Wellness Center

Our Wellness Center offers students a mental health one-stop-shop where they have access to counseling, clinical therapy, community resource referrals and more. Our professionals provide a wide variety of services and programs to address overcoming life’s obstacles. All students are encouraged to utilize the Wellness Center.

How to Make an Appointment

  • Wellness Center location: Room 31
  • Stop by to schedule an appointment during lunch or after school
  • Speak to your Academic Counselor or Teacher to request services
Reminders I am amazing I can do anything I choose to be positive I know my worth I will succeed
wellness center conference table
Conference Table
patience is your power
Positive Messaging
wellness center games
Fun Games
zen sand garden
Initiating Calmness
wellness center seating area
Seating Area
Rocking chairs in wellness center
Rocking Chairs
Zen artist board and stress balls
Stress Relief
Reminders I am amazing I can do anything I choose to be positive I know my worth I will succeed
Positive Affirmations
Color me Mindful mindfulness coloring book
Mindfulness Techniques

Wellness Stations

The following are self serve stations. Students can walk in and experience immediate benefits.

Inhale & Exhale Check-In/Out (Mandatory)

Complete your survey at the beginning and end of each visit. Give your survey to the Wellness Coordinator before you leave.

Break from Screens (Mandatory)

Connect to yourself and experience the present moment by storing your phone in a cell phone sleeping bag.

Affirmations

Speak kindly to yourself. Create an affirmation to repeat daily.

Mindfulness

Feeling anxious, out of control, or down? Try a Mindful Module including Calm.com guided meditations to tame your mind.

Aromatherapy

Breathe deeply and find a scent that helps you feel calm and relaxed. Masks are mandatory at all times.

Enso Water Paint

Thoughts racing? Paint with water and be mindful of the present moment. Acknowledge your thoughts as they arrive and as they fade away.

Sand Tray / Kinetic Sand

Feeling out of control? Ground yourself in a sand tray with slow, smooth movement.

Loose Parts Play

Play and pattern to reduce stress and improve problem-solving skills.

Kindness Cards

Being kind to yourself and showing kindness to others reduces anxiety, depression, and lowers blood pressure.

Gratitude Well

Practice gratitude to improve sleep, and reduce aggression and anxiety.

Thought Reframes

Negative thoughts clouding your focus? Try using the replacement handouts to develop helpful thought patterns.

Sensory Plush Toys

Stuffed animals help to ease any feelings of anxiousness.

Meet the Team

Bridget Hurtado

Clinical School Therapist

bhurtado@dusd.net
Monday-Friday 8 am – 5 pm

Bridget Hurtado was born and raised in Lynwood, CA. She is a first-generation college student. Her passion for mental health has led her on this journey as a school therapist.

She is an advocate for raising awareness for mental health and breaking down any stigmas. Bridget received her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services with a minor in Communication at CSU Dominguez Hills. She received her Masters degree in Educational Counseling w/PPS and LPCC certification from the University of La Verne.
Before joining the Doty family, Bridget worked as a Foster Youth Programs Advisor at Pasadena City College and prior to that, she worked within the Lynwood Unified School District, in collaboration with the Access and Equity department.

Bridget loves food, Hello Kitty, and the beach. Feel free to stop by and have a chat.

Lucia Cortez

Wellness Center Clerk

lcortez@dusd.net

Monday – Friday
7:30 am – 4:00 pm

Lucia graduated from Downey High School.  She attended Cerritos College and transferred to California State University Dominguez Hills.

Prior to becoming Doty’s Wellness Center Clerk, she worked as a substitute teacher for four years.

Lucia hopes that students feel safe and heard when they visit the Wellness Center.

Patty

Patty Fuentes

School Psychologist

pfuentes@dusd.net
Mondays 8 am – 4 pm

Maribel

Maribel Merlos

Clinical School Therapist Intern

mmerlos@dusd.net

Tuesdays 8 am – 2 pm

Ione

Ione Glines, JFCS

Graduate Level Clinician

iglines@ifcslongbeach.org

Tuesdays 8:30 am – 3:00 pm

Illeanna

Illeanna Holmgren, JFCS

Graduate Level Clinician

iholmgren@ifcslongbeach.org

Tuesdays 8:30 am – 3:00 pm

Eva

Eva Luna

Clinical School Therapist

elunafelix@dusd.net
Fridays 8 am – 12 pm

Erika Unruh

Erika Unruh

Pacific Clinics Mental Health Therapist

eunruh@pacificclinics.org

Thursday – Friday
8:30 am – 2:45 pm

Our Goals

Wellness Center services will help students find support for physical, mental, emotional and social concerns.

Our mission is to:

  • Provide easily accessible resources for students and their families
  • Proactively teach our students how to overcome mental health challenges
  • Listen and provide guidance
  • Reassure students that it is all right to ask for help

Safe and Welcoming

Furnished with cozy bean bag chairs and couches and decorated with pleasing artwork, the Wellness Center provides a comfortable setting for students to stop in during their breaks. Here you have space to ask questions, receive support or take a moment to decompress. 

Our Wellness Center is equipped with a conference table to hold group meetings and private offices for one-on-one meetings. 

What you say in here, stays in here unless: Someone is hurting you, you want to hurt someone, you want to hurt yourself, you give permission to share with a trusted adult

Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Health Support

What help do we offer students who need Mental Health Support?

DUSD partners with three major agencies in the Downey community: Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JCFS), Pacific Clinics, and Community Family Guidance. Beyond these three agencies, there are many other resources we refer our students to and we are not limited to this list. There are also counseling groups that students can become a part of that are focused on certain topics. If you have any questions about these groups, please ask your counselor.

How many students have access to these agencies?

When counselors are deciding which agency to refer students to, it is largely determined by insurance status, family and student needs, capacity at each agency, etc. JFCS is the only agency that has a definite and limited number of spaces because they are contracted by the district for that specific number of spaces. The other agencies are community-based organizations that take several types of funding sources which means that their capacity is determined by their agency—we will find you an agency that is right for you!

Are these services confidential for students?

Yes. What you discuss with your counselor or service providers is completely confidential. Remember that all school employees and health care professionals are mandated reporters for child abuse; meaning, if those items are discussed, action will need to be taken. Ask your counselor directly if you have more questions about confidentiality.

Do I have to have parental consent to receive services?

In order to receive outside agency mental health services, we will need parental consent—don’t hate us, it’s the law! We know that conversation sounds very scary—but we will walk you through it every step of the way. If you want to call someone directly, you can call the Care Solace Hotline: (888) 515-0595. Care Solace acts as your advocate to find you the help you need.

Do we have any school psychologists on campus at Doty?

We have an amazing full-time school psychologist: Mrs. Thompson. Our school psychologist works a lot with our Special Education population, and they are here if you need them!

Additional Mental Health Resources

  • Care Solace (888) 515-0595
  • Trevor Lifeline LGBTQ (866) 488-7386
  • National Suicide Prevention Hotline (800) 273-TALK (8255) or text “START” to 741741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org
  • California Youth Crisis Line Open 24/7 (800) 843-5200
  • Suicide Prevention Center (800) 727-4747
  • Department of Mental Health (800) 854-7771
  • Teen Line for teen to teen help: teenlineonline.org or text “TEEN” to 839863
  • Care Solace 24/7 Support, (888) 515-0595
  • Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Psychiatric Mobile Response Team (PMRT) ACCESS Line (800) 854-7771

Wellness Resources

For Students

For Parents

Calm Castle

doty knight helmet icon

Success in academics cannot fully occur without a healthy mind. Let’s tackle wellness together. Let’s empower classmates, family members and the community to make wellness a priority…because you deserve the best.