I rarely write reviews, but after three years as a patient at Bonmente, the recent decline in administrative support is concerning enough that I feel other patients should be aware. Until recently, my experience here had been very positive. The providers themselves have been good, and the administrative side of the practice used to make the process smooth and manageable. Unfortunately, that level of service has declined significantly. My recent interactions with the Administrative Assistant have been frustrating. The communication often comes across as cold and at times accusatory rather than helpful. When patients are reaching out about prescriptions, prior authorizations, or other administrative issues related to mental health care, empathy and professionalism are incredibly important. I also want to acknowledge Jim Cruz, who previously worked in this role. Jim was outstanding and consistently went above and beyond to support patients. He was responsive, kind, and proactive--often helping resolve issues directly with pharmacies and assisting with prior authorizations so patients did not have to navigate those challenges alone. His professionalism set a very high standard, and his absence has made the difference in service very noticeable. Another concern is that I have received emails containing private health information that did not appear to be encrypted, which raises legitimate concerns about patient privacy and security. It's disappointing to see such a noticeable drop in what was once a very positive experience. Administrative staff are often the first point of contact for patients, and their professionalism plays a major role in whether care feels accessible and supportive. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and works to improve the patient experience moving forward. read more

BONMENTE WILL BLACKLIST YOU FOR MENTIONING BPD & S*ICIDE They sent me on a loop of submitting intake paper work and waiting for a call back TWICE, just for them to tell me they cant see me. I made it very clear what my issues are and what I am needing. I am not a special case. I am looking for basic care and medication management. I was rejected for mentioning the words "Borderline personality disorder" of which I was never diagnosed, however I mentioned it as it was suggested to me in a previous care facility as a possibility. I literally just mentioned it to the woman who had already set up my appointment (I had put it in my calendar and everything) - and she basically says they arent equipped to handle BPD patients and they wont treat me. I say I wasn't diagnosed with that...and I have the documentation proving I was never given that diagnosis...that I was just mentioning it as a passing thought, I was just sort of thinking aloud. Nope. Doesn't matter. She keeps just saying they cant treat me "in case" I am BPD. Couldn't anyone looking for answers about their mental well-being and behaviors unknowingly have BPD? So because I said the word I am cursed? I dont understand this logic at all, but the woman was apologetic and I didnt want to bite her head off, so I accepted fate. I confirm with the old facility by requesting my documents that I was indeed, never diagnosed with BPD. I asked my parents as I was a TEENAGER at that time as well and it is over a decade later, but they remember being educated on BPD as it was sort of newly being discussed, but that they didnt feel I really exhibited the behavior being described for BPD. So I re-apply to Bonmente after calling to explain what had happened. The woman said to go ahead and re-apply. She did not try to save my time or mental-wellness by letting me know if there was any policy preventing a previously rejected person from applying again or anything... she did not tell me any guidelines, I was not given any information outside of her confirming that "Yea, we aren't equipped to treat BPD as none of the providers specialize in that area." Fine, ya know I can understand that. I did my due dilligence finding out that it wasn't true, I dont have it and never did, and on top of that I said it in passing to the woman setting my appointment... How can they reject me on this basis??? Whatever. I re-apply... after a couple of days of waiting (so this process is now going on over a week, and my desperation for help is increasing), I get an email. Not even a call, a damn email, saying that I essentially am too suicidal and messed up for them to treat me. WHAT?? I made it clear on my forms where I stand with that. I am not suicidal like that. I get depressed or perhaps I get a little manic and am a little more inclined to ramble or go do something spontaneously or maybe I'm extremely irritable... I am not suicidal. I tried to be honest, that yes in my past I have had ideations, that yes like just about EVERYONE I have had the thought "This would be easier if I was dead." But it is not with seriousness. I just need medication again as I can feel myself slipping. I felt condescended to by the email and completely lead on and misinformed. It was completely obvious as well that non-medical professionals were pre-emptively making calls about my mental state before I even had a chance to be evaluated. I felt discriminated against completely. I mentioned it to my therapist who had suggested Bonmente, and she was shocked and disgusted by this tale and the email Bonmente had sent me. She is taking steps to let her bosses know and they will no longer be suggesting Bonmente to their patients who need psychiatric care alongside the therapy they provide. Extremely distasteful, offensive, and WEIRD. HEADS UP TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT WHILE ANSWERING THE CLERK'S QUESTIONS - SHE WILL MAKE EXECUTIVE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TREATMENT YOU NEED I definitely do not think they are a good choice for anyone who is still looking for answers, but perhaps if all you need is re-ups on your medication then they might be ok... I dont know. But if the structure of the company is at all reminiscent of my intake process - STAY AWAY. Also while I am here, hot tip: ALWAYS CHECK NO-SHOW FEES and cross-check the answer your given with the agreement/contracts you will inevitably sign. In this process I have been verbally told reasonable fees and then the written contract stated it was actually hundreds of dollars more than what I was told. Plus, the true fees (the highest being $500 for a missed appointment) are incredibly predatory and for a group to set such high fees is evidentiary of greed and people taking advantage of a vulnerable group of people. Advocate for yourself yall, they are NOT on your side. read more

