Therapy Near Me: Finding Support with Bonmente Posted on February 24, 2025 by GuardianOwl Mental health is essential to overall well-being. In recent years, awareness of this truth has become widespread, and more than ever, people are starting to prioritize their mental health. One of the reasons for this is our growing knowledge of just how deep of an impact that mental health issues can have on individuals, communities, and even societies as a whole.The ongoing destigmatization of mental health care has led many people to seek therapy as a path toward healing. However, finding the right therapy, whether in-person or through telepsychiatry, can be overwhelming. If you are typing “therapy near me” into search engines, you may still have questions about how to find the practice that is best suited to your needs. This blog post covers how therapy options — whether in-person or online via telepsychiatry — can provide a safe space for growth and recovery from all types of mental health disorders.Why Go to Therapy?Therapy is a type of mental health treatment for individuals to work through emotional or psychological challenges with the guidance of a trained professional. It can help individuals manage a range of mental health concerns, from recognized mental health conditions to just everyday issues in life.Therapy can help with all of the following, and more: AnxietyDepressionPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)GriefPersonality disordersRelationship difficulties At its core, therapy offers a space to explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a structured and supportive environment.The Benefits of TherapyTalking it out: In talk therapy, there can be a lot of relief in merely articulating something that is bothering you. Feeling safe to share your issues with a mental health counselor whose job is to lend an ear and help you work through the issue can be freeing. Emotional healing: Therapy provides a platform for processing painful experiences. This can reduce emotional distress and work toward emotional regulation.Self-awareness: Through therapy, individuals often gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their patterns, and their behaviors.Tools for coping: Therapy equips individuals with coping strategies and techniques for managing stress, anxiety, and other difficult emotions, along with mental illnesses themselves.Improved relationships: People in therapy explore and address interpersonal dynamics. This can help improve communication and reduce conflict in relationships. In fact, therapy can be good for exercising your “open and honest” communication muscle, which can be of use in a relationship. Whether you are seeking therapy for the first time or continuing your journey, the goal remains the same: to improve your quality of life and well-being.Therapy Near Me: Finding the Right Psychiatrist in Los Angeles and Beyond Bonmente is physically based in Long Beach, California. However, we serve patients beyond the city limits through telepsychiatry. We are licensed to treat any resident of California. We have also extended our services to Florida and Arizona as well, and are hoping to serve other states in time. So, if you are looking for “therapy near me” in California, Florida, or Arizona, you do not need to be within a reasonable drive from our Los Angeles area practice to benefit from our telepsychiatry services. Our team of psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, licensed therapists, and other mental health professionals offer a wide range of treatment options for those struggling with mental health challenges.Factors to Consider When Searching for Therapy Near YouIt is essential to narrow down your search based on your specific needs, preferences, and convenience.Specialization: Different therapists specialize in various areas, such as trauma, anxiety, depression, or couples therapy. You’ll want to find a therapist who has experience and expertise in the area you’re seeking help with. (The staff at bonmente includes professionals of various specialities, so you are sure to find someone who can fit your needs.) Insurance and Cost: Therapy can be expensive, so it is crucial to inquire about insurance coverage, payment plans, or sliding-scale fees if you’re concerned about affordability.Convenience: Given the size of California, accessibility is often a concern. Whether you’re searching for a therapy practice physically near bonmente in areas such as West Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, or Santa Monica, or are in a rural area in Northern California, the convenience of telepsychiatry enables you to attend regular sessions without having to worry about city traffic or geographic distance.Why Go with Bonmente?Bonmente is a renowned mental health provider that offers comprehensive in-person and telepsych therapy services. Our expert and experienced licensed psychiatrists and therapists work in a compassionate and supportive environment to help individuals navigate mental health challenges. Their wide-ranging work involves cases of depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and just troubles that patients talk through.Our Approach to TherapyOne of the key advantages of choosing Bonmente is our holistic, individualized approach to therapy. We tailor treatment plans to suit patients’ unique needs, using evidence-based therapeutic techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and mindfulness practices. Bonmente’s multidisciplinary team also affords patients access to psychiatric medication management. This can be beneficial for those whose mental health concerns may