Mentally STRONG with Dr. B

Cristi Bundukamara
  • 4.6 (5)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Semiweekly

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. 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 strength, sharing her proprietary Mentally STRONG Method, and providing tips for developing mental strength.

  1. 14h ago

    Why "Time Heals All Wounds" Is a Lie (And What Actually Works)

    We’ve all been told the lie that time heals all wounds, but if you are carrying a deep emotional wound, you know that simply letting days pass doesn’t stop the pain. After losing her three children and her husband, Dr. B learned firsthand that profound trauma doesn't heal itself—and ignoring it or letting negative self-talk take over only deepens the injury. In this episode, Dr. B explores how to truly process grief, why the traditional "Five Stages of Grief" model may actually be holding you back, and how to separate clean grief from the trauma, guilt, and anxiety that often become enmeshed with it. In This Episode: Debunking the Time Myth: Why passive waiting doesn't resolve deep emotional woundsRethinking the Five Stages: Moving beyond rigid grief models to personalized healingSeparating Grief from Trauma: Disentangling natural sorrow from guilt, anxiety, and overthinkingOrganizing Your Thoughts: Practical strategies to build self-agency and honor your storyResources & Links Mentioned: Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG TrainingJoin the Mission: Sign up for our mailing listOfficial Website: Mentally STRONGAbout Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help individuals process trauma, manage grief, and build lasting mental resilience. Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG: Facebook: Dr. Cristi BundukamaraInstagram: @cristibundukamaraYouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG

  2. 2d ago

    Overcoming Severe Loss, Healing Trauma & Reclaiming Self-Love: Dr. Ava Cadell’s Story

    When life hits you with profound loss, deep trauma, or the lingering impact of childhood shame, it’s easy to lose your identity in the chaos. While we are often taught how to perform in our daily roles, we rarely learn how to cultivate mental strength or protect our capacity for love when everything shatters. In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Dr. B sits down with author and love expert Dr. Ava Cadell to look squarely at the experiences women are often told to hide: intense grief, relationship trauma, and church trauma. Dr. Ava opens up about surviving the devastating loss of her late husband and navigating the complex grief that followed. Together, they explore why so many individuals suppress their pain, how early conditioning creates fear around emotional expression, and the practical steps to organize your thoughts and choose happiness after deep loss. In This Episode: Navigating Devastating Loss: Rebuilding identity and mental strength after sudden personal tragedyUnpacking Relationship & Church Trauma: Breaking free from societal conditioning and shameOvercoming Pain Suppression: Why hiding emotional wounds hinders true healingReclaiming Unconditional Self-Love: Practical, daily choices to rebuild capacity for joy and loveResources & Links Mentioned: Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG TrainingDr. Ava Cadell's Work: Love UniversityJoin the Mission: Sign up for our mailing listOfficial Website: Mentally STRONGAbout Dr. Ava Cadell: Dr. Ava Cadell is an author, speaker, and founder of Love University. She holds doctorates in human behavior and human sexuality, focusing her work on helping individuals navigate intimacy, heal from relationship trauma, and build unconditional self-love. About Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help individuals process trauma, manage stress, and build lasting mental resilience. Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG: Facebook: Dr. Cristi BundukamaraInstagram: @cristibundukamaraYouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG

  3. 4d ago

    Navigating Divorce, Rebuilding Identity & Processing Betrayal: Dr. B's Recovery Framework

    Whether a divorce hits like a sudden shock or follows a slow breakdown, the pain of navigating a split is real and deep. In this episode, Dr. B strips away generic relationship advice to address what it truly means to cultivate mental strength when a marriage ends. Divorce represents a unique blend of grief, trauma, and often deep betrayal a complex form of loss tied directly to life-altering choices. Drawing from her personal journey of navigating profound loss, Dr. B breaks down the framework she uses to help individuals rebuild their identity from the inside out. This conversation offers practical tools to move past shame and blame, process emotional injury, and write a new chapter focused on personal growth and resilience. In This Episode: Processing Divorce as Trauma: Understanding the unique grief tied to marital separation and betrayalRebuilding Identity: Step-by-step tools for rediscovering who you are after a major life shiftOvercoming Guilt & Shame: Shifting from a feeling of failure to a mindset of personal empowermentSupporting Children Through Change: Managing family dynamics and emotions without losing your own balanceResources & Links Mentioned: Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG TrainingJoin the Mission: Sign up for our mailing listOfficial Website: Mentally STRONGAbout Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help individuals process trauma, navigate life transitions, and build lasting emotional strength. Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG: Facebook: Dr. Cristi BundukamaraInstagram: @cristibundukamaraYouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG

