Mentally STRONG Academy: Embrace the Journey

Cristi Bundukamara
  • 4.6 (5)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

About Dr. B Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, Ed.D., PMHNP has been a psychiatric nurse practitioner since 2000, gaining extensive experience over the last several decades. Her medical career began as an Army Medic before attending nursing school and receiving a master’s degree as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Florida International University (FIU). She went on to receive a doctorate in Education at Nova Southeastern University. From there, she launched the first Mentally STRONG Clinic in Colorado Springs, CO which is committed to access and serves over 7,000 patients. She also founded the Mentally STRONG Academy. Today, when she’s not at the clinic attending to her patients, Dr. B dedicates a large portion of her time to speaking about mental health issues, sharing methods for processing grief, and providing tips for developing mental strength.

  1. MAR 26

    Bipolar Diagnosis & Finding Your Authentic Self: Sean’s Story

    Register for our free training today: join.mentallystrong.com/mentallystrongtraining DBSA Colorado Springs - www.dbsacoloradosprings.org DBSA national - www.dbsaliance.org Sean Sindler is a retired Air Force veteran. He was medically retired for his bipolar 2 disorder. He has had employment, relationship, and financial struggles due to bipolar, and found significant help in dealing with these struggles in the peer support groups offered by Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Colorado Springs. Sean recently took over as President of DBSA Colorado Springs.  If you or someone you love is struggling with a mood disorder, please know that you are not alone, and there is absolutely no shame in your story. Healing starts with the courage to be seen. #PersonalGrowth #Empowerment #MentalHealthMatters #CristiBundukamara #PainandPurpose #MentalStrength #mentallystrong

    31 min

  2. MAR 25

    Bipolar Diagnosis & Finding Your Authentic Self: Sean’s Story

    Register for our free training today: join.mentallystrong.com/mentallystrongtraining DBSA Colorado Springs - www.dbsacoloradosprings.org DBSA national - www.dbsaliance.org Sean Sindler is a retired Air Force veteran. He was medically retired for his bipolar 2 disorder. He has had employment, relationship, and financial struggles due to bipolar, and found significant help in dealing with these struggles in the peer support groups offered by Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Colorado Springs. Sean recently took over as President of DBSA Colorado Springs.  If you or someone you love is struggling with a mood disorder, please know that you are not alone, and there is absolutely no shame in your story. Healing starts with the courage to be seen. #PersonalGrowth #Empowerment #MentalHealthMatters #CristiBundukamara #PainandPurpose #MentalStrength #mentallystrong

    31 min

  3. MAR 24

    Why Your Brain Stays in "Survival Mode" (And How to Stop It)

    🧠💪join.mentallystrong.com/mentallystrongtraining I’ve spent years in the mental health space, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that we often confuse "grit" with simply burying our pain. Today, I’m sitting down with Nicole Weiss to peel back the layers on what it actually means to heal from PTSD and why true mental strength requires us to stop apologizing for being human. Whether you’re a veteran, a healthcare worker, or someone just trying to navigate a heavy world, I hope this conversation reminds you that you don’t have to carry it all alone. In this episode, we dive deep into the reality of trauma-informed care, the difference between resilience and mental strength, and how to manage anxiety when life feels out of your control. Nicole shares her powerful journey from a "childhood of chaos" to leading the Light Hill Institute, offering a unique perspective on how our "dumb-smart brains" try to help us survive, even when those old patterns no longer serve us. If you’ve been struggling with grief, loss, or the weight of PTSD, listen in. We’re talking about the "basic first aid" of social support and how to find clarity in the midst of the storm. #PersonalGrowth #Empowerment #MentalHealthMatters #CristiBundukamara #PainandPurpose #MentalStrength #mentallystrong

