Hope for the Holidays: Giving Back and Mental Health

HOPE IS HERE

November is the time to celebrate Veterans Day and honor our Veterans. Which is why Finding Hope Wellness Center is proud to announce that we are offering fall and winter discounts to military personnel and Veterans that are available NOW!

Veterans Helping Veterans: Dr. Janice Torres is one of our interns who is a Marine Corps Vet that is offering the Veterans Helping Veterans discount to self-pay clients clients who are active Military personnel or Veterans. Dr. Torres specializes in trauma, anxiety, depression, couples counseling, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Keep scrolling to read a special message from Dr. Torres herself!

See below for more information about the Veterans Helping Veterans discount:

First Session: $75
*Returning Sessions: $30 per session (savings of $20 per session!!)
*Discount only valid for Military Personnel & Veterans
*Discount is active and valid for all appointments scheduled with Dr. Torres from now until Dec 31, 2025

Contact us HERE to learn more about Dr. Torres, as well as to schedule an appointment or a FREE 15 minute phone consultation.

Holiday season is approaching us all quickly! So we wanted to be proactive and inform you of our updated Holiday Hours.

During the week of Thanksgiving, our amazing providers & team are still available to see you for appointments! We understand that the holiday seasons may cause more feelings of stress, sadness, and loneliness rather than cheer and joy. This is why Finding Hope is committed to staying open and be a place of HOPE for you and your families!

We are still committed to answering your calls, emails, and inquiries within 48 business hours so you don’t miss a step in your healing journey. Contact us HERE if you have inquiries or questions and our Office Manager, Ms. Chloe, will be more than happy to assist you!

Upcoming Event: Tampa’s 45th Annual Santa Fest & Tree Lighting

Join Dr. Lindsay Frey & The Finding Hope Team at Tampa’s 45th Annual Santa Fest & Tree Lighting Ceremony in downtown Tampa, FL!

We are so excited to be attending and participating in this event. We invite everyone to visit our booth for a day of fun and community connection. The booth will feature engaging games and exciting prizes for all ages, adding an extra layer of festive cheer to the holiday celebration. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with our team and learn more about the services we offer in a welcoming and joyous atmosphere!

In addition to the festive fun, our office manager, Ms. Chloe Patchin, will be at the event to also assist you in answering questions about Finding Hope Wellness Center and scheduling an appointment for therapy or psychological evaluation! There will also be valuable information about mental health and mental health resources available. Our team will be available to answer questions and connect individuals with mental health resources, highlighting our dedication to promoting wellness and HOPE throughout the holiday season and beyond. Come join us for a special day that blends holiday traditions with meaningful community support!

See below for more details:

Who: YOU! Everyone is invited to this FREE public event including you, your friends, and your loved ones!
When: Sat Dec 6th from 1pm- 830pm
- 1pm: Parade
- 1pm- 5pm: Santa Fest
- 6pm- 630pm: Tree Lighting Ceremony
- 645pm Christmas Movie
Where: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park (600 N Ashley Dr Tampa, FL)
Important Info: We strongly recommend arriving early to have plenty of time to find parking!

Click HERE to learn more about the event, and click HERE to RSVP.

Toys for Tots at Finding Hope Wellness Center

Bring joy and HOPE to a child’s holiday season! Finding Hope Wellness Center is proud to announce that we will again be accepting donations for Toys for Tots this year! Join us in making a difference this Christmas and holiday season by donating a new, unwrapped toy. Toys will be accepted for all ages from infants to teens. Every donation counts!

We have begun to accept donations and toys for children in need, and will be accepting donations until the beginning of December.

You can drop off your donations at the Finding Hope Wellness Center office located at: 4955 Van Dyke Rd Lutz, FL 33558

To learn more about Toys for Tots visit their website HERE.

November is Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week (Nov 16-22, 2025), and is held annually the week before the Thanksgiving holiday in order to raise awareness to the problems of poverty.

The experience of homelessness and food scarcity is deeply intertwined with mental health challenges as these can cause stress, anxiety, depression, and more. The constant uncertainty and stress of not knowing where the next meal will come from or where one will sleep can directly lead to or worsen mental health conditions. This bidirectional relationship highlights why events like Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week are so important. They not only raise awareness about the physical aspect of poverty but also encourage communities to address the interconnected mental health needs through integrated support systems.

This is also an important reminder to be grateful and appreciate all the things that you have; and to not focus on the things that you don’t. Everyone is highly encouraged to volunteer their time at local events and provide donations to those in need so to not only help raise awareness, but to also make lasting impacts on those who truly need it.

