Meet Dr. Angela Claffey

We recently connected with Dr. Angela Claffey and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Angela, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I often say “What didn’t kill me better run.”
Under the floor boards of my counseling center I put pages that I took out of my journal that I had as a little girl who was struggling with an eating disorder and prayers to God to heal me. My ministry is built on Jesus answering those prayers and I know if I can walk in freedom and purpose, anyone can. I am currently writing a book named Hungry Girl, a hungry girls guide to an abundant life.
This is the mission statement I wrote for my non profit sector of my counseling center named Hungry Girl Ministries which focuses on helping women who struggle with eating disorders.

We are for her.
The girl carrying a broken heart.
The one at war with food.
The one starved for love.
The girl clinging in fear of being left.
The one who hates her own reflection.
The girl swallowed by loss…
And frozen by fear.
We are for her—
The one who is hungry for God.
We are for the hungry girls.
And we are with her.
As she takes her first step on the road to healing.
As she faces her fears.
As she makes peace with her body… and with food.
As her heart begins to believe she is truly loved.
As she hungers to find her purpose.
We are Hungry Girl Ministries.
We are for her.
And we are with her.

My purpose was found in compassion for others who suffered like I had suffered. The root meaning of the word passion is “to suffer” and “to endure.” Suffering is often the birth place of finding your purpose. Pain has to be transformed into purpose in order for it not to be loss and sorrow.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a clinical psychologist who moved back to my hometown in Santa Clarita because I wanted to make a place I wish I had when I was a teenager who was struggling with an eating disorder. At 14 years old I was a suicide survivor due to a neighborhood boy came to find me when it was announced that I left a goodbye note and the police where trying to find me. He sat and talked to me until he gave me hope to walk back home together. I know God sent him and I survived for a reason and want to go after the person who is desperate to stop the pain and together we can find a way back to hope.
In 2023 I left my secure State Hospital job as a forensic psychologist to open The Well Counseling Center as a faith based counseling center. I knew in my heart that if I created treatment centers that combined the power of the love of God and best psychological practices that people who suffer with severe mental health symtpoms would find healing. My team currently is of 7 therapists who are passionate
clinicians and devoted to their faith. We believe healing needs to be mind, body, and spirit.

In August 2025, I opened the non proft sector of my business named Hungry Girl Ministries. We are in the process of getting Medical approved so we can help those who can not afford insurance. I am obessed with reaching the people who do not have access to treatment and be a barrier breaker for those who feel lost and stuck.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Bravery, tenacity, and humility. Be brave enough to let yourself learn. Opening a business was all new to me and I had to learn to fail forward. Many areas of growth were evident in my first year that I wondered if I had what it took. The truth was I didn’t have it, yet. Perfectionism and unrealistic expectations of myself were my greatest joy stealers. I had to develop which takes time and failures(experience). I had to be patient with myself to develop business skills like accounting, negotiating, delegating, and direct feedback. God knows your strengths and your weakness. Your weaknesses do not disqualify you from the call of God on your life. God’s call is irrevocable. This quote gave me comfort when I felt the tension between the vision I carried in my heart and reality of how green I was as a business owner.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

At The Well & Hungry Girl Ministries, community isn’t just something we talk about—it’s at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is to walk alongside people in meaningful ways, creating spaces where connection, healing, and renewal can take place. One of the most powerful ways we live this out is through retreats designed specifically for your community.

These retreats are more than just an event; they are intentional gatherings where women, mothers, families, and faith groups can pause from the demands of daily life and find space to breathe, reflect, and grow. Each retreat is uniquely crafted to meet the needs of the community it serves, offering a balance of rest, inspiration, and encouragement.

We consider it an honor to be invited into local communities and to help create experiences that leave a lasting impact. Whether your group is looking for a day of reflection, a weekend of renewal, or a special faith-based retreat, The Well & Hungry Girl Ministries is ready to come alongside you.
If your community is seeking a retreat that brings people together, fosters connection, and restores the spirit, contact us at 1-888-GIVE-HOPE or https://www.thewellcounselingcenters.com. We’d love to help you plan your next gathering.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thewellcounselingcenters.com
• Instagram: thewellcenters
• Linkedin: Angela Claffey, PsyD
• Youtube: @thewellcounselingcenters