This company is sad and pathetic and just wants your money. DO NOT trust them when they send the verification email that your insurance covers your session. They will then claim you owe money because you weren't covered months later and say that it is not their fault or responsibility. I've been going back and forth with these people for over a week now for this very reason and every time I talk to them they give me different information and tell me to contact a different person, they're just wasting my time. When I spoke to them last week we left off that I would call my insurance and get back to them so that they wouldn't charge me yet, and guess what, they charged me without my consent. My insurance also claims they never sent over the claim so how would they even know if I was covered or not or if I owe money? I finally was able to talk to a surpervisor today on my second try and the person I spoke to, Anne, was extremely disrespectful and laughing at me. According to her, if they tell you you're covered it's still not their fault when you owe money. She kept telling me to contact my insurance even though I already did, and she also kept telling me not to blame them and put the fault on them for telling me that I'm covered by insurance. Active listening isn't her strongest skill apparently. Im so sick of dealing with these bitter, uncaring people who work in healthcare. They don't care about your mental health they just want to charge you as much as they can. So if you're gonna see someone through bonmente you should probably triple check with your insurance the day of your sessions to make sure you're actually covered, and even then I wouldn't trust it. OR you could just go somewhere better. Upon reading other negative reviews it seems as though this place discriminates against certain disorders and people who have preexisting conditions. read more

I was having issues with being able to pick up my prescription at any pharmacy because it was out of stock everywhere and Angela was so helpful! It was looking like I wasn't going to be able to get my medication for at least a week which I was very nervous about and somehow Angela worked her magic and I was able to get it within the next few days. Thank you so much! read more

I absolutely love Bonmente Clinic! I've bounced around to different places over the years, and this is the first one where I actually feel heard. The staff is welcoming every time I walk in, scheduling is simple, and they're always so kind and patient. My provider really takes the time to listen to what's going on with me and never makes me feel rushed. It's honestly the best mental health care I've had -- supportive, easy, and genuinely helpful. I highly recommend them. read more

Bonmente has been amazing. Everyone is friendly, quick to respond, and actually listens. My provider took the time to understand what I needed instead of rushing through things, and it's made a huge difference. Scheduling is super easy, and the whole experience just feels smooth and supportive. If you're looking for real, thoughtful mental health care, I highly recommend them. read more

I was looking for good professional help. What I received was a nurse practitioner who basically re-asked the same questions I had already answered in a questionnaire before my appointment. Then I was told to get further time consuming and expensive evaluations before I could be treated. Do not waste your time, go to a reputable psychiatrist instead. read more

Bonmente seems to have forgotten that they are dealing with human beings. They showed no understanding of my struggles, no empathy for what I was going through. Instead, they rushed through my appointment, focusing heavily on if all of my forms were in order so that they could write me a prescription and get me on my way out. They don't care about patient care or mental health outcomes. The appointment was rushed, and there was no personalized treatment plan--just a one-size-fits-all approach that left me feeling even more lost and alone. This is the worst type of healthcare professional to work with, they showed no concern about if my needs were addressed. Also, they pay for their reviews on other platforms. Beware. If you're looking for a psychiatry practice that actually cares about you as a person, look elsewhere. read more

I'll try to keep this short. I have been to many different psychiatrist for 15 years and I was misdiagnosed and put on the wrong medication. I always had really bad anxiety & was placed on a lot of benzodiazepines. My ADHD wasn't treated at all even though I was begging for someone to help me. When I finally had enough I searched for a better psychiatrist and stumbled upon Bonmente. Even though I live in Hollywood and this place is in Long Beach they do TeleHealth video visits. I see Dr. Lisa Chan at this office and she is by far THE BEST psychiatrist I've ever had. She listened to me and for the first time I felt heard by a professional. She placed me on the correct medication and my anxiety went completely away, even without taking benzos. Another thing I want to mention is the fact that I never miss an appointment because even if I do forget the office calls me at the time of my appointment and I hop on the video call right away, so I never had to pay a late or missed appointment fee. The billing department is easy to work with and the office is on top of everything. I really like this place and I am so glad I found it. I highly recommend Dr. Chan and Bonmente! read more

I am a clinical psychologist who received services from this location for approximately a year. What is abundantly clear is that this practice is looking to operate as a robotic refill service for patients with little to no active clinical concerns. Like a vending machine. They are cold, lack in depth or breath of expertise, and discharge patients upon the slightest increase in need for support. It is the laziest work I have ever witnessed as a provider and a patient. During a period of worsening symptoms, I requested FMLA forms to be completed from my provider (Dr. Marin), she stated the clinic does not complete such forms. She was my only MH provider, established, and it would have been completely within her scope to do so. Little to no skin off her back. During this 4 minute appt, she did not ask me about safety, symptoms, or offer basic empathy. She stated I must need a higher level of care if I am asking for FMLA (not the case as I would not get anything different from a med manager at this supposed higher level of care) and only served to add significant distress during an already distressful time. She discharged me immediately with one refill, putting me on a clock while I'm already under functioning adding additional pressure to find a new provider. Unethical and pathetic. I see other reviews have echoed the same sentiment that this clinic is not seeking to treat or support, simply to dispense commonly used medications for easy to support patients, happy to discharge them if they dare to fluctuate to moderate to severe symptoms. As a clinical psychologist who has so much empathy for the patients I have worked with, I am disgusted with how difficult it is to find medication management providers (psychiatrists, NP, PA, etc) who are competent and caring. I guess it makes sense that psychiatric boards lobby against psychologists being able to prescribe as they do not want to give up the worlds laziest job. read more