Skip to main content
Alert

Spring 2024 registration is now open! View the schedule of classes

Learn More
Dismiss

The Mindful Space

 

Welcome to The Mindful Space!

The Mindful Space Logo

WELCOME to the new mental health center at Barstow Community College called The Mindful Space. This is a place where students can now receive mental health services from a mental health counselor, Dr. Christa Banton, who is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  Services are tailored to meet the needs of each individual and are provided free to students.   

Services that are provided through The Mindful Space include:

  • Individual psychotherapy
  • Coaching
  • Group therapy
  • Mental Health Assessment
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Consultations
  • Referrals to additional services in the community
  • Disciplinary Intervention

We Have Moved!

The Mindful Space is now located in the middle of the Administration Building in Room A9. Come visit us in our new location! 

""The Mindful Space Move Flyer

Fall Office Hours: 

  • Main Campus (Room A9)
    • Monday through Friday 8:00am-5:00pm 
    • *Thursday and Friday appointments are available virtually
    • Crisis walk-in hours are Monday through Wednesday, 11:00am to 12:00pm in Room A9 or via phone, and Thursday through Friday, 11:00am-12:00pm via phone. 
  • Fort Irwin Campus (Room D7)
    • Wednesday August 23rd, 9:00am-5:00pm
    • Wednesday September 13th, 9:00am-5:00pm
    • Wednesday September 27th, 9:00am-5:00pm
    • Wednesday October 4th, 9:00am-5:00pm
    • Wednesday October 25th, 9:00am-5:00pm
    • Wednesday November 8th, 9:00am-5:00pm
    • Wednesday November 22nd, 9:00am-5:00pm
    • Wednesday December 5th, 9:00am-5:00pm
Fort Irwin Fall 23 Flyer- The Mindful Space

Make an Appointment: You can make an appointment by emailing themindfulspace@barstow.edu or calling (760) 252-6873. 

Services are voluntary and referrals can be made by students, staff, or faculty through the following email themindfulspace@barstow.edu

All are welcome at The Mindful Space, a space to heal, recover, and find support and guidance for the everyday situations and difficulties we face. Remember a single step forward makes a change in your life.

We are here for you at The Mindful Space.   

 If you are in crisis during the times we are closed, please call CCRT at (760) 956-2345 or Text (760) 734-8093 between 7am-10pm, 911 for immediate services, or go to your nearest hospital.  

Meet the Team

Dr. Christa Banton Photo

Dr. Banton began her career working as a social worker for the Department of Public Health-HIV Program where she worked with individuals impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. From there, she transitioned to the University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry working with the individuals who were newly released from incarceration returning to the San Bernardino County area. She went on to work for Children and Family Services as a Social Service Practitioner and then finally as a Supervising Social Services Practitioner for thirteen years. She has worked in direct services as well as in new program design, training, program implement and monitoring, and supervision.

Dr. Banton is a licensed marriage and family therapist and was in private practice. Her mental health specialties include education, motivation, relationship and trauma focused practice. In addition, she teaches at several schools in the local area on topics that include trauma, child abuse/neglect, mandated reporting, psychology and human services.

Joanna Escalante Photo

 

Joanna Escalante joined The Mindful Space's team in 2022. She has worked at Barstow Community College since 2017, and has years of experience working with special populations and basic needs. Prior to working at BCC, Joanna worked in the K-12 system as a paraeducator, and also previously worked as an ABA specialist providing services for children with Autism. 

Joanna is a graduate of Barstow Community College and holds a bachelor's degree in Social Psychology, and master's degrees in Organizational Leadership and Sociology. Her career goal is to continue working in Student Services while also teaching community college classes. She is passionate about education, human rights, and mental health, and has been inspired by educators who made a positive impact on her life.

Upcoming Events

The Mindful Space is excited to offer "Real Talk, Real Support", a student support group open to all currently enrolled Barstow Community College student. Groups are voluntary, confidential, and free, and are designed to encourage and support you while completing your education.  

Fall 2023 Meeting Dates:

Thursday September 7th 10:00am-11:00am

Thursday October 5th 10:00am-11:00am

Thursday, November 2nd 10:00am-11:00am

Thursday, December 7th 10:00am-11:00am

Location: Viking Student Lounge in the Student Services Building

 

""Real Talk, Real Support Flyer

The Free Your Mind Space 

Barstow Community College is dedicated to the mental welfare of all students including our LGBTQ+ student population. The Mindful Space has created The Free Your Mind Space for students to express their feelings and troubles without any judgment. ALL STUDENTS ARE WELCOMED!

Fall 2023 Meeting Dates:

Tuesday September 19th 12:30pm-1:30pm

Tuesday October 24th 12:30pm-1:30pm

Tuesday, November 7th 12:30pm-1:30pm

Location: Viking Student Lounge in the Student Services Building 

 

Free Your Mind Space flyer

 

The Mindful Space is now offering Viking Wellness- a student athlete support group, which provides a safe space to discuss topics such as goal setting, stress reduction, time management, and overall wellness. Join one of our sessions this fall! 

