It was my first time at the Center in Long Beach and I was warmly welcomed and impressed.  I found it to be a sleek and stylish gathering place filled with hope, healing and health.  Wednesday night was the launch/celebration of the mental health branch of The Center.  Spearheaded by co-chairs Carrie Rickard, Richard Lewis and Nancy Foster, this new project was conceived and put into action in just under 4 months.  Just sitting down with them for a moment, you could feel the excitement and teamwork they exuded. 

This center will offer mental and emotional health services for the gay/lesbian/transgender community and their families, and serve as a beacon of hope for those suffering with mental health issues.  Studies have shown over and over the link with anxiety, stress, depression and decreased immunity and healing in the body.  By mending the broken places in relationships, families, and individually, the Center aims to make Long Beach a healthier city fueled by the compassion for the fellow citizen.

I sat down with Nancy, Carrie, and Richard to talk about the origins, goals and hopes for the new branch of The Center.

Where did you draw you inspiration for the mental health branch of the Center?

Carrie Rickard M.D.

“I see unique patients everyday in my practice that are in need of mental health services.  As an out lesbian I see a proportionately large number of lesbian patients.  My patients who are in need of mental health services always feel like there is a lack of mental health services focusing on their needs, and a lack of affordable services as well.  I have long felt strongly that something like this should be available in Long Beach.  As well this provides a training ground for future therapists.  We will have a licensed social worker onsite providing training to masters level candidates in social work, family therapy.  The combination of these goals has really driven me to make this happen and my friendship with Richard Lewis who is an indescribable source of energy and talent who provided the organizational framework who launched “

Tell me a little more about the history behind the project…

Richard Lewis

“We got a grant last year from Don Knabe for $25,000 to start a program.  We get a lot of calls everyday to the center from people looking for mental health counseling.  We typically refer them out, but when you refer them out you don’t necessarily know if that therapist has the sensitivity or training to deal with some of these issues.  After the grant, we put together a steering committee and we’re so lucky to end up with the people that have taken part.  Dr. Rickard being one of them, we also ended up with the program co-coordinators for CSULB, Cal St. Dominguez Hills, St. Mary’s, Long Beach Memorial, either people who are community leaders  or health leaders ended up on the committee.  We set a goal in November to have the program launched on Feb 4, and it seemed like an ambitious endeavor but here we are on Feb 4 and we did it! So tonight’s really a celebratory occasion:  that after months of working together as a group that we have a fully developed mental health center.  We now have a place where people can deal with issues and instead of maybe turning to alcohol, drugs, crime or just feeling miserable they can find hope.

Tell me about your experience seeing the new part of the Center for the first time.

Nancy Foster

“Each room that I went into I could just visualize all that was going to happen in those rooms. There will be so much joy and pain as well as healing that will take place. These guys are just so great and have put together such a great program.”