require a combination of therapy and medication. So, if you need to go beyond just talking and start a pharmaceutical treatment, we have you covered.Telepsychiatry: Convenient and Accessible Therapy from AnywhereWhile in-person therapy can be incredibly effective, telepsychiatry is gaining popularity as a convenient and accessible alternative. Whether you live in Los Angeles or beyond, telepsychiatry can provide valuable access to therapy without the need for commuting or worrying about location barriers. For many people, the flexibility of remote sessions has become an invaluable resource.What Is Telepsychiatry?Telepsychiatry refers to the use of telecommunication technology, such as video calls and phone calls, to deliver psychiatric services remotely. At bonmente, all telepsych appointments are done over a secure platform that protects the privacy of patients. Think of it as electronically protecting doctor–patient confidentiality. The convenience of telepsychiatry enables patients to receive therapy from the comfort of their home. Not only does this eliminate the need for in-person visits, e-prescribing allows for medications to be picked up at a pharmacy near the patient.Telepsychiatry is particularly effective for:People with busy schedules: For individuals juggling work, family, or other commitments, flexible appointment scheduling and no commute or waiting room is a draw.People with mobility challenges: Individuals with physical disabilities or health conditions may find it difficult to travel to in-person appointments.People living in remote areas: If you’re located in an area where access to quality mental health care is limited, telepsychiatry can connect you with experienced mental health professionals.People seeking privacy: For those who value privacy, telepsychiatry is a discreet alternative to in-person sessions.Continuity of care: When you are traveling or temporarily relocating, telepsychiatry ensures that you can continue receiving therapy without interruption.How Bonmente Psychiatric Practice Offers TelepsychiatryAt bonmente, telepsychiatry is integrated into their approach to make therapy more accessible for clients. We offer virtual consultations with experienced psychiatrists and therapists, using secure and HIPAA-compliant platforms to ensure your privacy and confidentiality.Whether you need ongoing therapy for anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions, bonmente can provide virtual therapy services tailored to your needs.Getting Started with Telepsychiatry at BonmenteStarting therapy through telepsychiatry at Bonmente is easy and straightforward, involving the following steps:Starting therapy through telepsychiatry at Bonmente is easy and straightforward, involving the following steps:Initial Consultation: You will begin with an assessment session where you discuss your concerns, goals, and any symptoms you’re experiencing. Your therapist or psychiatrist will create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs.Scheduling: You’ll schedule regular sessions based on your availability and preference. Our flexible scheduling can accommodate busy patients.Therapy Sessions: Telepsych sessions will take place via secure videoconferencing or audio calls, both on a secure platform. Your therapist will use evidence-based approaches to support your healing process, offering tools and strategies to help you manage your mental health.Medication Management: If needed, bonmente’s psychiatrists can prescribe (or e-prescribe, if necessary) and manage psychiatric medications. All the while, we keep a close eye on any changes or side effects you may experience.Finding Therapy Near Me: A Step Toward HealingWhether you’re in Long Beach, California, or elsewhere, therapy can be an essential tool for mental and emotional well-being. We offer both in-person and telepsychiatry services, allowing you to choose the option that best fits your lifestyle. Our compassionate team is ready to help you navigate your mental health journey with the support, care, and expertise you deserve.If you’ve been searching for “therapy near me,” take the first step toward healing today by reaching out to us. Let us help you unlock the path to a healthier, more fulfilling life.Feel free to contact bonmente for a consultation or to learn more about how telepsychiatry can work for you!
Black History Month: Black Pioneers in Mental Health Posted on February 24, 2025March 6, 2025 by GuardianOwl February is Black History Month, and we here at bonmente celebrate all of the advancements in mental health care that came about because of black pioneers in the field, some of whom we highlight below. Solomon Carter Fuller: A Trailblazer in Mental HealthIn 1897, Solomon Carter Fuller became the first black psychiatrist in America. He was born in 1872 in Liberia, where his grandparents who were American slaves had moved to after purchasing their freedom. He studied medicine in America at Boston University School of Medicine and interned at Westborough State Hospital in Massachusetts. Contributions to Alzheimer’s ResearchAfter a brief yet successful stint as a pathologist and instructor at Boston University, he decided to study in Europe in the hope of gaining skills to advance his career. There, he worked with a psychiatrist who would change the course of Fuller’s life: Dr. Alois Alzheimer.You can probably guess what they were researching. Solomon Carter Fuller, MD, played the role of a neuropathologist, providing insights into the anatomical and histological aspects of the mental illness that came to be known as dementia. By the time he returned to the United States, he had