Jamelah Chatmon-Lester, Psy.D
Jamelah Chatmon-Lester is a dedicated therapist that actively engages in offering both individual and group therapy while co-facilitating Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs).
Driven by a fervent commitment to fostering healing and empowering individuals to live purposefully, Jamelah integrates a diverse range of therapeutic perspectives into her practice. Her approach draws from existential, family systems, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and psychodynamic frameworks.
Having graduated from Buffalo State College with a BA in Psychology and subsequently earning a master’s degree in psychology from Ashford University, Jamelah is currently a graduate of Calsouthern University, having recently graduated with her PsyD in Clinical Psychology. She recently completed a dissertation focused on infertility, mental health, and social relationships, slated for defense in early 2024.
Driven by a profound passion for addressing religious trauma, LGBTQ+ issues, and advocating for mental health inclusivity, Jamelah is dedicated to serving diverse communities, including communities of color. She remains deeply committed to enhancing cultural competence within mental health care and actively contributes to ensuring accessibility and support for all communities.
Her expertise lies in working with children dealing with behavioral disorders, ADHD, family and couples therapy, as well as internalizing and externalizing disorders.
In her clinical practice, Jamelah embraces a trauma-informed care approach, emphasizing a compassionate and collaborative counseling style. Her aim is to foster hope, resilience, unconditional positive regard, and healing within her clients.
Favorite Quote
"I am learning every day to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me." - Tracee Ellis Ross
Contact
Position:
Pre-Doctoral Psychology Intern
Address:
8224 Mentor Ave, Suite 208
Mentor Ohio 44060
Email:
jchatmon@behavioralwellnessgroup.com
Phone:
440-392-2222 EXT 861
Fax:
440-565-2349
Articles
Pressing the Pause Button: Managing Distress with Mindfulness
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, we often find ourselves swept away by the currents of stress and anxiety. It can feel like we’re caught in a whirlwind in these moments, reacting instinctively rather than responding thoughtfully. However, there is a simple yet effective tool at our disposal: the power of pressing the pause button. By consciously choosing to pause, we can shift from a reactive state driven by our primal instincts to a more mindful approach rooted…
Winter 2024 Seasonal Letter
Best Wishes to you and yours as we enter the New Year! The Behavioral Wellness Group remains committed to you and the care of your clients in this New Year! Thanks to your ongoing confidence in us, BWG has increased our number of therapists and services in other states (see website above for details) to meet the demands of our clientele. Our programs are CARF Re-Accredited for the maximum allowable duration which is a testament to our commitment to meeting…
Becoming More of a Positive Person In Today’s World
We often hear about how we need to engage in physical exercise in order to be healthy. There are many options for physical exercise. We can do aerobic exercise to increase breathing and heart rate; there are anaerobic options which strengthen muscles; flexibility exercises stretch muscles and help keep us limber; balance exercises are very important to prevent falls, especially as we age. All of these activities strengthen and reprogram specific parts of the brain. However, how often do we…
Stress and Anxiety Management the DBT Way
Anxiety and stress appear to be the next pandemic. I see so many people who are anxious, overwhelmed, edgy, panicky, full of worry, and always tense. If any of these words describe you and leave you with a constant feeling of uneasiness to all-out panic, you could be suffering from poor stress management. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, or DBT was developed by Marsha Linehan in the 1970s. She had her own experiences with mental illness that perhaps gave her a unique…
Coping with Grief during the Holiday Season
“What am I going to do if something reminds me of Grandpa?” “Who is going to help me decorate the Christmas tree this year?” “I don’t have the energy or the desire to do the things I usually do during the holidays.” If you are someone who has lost a loved one, these may be some of the thoughts that are running through your mind. Although the holidays are usually associated with happiness, joy, smiles and laughter for most individuals,…
When Seasonal Changes Affect Your Moods
Seasonal Affective Disorder How does one distinguish between winter blues and more serious conditions? Many feel sluggish or down during Fall and Winter months. The winter blues are pretty common. If this sadness is profound, it may be a sign of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a form of depression which results from decreased light during the darker Fall and Winter months. With decreased sunlight, our internal biological clocks are thrown off, and it feels as though everything is…