UCLA Integrated Substance Use and Addiction Programs

Mamta Bhakta, MA, LPCC received her Master's in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine from Boston University School of Medicine and brings over 15 years of experience in behavioral health and substance use disorder services, spanning clinical practice, technical assistance, training, workforce development, and program leadership. Her experience includes providing substance use disorder treatment across multiple levels of care, with specialized expertise in opioid use disorder and the integration of medications with evidence-based counseling practices. Throughout her career, she has worked with community organizations, providers, counties, and state-level partners to strengthen prevention, treatment, and recovery services and expand the capacity of the behavioral health workforce.

In her current role as Project Director, Ms. Bhakta oversees local county, state, and federally funded contracts focused on training, technical assistance, and substance use disorder workforce development. Her work focuses on translating clinical and evidence-based practices into broader training and capacity-building initiatives that strengthen behavioral health systems and the professionals who serve them. Since 2025, Ms. Bhakta has also served as Conference Chair for the Brighter Together Conference, contributing to the development of professional education and opportunities for collaboration across the behavioral health field.