an abiding interest in studying dementia. In fact, in 1912 he published what is considered to be the first paper that offers a comprehensive overview of Alzheimer’s disease. Legacy and Overcoming BarriersBeyond that, he enjoyed a fruitful career training black psychiatrists at the Tuskegee Veterans Hospital. While there, he helped mitigate misdiagnoses of syphilis among black veterans by teaching proper diagnoses; doing so helped prevent black veterans from being deemed ineligible to receive military benefits.All along the way, he had to contend with racism inside and outside of psychiatry. Throughout his career, he dealt with unfair pay and employment barriers. And at home, white people petitioned to remove Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller and his family from their home in a predominately white neighborhood in Massachusetts. The petition failed. Today, Fuller enjoys a legacy as one of the key figures in studying Alzheimer’s disease, among the most-challenging mental health conditions. If you ever find yourself in the American Psychological Association’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., you will find a portrait of him. He even has an award named after him, given to Black citizens whose pioneering work in an area “has significantly improved the quality of life for Black people”.Beverly GreeneOne of the first openly lesbian black psychologists, Beverly Greene received the APA 2023 Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to Psychology. After graduating from New York University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from Adelphi University and currently teaches at St. John’s.She made inroads into her teaching career through her experience working at Kings County Municipal Hospital’s Inpatient Child Psychiatry Division in Brooklyn. While she was there, the hospital was composed of mostly white psychiatrists and mostly black patients. She taught her colleagues about specific aspects of the Black American experience that they should consider when treating patients. This sent her on the path to becoming “the Pioneer of Intersectional Psychology.” Today, she is recognized as a leading figure in psychology. Her innovations in bringing intersectionality into psychology have made her a key figure in the movement. Mental health professionals have been able to better reach patients because of her contributions.She has secured her legacy as one of the leading black women in American psychiatric history. She has helped raise awareness in medical schools about the importance of intersectionality in psychiatry. Her influence extends beyond academia, shaping broader mental health practices.By considering differences in race, gender, and cultural background, psychiatrists better understand their patients. This leads to more productive communication in mental health services.Mamie Phipps Clark and Kenneth Bancroft ClarkThe Clarks are among science’s power couples, like the Curies and the Lavoisiers. They balanced a happy marriage while collaborating on challenging research that would have long-lasting effects on the world. Both of them attended Howard University for their undergraduate studies and master’s degrees. They were also the first Black Americans to earn doctorate degrees from Columbia University.For the Clarks, their famous “Doll Study” played a direct role in ending racial segregation in American schools. The study gave dolls with different skin colors to Black children aged three to seven. The children were then asked what doll they preferred and to ascribe characteristics to the different dolls.The Clarks found that the majority of black children preferred the white dolls to the black dolls. They associated positive characteristics like(“nice”) to the former and negative characteristics (“bad”) to the latter. The majority of black children even said that the white dolls looked more like them. The doll study played a pivotal role in the outcome of Brown v. Board of Education, as evidence that segregation leads to a sense of inferiority within black children. It provided that the long-running “separate but equal” status quo did not actually fulfill the “equal” promise. These findings continue to be influential to this day, as evidence of the psychological impact of racism within black communities.Celebrating Black History Month and Mental Health at bonmente This blog just scratches the surface of the contributions that black people have brought to mental health care. At bonmente, we celebrate these contributions and appreciate the value of diversity in advancing mental health care for us all.
Stress takes a toll. Let’s manage it! Posted on February 21, 2025March 14, 2025 by GuardianOwl Stress is one of those emotions that everyone feels from time to time, making stress management key to a psychologically healthy life. It can be universal in that sense, but some people experience stress at a degree that others may never experience during their lifetimes. For instance, high levels of stress are naturally felt by California residents in the areas where fires have caused massive damage. Folks who have serious medical experiences or unexpected losses can also experience intense, long-lasting stress. Like many common emotions, things can get out of hand for an individual who does not manage the emotion well.What Is Stress? Stress is most often a reaction to change or challenges. This reaction is natural, as it helps keep your focus so that you can adapt to the change or challenge. Though the word “stress” has negative connotations for many people, the fact is that stress can actually be helpful for this reason. Think