    22 min

  4. MAR 23

    Mental Strength Isn't Grit | It's This Instead

    Register for our next free training join.mentallystrong.com/mentallystrongtraining Do you feel like you’re going through a midlife crisis and don’t even know how to be "mentally strong" anymore? In this episode, I sit down with my friend and serial entrepreneur, Porsha. After owning six successful franchises and spending her life "executing the plan," Porsha hit a dead stop. She sold her businesses to become a stay-at-home mom and homeschool teacher, only to find herself facing a challenge no business playbook could prepare her for: the emotional journey of fertility, miscarriages, and redefining her identity outside of a career. We dive deep into: The "Mask" of Leadership: Why high-achieving women often trade their feminine energy for a "masculine" business mask. The Death Walk: A powerful exercise to help you find your true life priorities. Identity After Retirement: What happens to your self-esteem when you're no longer "the boss"? True Mental Strength: Moving past simple "grit" and "avoidance" to gain actual insight into your choices. If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing at a goal you can’t control, or if you're struggling to find your value in a new season of life, this conversation is for you. 💡 Learn the Mentally Strong Method Stop the loop of negative narratives. Join our free training to learn the Thinking, Organizing, and Choosing flywheel. join.mentallystrong.com/mentallystrongtraining #MidlifeCrisis #MentalStrength #Entrepreneurship #Identity #MentallyStrong #Motherhood #PersonalGrowth #PersonalGrowth #Empowerment #MentalHealthMatters #CristiBundukamara #PainandPurpose #MentalStrength #mentallystrong

    30 min

  5. MAR 22

    Rebuilding Who You Are When Your Marriage Ends

    Register for our free online training: join.mentallystrong.com/mentallystrongtraining When a long-term relationship ends, you don’t just lose the marriage — you lose the version of yourself that existed inside it. In this powerful conversation, Dr. B sits down with Evevetta, a team member at Mentally STRONG, who opens up about her personal journey through divorce, identity loss, and rediscovery. Together, they explore: 🔹 The emotional reality of starting over 🔹 How to find yourself again after years of being “us” 🔹 The role of the Mentally STRONG Method in healing and reclaiming your personal vision This isn’t about moving on quickly or pretending you're fine — it’s about learning to Think. Organize. Choose. who you want to become next. ➤ Learn more about the Mentally STRONG Method: https://mentallystrong.com 💬 Comment below: What have you learned about yourself after a major life change? 🔔 Subscribe for more real stories and tools for healing, growth, and mental strength. 📌 You are not who you were  but you are still whole. You’re becoming. #DivorceRecovery #RediscoverYourself #MentallyStrong #LifeAfterDivorce #PersonalGrowth #PersonalGrowth #Empowerment #MentalHealthMatters #CristiBundukamara #PainandPurpose #MentalStrength #mentallystrong

    22 min

  6. MAR 21

    How to Parent While Grieving a Miscarriage | Raising Mentally STRONG Kids

    Register for our free online training: join.mentallystrong.com/mentallystrongtraining How do you keep parenting when your heart is broken? In this powerful and vulnerable interview, Dr. B sits down with Taylor — a team member at Mentally STRONG — to talk about navigating motherhood after miscarriage, and what it truly means to be mentally strong through grief. You’ll hear a real conversation about: 🔹 Grieving while still showing up as a parent 🔹 The internal conflict of pain and responsibility 🔹 Using the Mentally STRONG Method to organize painful thoughts and make intentional choices This video is for any parent who has experienced loss — whether recent or long ago — and is trying to hold space for their grief and their children. 💡 Mental strength doesn’t mean pretending everything is okay. It means learning how to think, organize, and choose — even in the hardest moments. 🔔 Subscribe for more stories and tools for healing, parenting, and emotional resilience. 💬 Comment below: If you've experienced loss, what helped you keep going? #Miscarriage #ParentingThroughGrief #MentallyStrongParenting #ChildLoss #MotherhoodAfterLoss #MentalStrength #PersonalGrowth #Empowerment #MentalHealthMatters #CristiBundukamara #PainandPurpose #MentalStrength #mentallystrong