See below for a few local events that you can volunteer or provide donations to:

Nov 9 Hashtag Lunchbag Tampa Bay: Volunteers will assemble bagged lunches for the homeless at the Grove Soho in Tampa. This event happens not only during the month of November, but every month! Each second Sunday of the month, volunteers are welcome to Hashtag Lunchbag at the Grove Soho in Tampa. Click HERE to learn more!
Nov 15 We Are The Change Community Thanksgiving Dinner: We Are the Change, Inc is hosting the 3rd annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner in St. Petersburg, FL. You can help by donating food and supplies, volunteering, and sharing their message! Click HERE to learn more.
Nov 18 & Nov 21 Hernando County Resource Fairs: Hernando County is hosting 2 resource fairs as they are offering hot meals, health screenings, housing assistance, and other services. Click HERE to learn more!

~In life threatening situations or injuries, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room

MENTAL HEALTH SPOTLIGHT:

Dr. Janice Torres

Mental Health Intern, Finding Hope Wellness Center

Restoring Hope

By: Dr. Janice Torres

November is a month when many find themselves reflecting. It is a time to honor our Veterans, express gratitude, and gather with loved ones. This time can also bring moments of quiet struggle. Veterans navigating life after service, individuals coping with loss, or families managing seasonal stress may find this season both meaningful and difficult.

Transitions, regardless of occupation or social status, can stir feelings of uncertainty and disconnection. The shift from serving others to learning how to care for oneself takes time and intention. It is in these seasons that mental health becomes an anchor. Therapy & Community can help individuals process their experiences and find a renewed sense of purpose.

If you or someone you know is struggling this season, consider adding these tools to your Personal Toolkit:

Pause Daily: Take 5 deep breaths in and out while focusing on your breath and let go of tension, repeating throughout the day as needed. You can also go for a short walk to reconnect with your body and nature while taking time to be present and not focused on daily challenges or a screen.
Stay Connected: Reach out to a friend, family member, loved one, support group, or counselor; connection heals isolation.
Practice Gratitude: Write down at least 1 thing that you are thankful for each day. Practicing gratitude consistently can help you to reduce stress by shifting the focus from negative thoughts to positive ones. It can also lead to more optimism, stronger social connections, and so much more!
Know When To Seek Help: Professional support is a strength, not a weakness. As a counselor, our duty is to truly hear and listen to you while assisting you in overcoming some of life’s biggest hurdles and you don’t have to do it alone.

As we celebrate all those who have served our country and give thanks this November, let’s also extend compassion to ourselves and to those silently fighting battles we cannot see. Healing often begins with one small act of awareness and one honest conversation.

More episodes of Dr. Frey’s podcast, Mental Health Without Borders The Global Wellness Podcast, were released in October, with a special secret BONUS episode!

October 2: In this episode Dr. Lindsay Frey is traveling to South Korea where she is joined by Richard Krebs, a clinician with his master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Richard is originally from Alabama and has moved to South Korea where he works with adolescents and adults as well as integrating wellness, strength, and creative expression into the therapy space. In this episode, Dr. Frey and Mr. Richard dive into his path into the mental health field and his experience working cross-culturally, and the role of humor, voice work, and personality in the therapeutic space.

October 16: Dr. Frey virtually traveled to Australia. In this episode, Dr. Frey speaks with Monica Doyle, a psychodynamic therapist whose work uniquely integrates trauma-informed care, thanatology (the study of death and loss), and relational therapy to help people explore and understand pain rather than just fix it. As an online therapist working with primarily adults in Australia, Monica remains globally connected while traveling between Australia and Brazil; a dual cultural experience that significantly shapes her worldview.

October 22 BONUS Episode: Dr. Frey secretly dropped a BONUS episode on the 22nd where she welcomes Martin Pytela, found of Life Enthusiast. Born in Czechoslovakia and now based in Canada, Martin brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to the conversation- having walked his own healing journey and now guiding others toward restoring vitality and balance at the cellular level. With expertise in Metabolic Typing, Clinical Hypnotherapy, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Martin’s approach bridges the mind-body connection in deeply practical ways. Truly an episode you don’t want to miss!

And to make sure you don’t miss another episode or BONUS episode, subscribe and download Dr. Frey’s podcast today! Click HERE to subscribe and listen to previous episodes and stay tuned for the next episode!

We HOPE you have a great month!

admin@findinghopewellnesscenter.com

Make sure to follow us on our socials to stay up to date on Finding Hope Wellness Center, information about mental health, events, and more!

Facebook Instagram LinkedIn