  4. 6d ago

    High-Functioning Anxiety, Overcoming "Freeze" & Generational Healing: Amy Jackson’s Story

    In this conversation, Dr. B sits down with Amy Jackson, founder and CEO of Talesplash, to address the heavy, silent burden of carrying high-functioning anxiety while building a successful career and family. So many of us are experts at "white-knuckling" through high-pressure days, only to have the emotional weight catch up with us the moment we slow down. Together, Dr. B and Amy explore how generational patterns of anxiety shape our adulthood, why childhood worries often follow us into parenthood, and how attempting to suppress fear only fuels emotional burnout. This episode offers practical tools for stepping out of the "freeze" response, finding internal strength, and reframing your relationship with anxiety. In This Episode: Unpacking High-Functioning Anxiety: Moving beyond "white-knuckling" through daily stressBreaking Generational Cycles: How childhood anxiety manifests in adult roles and parentingOvercoming the "Freeze" Response: Practical steps to regulate your nervous systemReframing Sensitivity: Viewing emotional awareness as a strength rather than a weaknessResources & Links Mentioned: Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG TrainingAmy Jackson's Agency: TalesplashJoin the Mission: Sign up for our mailing listOfficial Website: Mentally STRONGAbout Amy Jackson: Amy Jackson is the founder and CEO of Talesplash, a boutique PR and communications agency. She works with entrepreneurs and mission-driven organizations while advocating for mental health awareness, honest communication, and emotional resilience in high-pressure leadership roles. About Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help individuals process trauma, manage stress, and build lasting mental resilience. Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG: Facebook: Dr. Cristi BundukamaraInstagram: @cristibundukamaraYouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG

  5. Aug 23

    Overcoming Burnout, Trauma Recovery & Vision Crafting: Allison Maslan’s Story

    When everything in your life or business feels like it’s falling apart, how do you find the mental strength to keep going? In this deeply raw conversation, Dr. B sits down with serial entrepreneur and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Allison Maslan to discuss the messy intersections of trauma, burnout, and authentic alignment. Allison shares how a terrifying near-death car accident at age 30 forced her to rebuild her life from survival mode to true freedom. Together, they explore how modern science intersects with holistic wellness, why physical symptoms often mirror unexpressed emotional grief, and how to practicalize "vision crafting" to shift your internal focus from fear to expectation. In This Episode: Rebuilding after near-death trauma and moving out of survival modeThe link between unexpressed emotional grief and physical symptomsIntegrating emotional truth with strategic business visionPractical "vision crafting" to shift your mindset from fear to expectationResources & Links Mentioned: Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG TrainingAllison Maslan's Network: Pinnacle Global NetworkAllison's Book: Scale or Fail by Allison MaslanJoin the Mission: Sign up for our mailing listOfficial Website: Mentally STRONGAbout Allison Maslan: Allison Maslan is a serial entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and founder of Pinnacle Global Network, where she mentors business leaders and executives. Having built and scaled ten successful companies, she empowers individuals to navigate high-pressure growth while staying grounded in personal wellness. About Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help individuals process trauma, manage stress, and build lasting resilience. Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG: Facebook: Dr. Cristi BundukamaraInstagram: @cristibundukamaraYouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG

