LOS ALAMITOS OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT PROGRAM

Los Alamitos, CA

HOME / LOCATIONS / LOS ALAMITOS, CA

Virtual treatment available: DMA outpatient programs can also be accessed via online telehealth services.

This facility offers two separate programs for adolescents with mental health issues. The first is a partial hospitalization treatment program (PHP) that runs 5 days a week, Monday through Friday, from 8am to 2pm. The second is an intensive outpatient treatment program (IOP) that is offered 5 days a week, Monday through Friday, from 3:30pm-6:30pm. We serve adolescents between the ages of 11 and 19. Our program utilizes skill-based groups which incorporate dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which involves breaking down skills into pillars of mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. The program also incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) into the various skills groups to help clients identify and challenge cognitive distortions and reframe faulty thinking patterns. Other skills groups focus on identity exploration, improving self-esteem, anger management, and both identifying positive coping mechanisms and strengthening clients’ ability to engage in them while experiencing emotional distress.

Our team works individually with clients and with their families to identify and support unique treatment planning based on personal needs and goals. We stress balance and authenticity, and consider ourselves an educational center for learning emotional intelligence. The program includes management of support medication (PHP only), coordination with schools, collaboration with outpatient providers and reorganization of family dynamics to strengthen connections. The clinical team is experienced, dedicated, and each team member brings a unique therapeutic style to meet the needs of our patients.

The School Support Program is offered to young patients, where an education liaison supervises and supports them through their schoolwork. The education liaison also collaborates with the patient’s therapist to ensure they have the right environment in place for learning, which will in turn help them reintegrate into their school after treatment.

The Los Alamitos program is conveniently located near the 605 freeway on the corner of Katella Ave. and Noel St.  We are situated in a complex of professional office buildings with parking and entrance available in both the front and the back of the building complex.

Insurances we accept at this location include but are not limited to Kaiser, Humana, Cigna, and Unicare. Please remember that the insurances we accept change frequently. Our insurance team will verify your coverage. 

DISCOVERY MOOD & ANXIETY

4281 Katella Avenue Suite #111A
Los Alamitos, CA 90270

PH 714.828.0808

PROGRAM FEATURES

Intensive Outpatient
Partial Hospitalization
All Genders 11-19

FIND HELP TODAY CALL 866.482.3876
OR SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION

MEET THE TEAM

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Bethany Meichsner, LMFT
Counselor & Education Liaison

Cynthia Pimentel
Primary Therapist

Brittany Rawlings, AMFT
PROGRAM THERAPIST

Gisell Gomez
PRIMARY THERAPIST

D’Andra Johnson, AMFT
Primary Therapist

Stephanie Fagundes
PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Bethany Meichsner, LMFT

Bethany is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist registered through California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences. She earned her Master of Science degree from California State University, Pomona and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from there as well. Bethany has worked with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families struggling with mental health issues in a variety of therapeutic settings and levels of care, ranging from outpatient to residential treatment, since 2012. Bethany is passionate about helping her clients improve their emotional and mental health through the medium of psychotherapy. Since working more consistently with adolescents over the past 4 years, she has been amazed by the inner strength and Discovery Mood and Anxiety her clients can discover and strengthen throughout their treatment journey. Bethany values a strengths-based approach and believes that individuals often have an untapped ability to heal and take steps to improve the way they navigate through and handle life’s difficult situations. She strives towards being client-centered and feedback-oriented, as well as integrating multiple therapeutic approaches to provide services that fit each client’s and family’s needs.  She highly values the therapeutic alliance and constantly seeks to partner with clients to help them move in a direction that is positive and beneficial for them. As a Program Director at Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program, Bethany enjoys overseeing all aspects of the partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs in order to ensure that clients receive the highest quality of care and support while in treatment. In her free time Bethany enjoys playing soccer, going hiking, spending time with loved ones and relaxing at home while reading or watching a movie.

Counselor & Education Liaison

Cynthia Pimentel

Cynthia Pimentel is a Counselor & Education Liaison for Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program. Her role is to facilitate the running of the program schedule and also support clients academically during their treatment. Cynthia received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine making her the first in her family to obtain a degree from a four year university. Before coming to work for Discovery, Cynthia worked for 4 years on different school campuses in low-income communities as an instructional assistant in full inclusion classrooms supporting Special Education students and helping them achieve their academic goals. While enjoying her work in Special Education, her true pursuit is clinical work in the mental health field. She enjoys working with this population because mental health is a multifaceted issue, determined by complex developmental, cultural, social and environmental contexts which she seeks to understand in order to effectively support each of our clients to the best of her ability. In her free time, Cynthia cares for her numerous plants, paints with watercolors and enjoys quality time with her loved ones.