    10 min

  7. MAR 20

    Postpartum Anxiety Isn't Just Stress | Here's What New Moms Need to Know

    🧠💪Register for our next free training join.mentallystrong.com/mentallystrongtraining Lori Leander has spent decades teaching manners, personal presentation, and leadership development. She led a student leadership program for 14 years and has taught relational wisdom and conflict resolution across diverse communities. As a certified TalentSmart Emotional Intelligence trainer and a commissioned Colson Fellow, Lori believes that civility and emotional intelligence can bridge divides — especially within ourselves. 🔗 Learn more about Lori’s work: https://reclaimingcivility.com/ When Postpartum Is More Than “The Baby Blues” Postpartum isn’t just a checklist of clinical symptoms. For many women, it feels like an earthquake — shifting the fault lines of identity, safety, and self-trust, while bringing buried fears and past trauma to the surface. In this raw and honest conversation, Dr. B sits down with her friend Lori Leander to talk openly about: Postpartum anxiety and hormonal crisis The fear of postpartum psychosis What it feels like to think you’re “losing your mind” The turning point from surviving to standing in your own power Lori shares the life-changing moment she realized that fear itself was the real enemy — and how reclaiming inner stability helped her move forward. Who This Conversation Is For New moms who feel “off” but can’t explain why Loved ones trying to understand postpartum anxiety Anyone navigating anxiety, overwhelm, or identity shifts Those seeking mental strength through awareness, choice, and emotional intelligence This episode is a powerful reminder: You are not alone. You are not broken. And you are not “crazy.” There is a way to get unstuck. 💬 Did this conversation resonate with you? Leave a comment below — we want to hear your story. 📍 If you’re in Colorado Springs, come visit our clinic. 🌐 Or join our online programs to begin your journey of thinking, organizing, and choosing with intention. 🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations on mental health, grief, anxiety, and becoming Mentally STRONG. Remember: You have a choice over what you think. It isn’t always easy — but it is possible. Stay Connected 👉 Subscribe for more Mentally STRONG content: ❤️ https://www.youtube.com/c/drbmentallystrong 👉 Join our mailing list: ❤️ https://mentallystrong.activehosted.com/f/8 🌐 Website: https://www.mentallystrong.com 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cristi.Bundukamara3 📸 Instagram: @cristibundukamara

    27 min

  8. MAR 19

    Why Your Relationship is Failing (And How to Fix It)

    🧠💪Start Healing with This Powerful Self-Reflection Tool: https://mentallystrong.ac-page.com/thinkorganizechoose Is your relationship in distress? I know how heavy that weight feels. Whether you’re fighting daily or have already reached the point of filing for divorce, the pain can feel all consuming. In this video, I want to share a perspective that changed my life. Often, when we are hurting, we point the finger at our partner. But as a mental strength expert and someone who has walked through the fire of losing my husband and three of my children I’ve learned that our relationships are actually a mirror. They reflect what is happening inside of us. I’m not a relationship counselor, but I am an expert in mental strength. I want to help you pull yourself out of the "blame game" and start looking at the triggers, the old traumas, and the grief that might be fueling your current crisis. In this video, I’ll walk you through:  ❤️The Mirror Concept: Why the pain you're feeling might actually be coming from within.  ❤️My Story: How I navigated a 26 year marriage through the hardest trials imaginable.  ❤️The Mentally Strong Method: My 3 step process to Think, Organize, and Choose your way back to peace.  ❤️Making the Right Choice: Why you don't always have to make the "big" decision today. You don't have to stay stuck in defensiveness and anger. Mental strength is teachable, and it can transform not only your life but the way you show up for the people you love. ✨ Take a Step Forward: If you’re ready to stop the cycle and start building your mental strength, I’d love to help you. I believe in you. You are stronger than you know. #Relationships #MarriageHelp #MentalStrength #DrB #PersonalGrowth #GriefAndLoss #MentallyStrongMethod #PersonalGrowth #Empowerment #MentalHealthMatters #CristiBundukamara #PainandPurpose #MentalStrength #mentallystrong

    10 min
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4.6
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

About Dr. B Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, Ed.D., PMHNP has been a psychiatric nurse practitioner since 2000, gaining extensive experience over the last several decades. Her medical career began as an Army Medic before attending nursing school and receiving a master’s degree as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Florida International University (FIU). She went on to receive a doctorate in Education at Nova Southeastern University. From there, she launched the first Mentally STRONG Clinic in Colorado Springs, CO which is committed to access and serves over 7,000 patients. She also founded the Mentally STRONG Academy. Today, when she’s not at the clinic attending to her patients, Dr. B dedicates a large portion of her time to speaking about mental health issues, sharing methods for processing grief, and providing tips for developing mental strength.

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