  6. Aug 21

    Overcoming Survival Mode, Capacity for Grief & Community Support: Amanda’s Story

    Do you ever feel like you’re just trying to keep your head above water, constantly living in "survival mode" and waiting for the other shoe to drop? In this episode, Dr. B sits down with Amanda (MA in Professional Counseling) to explore how we can move past simply surviving and begin building a life we truly love. Amanda shares her deeply personal journey—from navigating the heartbreak of losing her mother to early-onset dementia, to realizing that having "big feelings" isn't a weakness, but rather a vital strength for showing up for others. Together, they discuss why "fixing" ourselves is a trap, how to build the capacity to hold deep sorrow, and why true healing happens in community rather than self-sufficiency. In This Episode: Unpacking the "Good Girl" Narrative: How people-pleasing can lead to losing your authentic selfSurviving vs. Thriving: Moving out of survival mode and into meaningful livingBuilding Emotional Capacity: Holding big stories and deep grief without being crushedThe Power of Community: Why we aren't meant to be entirely self-sufficientResources & Links Mentioned: Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG TrainingAmanda's Organization: Hope House Canon CityJoin the Mission: Sign up for our mailing listOfficial Website: Mentally STRONGAbout Amanda: Amanda holds a Master’s in Professional Counseling from Colorado Christian University and has dedicated 15 years to supporting young mothers. At Hope House Canon City, she works to eliminate barriers for teen moms and their children by providing resources, healthy family structures, and a supportive living community. About Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help others manage stress, process trauma, and cultivate mental strength. Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG: Facebook: Dr. Cristi BundukamaraInstagram: @cristibundukamaraYouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG

  7. Aug 19

    Raising Resilient Kids & Managing Parental Anxiety: Dr. B's Guide to Authentic Parenting

    Raising kids who are authentic, resilient, and comfortable in their own skin feels like a massive, complicated task especially when you’re navigating your own hardships. Having raised seven children (five adopted and two biological) through periods of deep grief, loss, and overwhelm, Dr. B shares why we cannot raise mentally strong children without first doing the internal work ourselves. In this episode, Dr. B addresses key listener questions about parenting and mental health, moving beyond surface-level behavior modification to give children a reliable framework for processing their thoughts and emotions. Whether you are navigating childhood meltdowns or concerned about passing down your own anxiety, this conversation offers practical tools to help you find your footing. In This Episode: Moving past simple behavior modification to teach true emotional regulationManaging parental anxiety and avoiding passing stress down to your childrenCreating clear "guardrails" instead of rigid restrictions for child growthWhy effective parenting is about continuous growth rather than perfectionResources & Links Mentioned: Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG TrainingJoin the Mission: Sign up for our mailing listOfficial Website: Mentally STRONGAbout Your Host: Dr. Cristi Bundukamara (Ed.D, PMHNP-BC) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education. Having navigated profound personal trials, Dr. B created the Mentally STRONG Method to help parents and individuals process trauma, manage stress, and build lasting resilience. Connect with Dr. B & Mentally STRONG: Facebook: Dr. Cristi BundukamaraInstagram: @cristibundukamaraYouTube: Dr. B Mentally STRONG

  8. Aug 17

    Navigating Grief, Trauma & Fighting Through the Weight of Loss: Dr. B's Reset Framework

    I’ve had many moments where I just wanted to run times when the weight of the "fight or flight" response felt like it was going to swallow me whole. After losing my three children and my husband over the course of 20 years, I had to learn how to do more than just survive; I had to learn how to be Mentally STRONG in the midst of absolute trauma. If you are feeling overwhelmed by grief, anxiety, or a life that feels like it’s falling apart, this episode is an invitation into a mental reset. Dr. B walks through her personal framework for healing after profound loss, sharing how you can begin to separate your pain from your trauma to find an authentic path forward. We aren't just "pushing through" anymore we are authentically rebuilding. In This Episode: Navigating the "fight or flight" response during times of deep crisisPractical tools for separating immediate pain from underlying traumaRebuilding your life authentically after overwhelming lossMoving past survival mode and stepping into long-term mental resilienceResources & Links Mentioned: Free Live Training: Register for the Free Mentally STRONG TrainingReset Event: Mentally STRONG Reset LiveJoin the Mission: Sign up for our mailing listOfficial Website: Mentally STRONG

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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. 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 strength, sharing her proprietary Mentally STRONG Method, and providing tips for developing mental strength.

Information

  • Creator
    Cristi Bundukamara
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    282
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Cristi Bundukamara
  • Show Website
    Mentally STRONG with Dr. B

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