Primary Therapist

Brittany Rawlings, AMFT

Brittany is an associate marriage and family therapist registered through California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences. She earned her Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from California State University, Fullerton and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University, San Bernardino. Brittany has worked with children, teens, young adults, couples and families struggling with mental health issues in a variety of different research and therapeutic settings. She takes a client-centered, humanistic approach when working with clients and believes in the power of free will, human potential and self-discovery to guide clients toward being the best version of themselves. Brittany values authenticity in sessions and believes that her role is to help clients truly be themselves by providing a safe, non-judgmental space for them to do so. She integrates multiple therapeutic approaches to provide services that fit each client and family’s needs, including DBT, CBT, ERP, Gestalt, narrative and existential psychology. She enjoys teaching clients about the mind-body connection and prioritizes destigmatizing mental health in all areas of our existence. In her free time, Brittany enjoys mountain biking, hiking, spending time with loved ones, and playing with her fur babies.

PROGRAM THERAPIST

Gisell Gomez

Gisell is a program therapist for Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program. Gisell received her bachelor’s degree double majoring in Sociology and Chicano Latino Studies from the University of California, Irvine. A few years later, Gisell obtained her master’s degree from University of Denver. Before coming to work for Discovery, Gisell worked with various non-profits that focused on working with children & adolescents with a variety of complex mental health issues. Gisell has experience working with high acuity needs, domestic violence, family instability and complex trauma. She strives to implement a therapeutic approach where she fosters a safe space for adolescents and focuses on a strength-based approach. She believes that therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach and strives to tailor her therapeutic approach to each individual’s needs in treatment. Gisell believes that therapy is not a sprint, but more of an ongoing process where the individual works to learn the necessary coping mechanisms to help them manage the everyday stressors of life more effectively. In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes trying new restaurants and spending time with family.

PRIMARY THERAPIST

D’Andra Johnson, AMFT

D’Andra is an associate marriage and family therapist that obtained her undergraduate and graduate degrees from California State University, San Bernardino. Prior to joining the Discovery team in 2021, she gained a variety of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults from historically underserved groups in the education and mental health fields. D’Andra works to provide a safe and nonjudgmental space for all of her clients, while simultaneously empowering clients to utilize their skills and become an advocate for themselves. She describes her therapeutic approach as “integrated” as she utilizes a variety of different therapeutic approaches, including ACT, CBT & DBT, to address a client’s unique needs. As someone that was raised in historically underrepresented and underserved communities herself, she is passionate about empowering individuals to challenge mental health stigma while also acknowledging barriers, including those that are systemic, and the impact they can have on an individual and/or family. In D’Andra’s free time, she enjoys watching a good horror movie or spending time with her loved ones.

Primary Therapist

Stephanie Fagundes

Stephanie has been working with Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program since 2022. They support the Los Alamitos, PHP and IOP programs as a primary therapist. They began their mental health career as a nurse working in inpatient, residential and community mental health settings. After collaborating with various clinicians and team members, they were inspired to pursue their education in social work to better advocate for patients’ biopsychosocial needs and more directly address trauma created within medical and justice systems. Stephanie has experience in crisis work, severe mental illness, addiction and forensics. They are motivated to connect with young people on their recovery journey around stabilization, skill-building and ultimately creating an authentic life. They feel passionate about building community and being able to witness, share and celebrate individual talents, strengths and interests. Stephanie enjoys dance, cooking and beach time with their husky.

Support Group

Discovery Mood & Anxiety provides free support groups for individuals, loved ones, and professionals. Find out more about how to join our free support groups.

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COVID-19 Update: COVID-19 Update: In-person residential treatment is still offered at this location. Learn about all that we are doing to protect the safety and wellbeing of our patients and staff.

Preferred In-Network Provider for All Major Health Insurance

VERIFY INSURANCE

Preferred In-Network Provider for All Major Health Insurance

VERIFY INSURANCE

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