Mental Health Care Clinic in Sonoma County, California
Healing begins with you discovering your best self. If you are looking for a mental health care clinic in the Sonoma County, CA, area, we welcome you to Be the Change in Mental Health. Be the Change in Mental Health was founded to bring psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and other revolutionary treatment modalities for mental wellness to the public. We have tried and true approaches to mental health that we are happy to provide to our community.
Who We Are
Our mental health care clinic in Sonoma County, California, was started in response to the growing need for mental health services in Northern California.
We see the devastating effects of the mental illness crisis on individuals and families and feel called to action. Psychedelic medications in combination with talk therapy have been getting lots of attention, but the reality is that substances such as MDMA, psilocybin and ibogaine are only (legally) available in the research setting. But there are already available innovative treatments that could make a tremendous difference in the lives of those affected by mental illness. Still, access to these treatments is limited. Be the Change in Mental Health was created to change that.
We are a California non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation formed to bring cutting-edge therapies to people with treatment-resistant mental health conditions. Our mission is to provide access to innovative and psychedelic mental health treatments that can change lives. Our flagship clinic is in Santa Rosa, CA, the seat of Sonoma County. We are easily accessible to people in the Bay Area, just north of Marin County off the 101 freeway.
We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a full life, and for many, it starts with remission of depression and anxiety. For others, who are perhaps not ill but simply want to live more fully, understand themselves more deeply, see the wonders of the world more clearly, we offer them the opportunity to be more well!
Why Should You Seek Evaluation from BTC Mental Health?
Many things set Be the Change in Mental Health apart from other mental health care clinics in California. We are passionate about seeing our clients experience hope and healing, we utilize the most cutting-edge therapies available, and we tailor our treatment plans to meet the unique needs of each patient. Here's what else you can expect when you seek evaluation and treatment from us.
Revolutionary Treatments for Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Trauma & More
We are creating a new paradigm for mental health and wellness. At Be the Change in Mental Health, we believe in treating the whole person, not just the symptoms. We take a holistic approach to treatment, meaning we will consider all aspects of your life when developing your treatment plan. Whether Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is right for you or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) with or without medication changes is the answer, our therapists and physicians will work with you to get you on the road to improvement.
A Compassionate and Competent Staff
We employ licensed therapists and medical personnel to deliver these health services with the utmost professionalism and care. Our staff is passionate about helping others and committed to providing the best possible care. Our deep knowledge and experience in mental health can bring long sought-after peace in your lifestyle and personal relationships.
Quality Care at an Affordable Rate
Everyone deserves access to quality mental health care. Because of the intensity of the treatments and the hours of time directly spent with professional staff, this type of care can feel expensive. What we are providing is a result, not a per-interaction exchange of resources. But what is the value of being mentally well? What will you be able to do with your life when there is hope, joy, and ability to live fully? We will help you with a payment program that fits your budget!
While we do not bill insurance companies directly at this time, our patients can request the supporting paperwork from our administrative team to submit to their health insurance carriers for reimbursement. Payment can be made with funds from HSA and FSA accounts. Most patients can also get at least partial reimbursement from their insurance companies for the physical examination by the doctor and the therapy visits. For assistance with financing, we accept Advanced Care. Advanced Care provides up to 14 months of true interest free financing with no accrued interest if you qualify.
Mental Health Services We Offer
Be the Change in Mental Health in Mental Health offers a range of services to meet our patients' needs and help them have the best life they deserve. Our services range from psychotherapy-focused KAP to purely energetically-based TMS, and combinations in between. We do not currently offer psychiatric medication management.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
We offer the best evidence-based Ketamine-assisted Psychotherapy with specialty-trained therapists. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with properties that have unique effects on the mind and body. Unlike many "ketamine clinics" that simply give people the drug, our focus is on the therapy, using the medication as an adjunct. This is because while the medication itself may help someone feel much better very quickly, the improvements do not persist unless the patient changes their patterns of thinking! To get better, patients need to change their minds. To change their minds, patients need to use the neuroplasticity that ketamine creates to remold their perspectives and habits. Therapy is the critical component that we use to guide patients through this process.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
We offer NeuroStar® Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a treatment for those who want a non-medication option to address their condition. TMS is a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. It is FDA approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety associated with depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Magnetic stimulation is not like electroshock therapy (ECT)! It is not painful (most patients describe the sensation to be "like a woodpecker on my head." It does not require sedation (patients can drive themselves to and from the treatment appointments). TMS is effective for more than 60% of patients who have tried and "failed" multiple medications to address their depression and has a durability of up to 24 months with no additional treatment. After achieving remission from depression, patients can receive periodic "refresher treatments" to stay mentally well.
Depression Therapy with an Endpoint
We understand how frustrating therapy for depression and anxiety can be if it does not feel like any progress is being made. We use quantitative metrics to evaluate patients' progress, and adjust their program as needed. Our ketamine treatment courses specifically address severe depression, anxiety, or other diagnosed conditions with an intention to make a stair-step difference in your state of mind, without creating a dependence on ketamine. We do not believe that taking ketamine regularly is a good answer, and it is well known that consistent use will quickly create tolerance. We believe in helping the body and the mind heal itself. Furthermore, our therapists will explore with you the root-causes to free you from those limiting beliefs that keep you stuck.
More Psychedelic-assisted Psychotherapy in the Future
We will offer additional types of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for those who are seeking an alternative treatment option, as soon as it is legally available in California. We expect that MDMA will receive FDA approval within the next two years. Our therapists have already been through the required MAPS training programs and our Sonoma County, CA clinic was purpose-built to meet the special needs of patients who will receive this type of medication.
Psilocybin is still considered a narcotic and is not yet decriminalized in California, although Oregon and Colorado have made changes to their legislation making it easier to access. As has been the case with marijuana, psilocybin may well gain broader acceptability through the state legislative system before the federal government catches up.
Other medications are being developed and clinical trials are in process, funded by pharmaceutical companies who recognize the value of this new modality for healing. It is reasonable to expect that there will be new medications coming onto the market and our professional team is paying attention to all of these new developments.
Take The First Step to A New Beginning Today with Be the Change in Mental Health!
If you or your loved ones are looking for new ways to overcome your mental health diagnosis, we're here for you. Be the Change in Mental Health is here to use the latest neuroscience and evidence-based therapy advancements to help you on your road to recovery.
Schedule an appointment with one of our healthcare specialists to answer your questions and help you find the best solutions for you and your loved ones. If you are not ready to schedule a consultation in person but want to ask questions about treatments at Be the Change in Mental Health, please fill out our Contact Form.
1. Sackeim HA, et al. (2020).
Clinical Outcomes in a Large Registry of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder Treated with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. J Affective Disorders, 277(12):65-74.
2. Oregon Psilocybin Services Act: Measure 109 (M109)
3. Natural Medicine Health Act: Proposition 122