We had the good fortune of connecting with Angela Belleville and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angela, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I spent many years in the nonprofit sector consulting with teams, rolling out programs, and training clinicians. It was incredibly meaningful, and I saw firsthand how trauma affects people and the need for trauma-informed, evidence-based care. Over time, I wanted the freedom to fully align my work with my values and create a trauma-focused therapy space and training.
PTSD treatment goes beyond general trauma-informed care. Each therapy I use (Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT) including exposure therapies) requires specialized training- similar to massage therapy, chiropractic care, and physical therapy in how they all work with the body but rely on very different skills. Mastery in one doesn’t automatically translate to mastery in another, though each can be thoughtfully adapted to the needs of each person. Traditional talk therapy alone hasn’t been shown to reliably relieve PTSD symptoms, which is why training and fidelity are so important. There are many talented therapists doing meaningful work. For me, what stands out in my path is the combination of extensive cross-training across gold-standard treatments and my role as a trainer, which allows me to both adapt flexibly with clients, support other clinicians, and weave these approaches into trainings.
I’ve also heard countless clients say, “I’ve done CBT and it didn’t work,” or “I’ve been in therapy for years and nothing has changed.” It’s heartbreaking to see the suffering and lost time. What about those clients who decided to stop looking? That motivated me to expand access to trauma-focused treatment, provide community education, and train clinicians so more people can get the care they truly need, or at least know when and where to refer.
Being on my own has been the best decision of my career. It allows me to provide personalized, effective care grounded in science while also training and consulting with clinicians and agencies in areas that are so important and dear to my heart. In some ways, Bella Health is in its infancy, yet I’m proud (and sometimes surprised) by how much it has grown and established itself in under three years. My hope is that Bella Health continues be a trusted and impactful therapy space for people effected but trauma, and to be a resource that helps systems understand and deliver the best possible care or connect more people with the right kind of help.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Bella Health is dedicated to trauma and PTSD therapy, as well as training, consulting, and supervision services. I am currently licensed in California (LPCC), Massachusetts (LMHC), and Maine (LCPC), with plans to add New York in 2026.
What sets Bella Health apart is the blend of deeply personalized, evidence-based therapy for clients with PTSD and trauma-related conditions, alongside high-quality training and support for clinicians. I’m seasoned in the “gold standard” treatments in my field and have over a decade of experience developing and presenting trainings, both intimate and large-scale, for a variety of audiences. So, we have a really pragmatic menu of options for care and professional growth.
My dual mission is to deliver compassionate, expert-driven trauma-focused care to clients, while also helping clinicians and systems refine their skills and expand access to quality treatment. Equally important is my commitment to authenticity. I take my work and role seriously, but not myself too seriously. Therapy isn’t the only path to healing. I can completely appreciate that many moments, things, and people in life can be therapeutic. My favorite therapies are writing and playing music and spending time with my 15-year-old chihuahua mutt, Stanley (an unlicensed yet highly effective lil guy). Long and long is humor, play, and creativity are also crucial parts of healing and wellness, and I encourage them in both my personal and professional spaces.

Was it easy? Yes and no. I’ve long known this was the direction I wanted to go, but graduate school teaches you very little about starting your own practice. It could have been much more overwhelming then it was though. I would have not been successful right away without the guidance of my incredible partner, friends and colleagues who generously shared their hard-won lessons so I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel. So I’m extremely grateful for them. Community has been essential in every part of my business and artistic endeavors. I think the hardest part was sitting with the unknown and trying to manage realistic expectations for myself that first year… and second… and third.

Lessons I have learned?
Firstly, it’s wise to have a recent headshot or professional picture on deck (which I did not) in case Shout Out LA reaches out for an interview (haha)! Just kidding. In all seriousness, I wanted to be an expert in much right away, and I also knew that just isn’t how it goes. I deliberately got trained one modality at a time- practicing it, seeking guidance, gaining mastery- before moving to the next. And you know what?- during those early stages, there was something refreshing about telling a client, “I’m in the training process, and some of this we’ll be learning together.” It turned out to be powerful and connecting connected me better to my client and the experience as I learned (and continue to learn). We are all human and always learning.

I’ve also learned so much from my clients. I know that sounds cliche but it’s very true. I bring a “guided discovery” approach into all my therapies, supervision and trainings. I don’t need to have all the answers- often the client does. I need to be competent and present of course but my role is to listen, stay curious, and be a guide or coach. I’ve also learned that no one likes unsolicited advice (I certainly don’t!) and that often we already know what we need; sometimes we just need a little help uncovering it.

Other lessons: transparency matters. Patience (gentle patience) with yourself in therapy, training, and business is essential. Clear boundaries are vital. And getting support outside of yourself benefits everyone.
Work-life balance is crucial in this line of work, though not always possible in the exact way you want or need it. And that is okay too. I’m fortunate to have some phenomenal people in my life, a lifelong love of music and writing, and other creative outlets that keep me grounded. I love movement and exercise, and I also love silence and rest. I can’t do it all, all the time… and that’s okay. I pride myself in practicing what I preach and actively use the skills and strategies I bring into my work. I believe in my product. Listening to yourself and what you need at a given moment, and giving yourself (and others) grace, is a big part of doing this work well.

I also think you have to be okay with some uncertainty and to expect bumps in the road. Even though I have my preferred methods, healing looks different for everyone. It’s been a beautiful lesson and privilege to learn over and over again that healing from PTSD is possible. And it’s never just one thing, it’s an ongoing process. It’s like a garden that needs planting, weeding, and nurturing. And lastly and maybe one of the most important things I have learned is staying curious. Without it, work and life feel heavier; we lose our spark, our flexibility, and the humility to stay open, to keep learning, and to truly notice what might help our clients and ourselves grow.

My Brand and Story
I’m still building the brand, and brand/marketing are definitely not my area of expertise (haha). And while I have the outline, the story is still being written but my hope is part of it is in creating a ripple effect of awareness, grounded care, resilience, and healing beyond each client.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am fairly new to L.A. so there’s still have a lot to explore myself. I get recommendations all the time and am excited to go on more adventures and exploration of the city. Some of my favorite neighborhood spots in Highland Park are probably Hermosillo or Footsies, Collage is bar none the best coffee, and I’ve definitely frequented the Mariscos El Faro truck on York Blvd- can not beat their ceviche. I really want to go on an architectural tour but I don’t know if any of my friends would be super interested in that. So, that might be my own solo date night.
My friends and I love thrifting, so we explore everywhere in my neighborhood, Silverlake, and beyond, LA is truly a thrifting mecca. When I venture beyond the east side of LA, I’d say biking down Hermosa, Manhattan Beach area is one of my favorite pastimes.
I also really love dancing! I’m a big fan of Hot Flash and on the lookout for more 80s, 90s, and 00s dance nights so if you know any…
From living through may a winter on the east coast, I honestly love just walking around Highland Park and enjoying all the flowers and sunshine.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Scribble! They have an absolutely great non profit community therapy and art space in Highland Park. Johnny, the owner, a former East Coaster like myself, was one of the first people I reached out to in town- he was so down to earth and humble. I feel fortunate to have partnered with them on some group therapy and trainings. Scribble has a really great model that feels unique and invigorating to the therapeutic community.

Website: www.getbellahealth.com

Instagram: @Getbellahealth

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-belleville-lmhc-lpcc-lcpc-220181176/

Image Credits
Chris O’Keeffe — Head Shots @Beach Bob Packert — B&W and leopard coat

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