That’s the message Dr. Naga Bodapati, wants the world to hear loud and clear. As the Medical Director of Sunshine Behavioral Health Services and Medical Director for DSH-IST program at Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, he’s on a mission to provide compassionate, high-quality psychiatric care to adults and children alike. 

 

“If I can save even one life, that means everything to me,” he says earnestly. “Suicide is the #2 cause of death in the United States.” Dr. Bodapati wants to change that. Allowing people a safe place where they can feel heard and supportive can change the trajectory of their lives to be happier and healthier.  

 

Dr. Bodapati is a double board-certified psychiatrist, trained in both adult and child psychiatry. He currently serves as the “Early Career Psychiatrist” representing the Kern Chapter as a Council Member of the Central California Psychiatric Society (CCPS). A staunch advocate for mental health education, Dr. Bodapati also serves as an Advisor for NAMI Kern County, a nationally recognized organization dedicated to mental health awareness and support. He was nominated by his beloved patients and students for the Beautiful Bakersfield Awards 2025, in recognition of his passion and unwavering dedication to healing, teaching, and uplifting his community. 

His passion for psychiatry was sparked during his medical school rotation in India. "Every day brought a new story from patients,” he comments. He thrived on the diverse cases that he experienced, hearing their life stories and seeing where they went off track. 

 

“If we can provide intervention at the right time and in the right place, we can potentially save lives,” he emphasizes. “We can prevent individuals from turning to drugs or alcohol, experiencing psychotic episodes, or even dying by suicide.” 

 

Determined to become a psychiatrist, his fascination with psychiatry brought him to the United States, where he completed a competitive psychiatry rotation at Johns Hopkins University. After he completed his residency in General Psychiatry at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, he did his fellowship in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry from the University of Texas Medical Branch.  

 

After years in Texas, Dr. Bodapati felt the pull to explore more, both personally and professionally. 

 

“I heard great things about the Golden State of California,” he comments. He decided to check it for himself. He obtained his California medical license and relocated to Bakersfield, where he quickly saw the immense need for psychiatric care.   

 

"I was stunned that children and adolescents were waiting six months or more to see a psychiatrist," he shares. His wife, Dr. Sindhuja Pavuluru, recognizing the immense need for mental health services, the long wait times, and how demanding his schedule had become, was inspired to act. With her Pharm-D & MBA background, she envisioned a business model that would bring more providers together to reduce wait times and improve access. This shared vision united a team of healthcare and business leaders—Dr. Bodapati, Dr. Pavuluru, and Dr. Uppalapati—who came together to establish a clinic focused on providing accessible, affordable, and compassionate mental health care, helping individuals and families truly thrive.  

 

Together, they launched the practice in June 2021, initially offering telemedicine services during the pandemic. As restrictions eased, they expanded to in-person care and began building a strong team of therapists, nurse practitioners, and psychiatric professionals. 

 

Dr. Pavuluru, a business-savvy leader and Chief Executive Officer of Sunshine Behavioral Health Services, had a clear vision: to deliver accessible, timely care to underserved communities. “She has a true passion for helping others,” says Dr. Bodapati proudly. “And I admire how she manages the business side so I can focus fully on providing clinical care.” 

 

Sunshine Behavioral Health Services now serves clients in California through both telemedicine and in-person appointments. The clinic treats a full spectrum of mental health conditions—from ADHD and anxiety to bipolar disorder, trauma, substance abuse, and autism. Dr. Bodapati sees patients ranging in age from 4 to 100, tailoring care to each individual's needs. 

 

It’s more than just medication management. "We listen. We build a relationship. We understand their life story. We create a treatment plan that supports their mental health journey,” says Dr. Bodapati. 

 

Available services include psychiatric evaluations, medication management, psychiatry clearance for surgery, individual and group therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), grief and trauma counseling, prenatal and postpartum therapy, and supportive psychotherapy.