebook page.

Dr. Gary Zomalt’s contributions to the development of California’s welfare and healthcare industries

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Dr. Gary Zomalt has only one goal: to be a leader and collaborator in transforming the lives of communities, families, and individuals. He has used this principle throughout his career to help people overcome welfare problems and for him to succeed in his personal pursuits – and he did.




From 1993 to 1997, Dr. Zomalt served as the East and South Regional Manager and Program Manager at the San Diego County Mental Health Services Department. He supervised a 15-member management team on a budget of $12M.




In 1997, Dr. Zomalt led the implementation of Best Practices using the California Children’s System of Care Grant. The following year, he was assigned to become the Executive Director of the City & County of San Francisco Mental Health Services. Dr. Gary Zomalt also led the implementation of the Family Mosaic Project, one of the seven Robert Wood Johnson Child and Family Wraparound Programs nationwide. He continued serving the institution until 2001.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: yepy_hardi

The under-funded and poorly performing Fresno County Department of Children and Family Services (CFS) was rapidly reenergized by Dr. Zomalt when he handled an executive position during its rehabilitation. Anchored on a $125M budget and employing a six-member management team, the department recovered from its loss and became a top-tier organization.





Dr. Zomalt is currently the Strategic Consultant and owner of the 3R Counseling and Consulting Company. Founded in 2006, the firm provides psychotherapy training and consultation for mental health and social service providers throughout the Bay Area in California.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Travis K.

More details about Dr. Gary Zomalt are available at his Facebook page.

Gary Zomalt: Helping Transform Lives

Gary Zomalt’s career objective is simple yet impressive: to be a leader and collaborator in transforming the lives of communities, families, and individuals. He was able to successfully achieve this objective through his 34-year career in health care and public service, making a positive impact in the lives of the people he has worked with. Currently the owner of 3R Counseling & Consulting, where he is in charge of psychotherapy and addiction services, training, program development, and quality management, he also works on the side as a Consultant at Seneca Center’s crisis stabilization unit.

From Gary Zomalt

Dr. Zomalt started his career in health care and public service in 1977, when he worked as a unit supervisor at Volunteers of America Detoxification and Rehabilitation Center at Los Angeles, California. A few years later, Gary Zomalt served as a child welfare worker at the Los Angeles Department of Social Services before becoming Associate Director at the Multi-Family Service Center in Los Angeles. He became a licensed clinical social worker in 1986, which led to his accomplishments in psychotherapy; he worked as a psychotherapist for 10 years in San Diego, California, before eventually becoming a senior psychiatric social worker and president of the clinical staff association at the Diego County Mental Health. The last position he held prior to his retirement from public service in 2006 was Director of the Department of Children and Family Service in Fresno County, California.

From Gary Zomalt

Dr. Zomalt currently resides at Walnut Creek, California. Visit his Facebook page for more information.