of it this way: seeing a large growing fire in your area will induce stress, which can helpfully trigger our flight-or-fight response that can kick us into high gear and act accordingly. Or maybe that funny-looking mole that keeps changing shape can cause enough stress to get us to finally make that appointment to get it checked.However, stress can lose its benefits if it does not cease. Persistent stress can take a serious mental and physical toll on an individual. If the level of stress is so high that it negatively affects a person’s ability to adapt to a change or meet a challenge, it can lead to a mental health collapse.Types of StressPsychiatrists have three categories for diagnosing stress-related mental health issues. Acute StressAcute stress tends to be short-form and typically has to do with an understandably stressful event, like a medical emergency. It could lead to physical symptoms like headaches, or mental symptoms like irritability. Episodic Acute StressThis can occur when people continually experience stress-inducing events on a regular basis. The problem here is that it can lead to consistent tension within a person. Without relief, that can lead to many of the health problems that are associated with stress. Chronic StressIf episodic acute stress is consistent stress, chronic stress is more like constant stress. Threats of large and unpredictable environmental disasters that could cause—or have caused—damage to your property or person or loved ones can certainly be a cause of chronic stress. Other sources of chronic stress include health, finances, work, and relationships. There can be severe physical and mental health consequences to chronic stress. Even heart attacks can occur during periods of chronic stress. It can affect your mindset as well, making it difficult to focus or causing anxiety. What makes chronic stress so problematic, then, is that it can take away whatever benefits that stress could offer us (temporary sharpening of focus and motivation) and instead just leave us with all the negatives. That is why it is quite important to understand stress – and to develop stress-management techniques that can protect you when it keeps coming your way.The Dwelling IssueSomething that can make stress so troublesome is that our minds tend to dwell on stress, extending the experience so that it lingers with us. There may be some benefits here, in that keeping the subject of stress in one’s mind could motivate one to do what’s necessary to handle the problem. For instance, if you go to bed without doing any work that day for a project that is due tomorrow, then feeling stress as you try to go to sleep could be a way of your mind telling you that you should really buckle down and do the work.Stressors Worth noting is that not all stressors are the same. Some, indeed, may be imaginary and irrational. But the problem there is that those stressors can still cause you the same amount of stress as something tangible and immediate, like a fire in your city or layoffs at your place of employment. Either way, it can be useful to know of some stress-management techniques that can help you manage stress.Stress-Management TechniquesHow you cope with stress can make all the difference. As mentioned, stress is indeed a natural response of the body to difficult circumstances. Learning to manage the stress can help an individual better work through the emotional challenges the stressor presents and prevent lasting harm. The following are some stress-management techniques:Journaling: Writing about your stressors can help you think through how the stressors are affecting you, offload some of your worries, and get clarity about what you need to do to move on.Volunteering and Community Work: Helping others can foster a sense of community and solidarity in a stressful time, be a feel-good distraction, and help to reframe your perspective. Not feeling alone in your stress can be a good inroad to staying emotionally healthy. Sleep: It can be hard to get a good night’s rest when stress is beating down your bedroom door, but a good night’s rest can help you think more clearly and have the emotional stability to confront and manage stress. Seek Counseling: Mental health professionals are extraordinarily helpful when you need to process stress, develop coping techniques, and identify strategies to prevent stress from becoming chronic.Getting Help for StressIf you feel you may need professional help in dealing with stress, reach out to bonmente for assistance. The psychological impact of stress can linger long after the stressor goes away, making recovery difficult. Bonmente’s team of experts are trained to help you manage, process, and move on from stress so that you can enjoy life’s carefree moments when they happen.
Individual PTSD, Community PTSD, and the California Fires Posted on February 21, 2025March 6, 2025 by GuardianOwl The recent California fires hit close to home for bonmente. With our practice headquartered in Long Beach, California, we’ve been reeling at the devastation happening all around us. For those outside of California, media coverage highlights the physical damage affecting homes, workplaces, and communities people call home.However, photos and videos cannot fully capture the complex psychological impact of such a disaster on those experiencing it.Stress and fear and other difficult emotions are to be expected during the disaster itself. However, the tough stuff happens long after the fires are under control, when the lingering psychological impact – PTSD – takes a toll on individuals and the Los Angeles community as a whole.What Is Trauma? We’ll keep things clinical rather than philosophical here. The American Psychological Association defines trauma as an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, crime, natural disaster, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, experiencing or witnessing violence, death of a loved one, war, and more. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea.Do note how that definition does not narrow trauma within the confines of a closed set of particular emotional responses. The implication is that trauma has many manifestations. So, one person may run around, screaming in panic, at the sight of a wildfire. Others may stoically shut down, repressing impulses to do things like run around and scream in panic. Either way, those people could run the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).What Is PTSD? You can find the DSM-5’s full list of criteria satisfying a clinical diagnosis of PTSD here.This section will cover some key takeaways from that outline of criteria. One is that PTSD can result from the exposure to a terrible event (e.g., injury) or just the threat of that event. In the context of the California wildfires, this means that you do not actually need to have been burned, or lost your house, or directly experience any harmful consequence from the fire to be at risk for developing PTSD. Just the threat of harm from the fires and the possibility of direct impact can cause trauma. Another key aspect of PTSD is re-experiencing the trauma after the disaster. This can take many forms, one of which could be emotional distress at things like the sight of smoke. Avoidance of things that could be related to the trauma is another criterion. If you were in a part of town that caught fire, deliberately avoiding that area could be a sign of PTSD. Persisting or worsening negative psychological consequences following the trauma can be another symptom. One to watch out for in particular is repressing distressing memories so that you are unable to recall certain details from the traumatic experience. “Arousal” and “reactivity” following the event is another criterion. These can take many forms. One person may be hypervigilant, obsessively stocking the house with fire blankets and fire extinguishers and putting a smoke detector in every room. Another person may become a risk-seeker, starting large beach bonfires with few or no safety precautions. Also, symptoms must last more than a month, not be related to substance use or medication or illness, and create distress or dysfunction. Something else to know about PTSD is that there is individual PTSD and community PTSD.Individual PTSD: Ways PTSD Can Affect the IndividualOn the individual level, PTSD can lead to an array of problems that can significantly affect a patient’s quality of life. As mentioned above, presentation of PTSD can vary widely from case to case, so it would probably be impossible for any blog to comprehensively offer a portrait of what PTSD can look like in individuals. There are many consequences of PTSD in individuals that are worth knowing about. Evidence suggests an increased risk of suicide. PTSD in combination with co-occurring mental health conditions such as substance abuse can lead to worse mental health. In fact, PTSD-related comorbidities are seen as a “frequent event with a negative impact on outcome”. In the wake of the California fires, some people experiencing negative emotions associated with PTSD may see substance abuse as an attractive “escape” that’s really just a temporary distraction that may not even fully distract from the negative emotions. Social isolation is another risk factor. For some Californians, wanting to stay away from gatherings or places (e.g., hiking trails) where fires may break out could keep them from maintaining healthy social bonds.Community PTSD: How Does PTSD Affect the Community?Community disaster trauma (CDT) is an emerging topic of research related to PTSD. CDT research sometimes divides the community into subpopulations in recognition that not everyone is affected by a disaster equally. For instance, primary victims could lose their homes in a fire, while secondary victims witness the trauma and experience threats. Tertiary victims may not be in the trauma area but still feel stress and negative emotions due to proximity to the disaster.Just as an individual may present symptoms of PTSD, a community on the whole may present symptoms of PTSD.Hypervigilance, for instance, may be seen across the Los Angeles community through increased 911 calls to report possible fires. These calls may be triggered by signs that may remind people of the trauma. Or, there may be much less bonfires and perhaps even small beach fires on California beaches in widespread fear of a fire getting out of control. And the manifestations of PTSD in individuals in the community can lead to a number of social problems as well, perhaps even endangering the community, as anger and aggression are symptoms in some PTSD cases.Getting Help for PTSD from bonmenteRight now, it’s unknown the extent to which PTSD will affect individuals and communities dealing with the California fires. The professionals at bonmente hope to be a positive force for psychological recovery. They actively help communities and people struggling with the impact of this environmental disaster.If you are a California resident who has been suffering through the trauma of the fires, help is available. Reach out to the professionals at bonmente for mental health treatments. Our team of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals can help you navigate the complex emotional aftermath of trauma.