Fall 2023 Meeting Dates:

Tuesday September 5th 10:00am-11:00am

Tuesday October 217h 10:00am-11:00am

Tuesday, November 14th 10:00am-11:00am

Location: Viking Student Lounge in the Student Services Building

 

Viking Wellness Group Flyer

 

Mindful Mondays are back! Join counselor Nanette Duarte as she guides you
through mindfulness and meditation techniques focused on relaxation and calming the nervous system. Sessions are available via Zoom and are open to all. To RSVP and for reminders, TEXT @BCCMindful to 81010. Questions? Email Nduarte@Barstow.edu.

 

""Mindful Mondays Event Flyer

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month —a time to raise awareness of this stigmatized, and often taboo, topic. We use this month to shift public perception, spread hope and share vital information to people affected by suicide. Our goal is ensuring that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help.

The Mindful Space has partnered with Riverside San Bernardino County Indian Health Family Resource Center to present Let's Talk About It: Suicide Prevention & Education, on September 12th from 12pm to 2pm. This hybrid event will be take place in the Black Box Theater and Zoom, Meeting ID  880-1614-2487, and is open to students, employees, and the Barstow community. Lunch will be provided while supplies last. We look forward to seeing you there. 

For more information, please contact us at themindfulspace@barstow.edu or (760) 252-6873.

""Suicide Prevention and Education Event Flyer

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Barstow Community College has partnered with Desert Sanctuary to host "House of Abuse,"  a virtual presentation on the signs of intimate violence, violence in the home, and resources available. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

Date: October 26th, 2023

Time: 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Zoom Link: https://barstow-edu.zoom.us/j/84274564672 

We hope to see you there. For questions, call  (760) 252-6873 or email themindfulspace@barstow.edu. 

""House of Abuse Flyer

 

The Mindful Space will be hosting a Grand Opening at our new office location in the Administration Office at Barstow Community College. All are invited to join us on November 1st in room A9. We will be serving refreshments from 9-12pm (as supplies last), and hosting a virtual workshop on "Combating Loneliness" the same day from 3-4pm. Click here to register for the workshop. We hope to see you there!

""TMS Grand Opening Flyer

2022 Healthy Campus Award

Barstow Community College Recognized as One of the Healthiest Campuses Among U.S. Colleges and Universities

Healthy Campus Award logo

Barstow Community College joins four other colleges and universities as a recipient of the 2022 Active Minds Healthy Campus Award

BARSTOW, CA, March 8, 2022 – Today, Barstow Community College was announced as a winner of the 2022 Active Minds Healthy Campus Award and recognized as one of the healthiest college campuses in the nation. The prestigious award, now in its sixth year, celebrates U.S. colleges and universities that provide access to quality healthcare and not only serve students’ physical health but give equal priority and investment to mental health.

This year’s recipients represent a range of campuses that operate within different contexts and challenges. Together they demonstrate how institutions of all sizes and types can create healthy communities that allow every student the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

Barstow Community College joins four other colleges and universities in receiving the Healthy Campus Award: Auburn University, University of South Florida-St. Petersburg campus, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Virginia Tech.

Colleges and universities are crucial partners in improving the well-being of young adults. Barstow Community College, and the other winning campuses, found ways to pivot to address student needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, proactively address systems of oppression, integrate health and wellbeing in strategic planning, and use data to ensure that students are getting the care they need.

"Our mission at Barstow Community College has been to get mental health education, training, and resources to students in our area by all means possible," said Tanesha Young, dean of counseling and student success for Barstow Community College. "We aim to be student centered so that barriers can be removed and allow for student success. We know when students succeed our community also succeeds."

Students enrolled at colleges and universities that prioritize well-being often find that the programs and services provided to them are part of the fabric of the campus community.

The well-being of all students is a priority for Barstow and it shows. The review panel for the Healthy Campus Award cited the following innovative practices in particular:

● Defining Health Broadly and Pursuing it Comprehensively:

Barstow Community College has taken a proactive stance on mental health and well-being. In September 2020, Barstow Community College opened The Mindful Space, the campus mental health counseling center, which started seeing students virtually via telephone and video sessions at no cost to the student. Now The Mindful Space provides, both in-person and virtually, individual psychotherapy, coaching, group therapy, mental health assessment, crisis intervention, consultations, referrals to additional services in the community, and disciplinary intervention to students with grant funding.

● Securing and Making the Most of Available Resources: Being a rural campus, Barstow Community College has thoughtfully partnered with local community-based and governmental agencies to provide a well-integrated system for change. Barstow has used this approach to find the right care for the right person at the right time in the right area. They have established memorandums of understanding with the two largest community-based organizations in the Barstow area to refer students to appropriate providers through a warm handoff system. On campus, Barstow added the CareSolace system which enables students, faculty, and staff to find mental health services for their specific needs.

● Cultivating a Deep Commitment to Equal Opportunities for Health: With Barstow Community College’s diverse student population, they are committed to addressing gaps in opportunities to obtain services and information that tends to negatively affect certain populations. They have created a Student Success and Equity Committee which is a shared governance entity responsible for developing the Student Equity Plan to boost academic achievement for student subpopulations determined to be of higher risk for discontinuation and requires each college to develop detailed goals and measures addressing disparities. To meet their goals, many of the programs provided by Barstow focus on supporting students’ basic needs, including housing, food, and English as a second language services, in addition to providing emotional support.

“Barstow Community College stands out because it demonstrates a driven stance on mental health and well-being by providing free services to students through in-house providers and community partnerships,” said Alison Malmon, founder and executive director of Active Minds. “Barstow is a model for prioritizing mental health for its students by engaging the local community.”