Looking For Affordable Therapy? Finding Hope has discounts now!

HOPE IS HERE

Finding Hope Wellness Center is proud to announce that we are offering fall and winter discounts that are available NOW! We understand that the beginning of the school year and holiday season approaching, as well as Veterans Day, can cause mixed feelings such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Our goal with these discounts is to provide HOPE to more individuals and families. See below for more information:

Veterans Helping Veterans: This discount applies to self-pay clients clients who are active Military personnel or Veterans and schedule appointments with Dr. Janice Torres. Dr. Torres is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran who is actively working towards becoming a licensed counselor.

Student Discount: This discount applies to self-pay clients who are active students and schedule appointments with Mrs. Lexi Samuel-Lopez. Mrs. Lexi has a variety of experience working with children and children with developmental disabilities like Autism.

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

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!

Starting in October we will begin 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.

October has many awarenesses this month: Domestic Violence Awareness, Bullying Prevention month, and ADHD Awareness month. Because of these many awarenesses this month, we decided to touch on all of them.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October became National Domestic Violence Awareness Month over 30 years ago, in 1989. Domestic violence is unfortunately prevalent in every community and affects everyone no matter their age, financial status, gender, race, or religion. Domestic violence can be physical, emotional, and mental abuse; all of which can result in physical injuries, trauma, and at times death. According to The National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the National Domestic Violence Hotline provided some statistics and resources relating to domestic violence:

Statistics
- Almost 30% of women and 10% of men in the U.S. have experienced some type of domestic violence
- Intimate partner violence affects over 12 million people each year
- 81% of women and 35% of men report having significant impacts from experiencing domestic violence (i.e. physical injuries, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), etc.)
Resources
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
  - 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
- SAMHSA’s National Helpline
  - 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Bullying Prevention Month

October is also Bullying Prevention month. Bullying is still a common problem. And may have even become more severe since the birth of social media; which has been a catalyst for cyberbullying. Educators, teachers, and parents can and should create safe spaces that promote positivity, inclusiveness, and respect. Research shows that almost 20% of students who are in middle and high school across the country have experienced bullying, with almost 15% being bullied repeatedly. The impacts of bullying can be long lasting and even spark the birth of new bullies or bullying behavior. Some individuals who are bullied, end up become bullies themselves as an inappropriate way to cope and regain power or seek retaliation. Some common impacts of bullying include:

Physical, emotional, behavioral problems
Depression
Anxiety
Decrease in self-esteem and self-worth
Changes in attitudes towards school
Suicidal ideations
And more

Some ways to prevent bullying include:

Educate. Talk with your children and family about what bullying is, that it is unacceptable, how to stand up to bullying safely, and how to get help from a trusted adult or resource.
Open Communication. Check in with your child often and ask questions to stay involved in their life. Learn about their friends, school, and understand their concerns.
Model How to Appropriately Treat Others. Show your child and others how to appropriately treat other people: which is with kindness, respect, and grace.

Here are some resources to learn more about bullying and how to report it:

ADHD Awareness Month

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a very common neurodevelopmental disorder not only in Florida, but in the country. Neurodevelopmental disorder means that there are conditions that impact the development of the brain and brain functioning.

With ADHD, some common symptoms people experience include:

Difficulty focusing or paying attention
Fidgeting or difficulty sitting still
Interrupting others during conversations
Acting impulsively

ADHD can impact anyone at any age. It can make it more challenging for students who have ADHD in school as they are required to sit for extended periods of time, have to remember their class schedule and all materials for each class, keep track of assignments and due dates, and so much more. Today, the school system expects a lot from students and is not structured in a way that is beneficial or helps all students. One way to help your child with ADHD in school is for them to get accommodations, which can be done through obtaining an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan. We offer psychological & psychoeducational evaluations to assess for ADHD, which could help your child obtain an IEP or 504 Plan.

We have 3 providers who offer evaluations:

Dr. Lindsay Frey (licensed clinical psychologist/ practice founder & owner)
Dr. Sheila Hernandez (clinical psychologist resident)
Ms. Chloe Patchin (office manager/ graduate student with 4 years of experience administering psychological evaluations).

Here at Finding Hope Wellness Center we have providers who have openings NOW that can help bring back HOPE. Contact us HERE for scheduling inquiries. Visit our website to learn more about our providers.

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

Rest in peace Charlie Kirk (1993-2025); gone but not forgotten.

Charlie Kirk passed away last week, causing most of the people in this country to grieve and feel the loss of a brother in Christ. Charlie took a bold, strong stance on his faith and beliefs; which he will be remembered for by many.

Millions of people are grieving the loss of Charlie, but you don’t have to grieve alone. We offer counseling services to help you on your healing journey, and to of course provide HOPE again. We have providers with openings now that offer Christian counseling, as well as grief counseling; both of which can be in person or virtual. Some providers even have evening and weekend appointments to fit your busy schedules as well as your college students busy schedules.

Some other specialties our providers offer include:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Trauma
Anxiety
Depression
School-Related Challenges

If you or someone you know is feeling lost and needs support, contact our office today.

MENTAL HEALTH SPOTLIGHT:

Mrs. Lexi Sameul-Lopez

Mental Health Intern, Finding Hope Wellness Center

How to Respond When Your Child is Engaging in Non-Compliance

By: Mrs. Lexi Samuel-Lopez, Certified in 1-2-3 Magic Training by Dr. Thomas Phelan

Every parent has experienced it: You ask your child to do something, and you are met with “no,” avoidance, or resistance. Non-compliance is a normal part of child development, but how you respond in those moments sets the tone for your home and teaches your child how to appropriately handle rules and authority.

The key is to stay calm and consistent. When parents react with anger, lectures, or bargaining, children quickly learn that defiance can get a big emotional payoff. Instead, it is important to use clear, brief instructions and predictable consequences. For example, the 1-2-3 Magic approach teaches parents to avoid arguing and over-explaining, but rather give children a fair chance to comply while staying neutral and composed.

Some helpful tips include:

Keep instructions short and clear. Instead of long explanations, say exactly what you want your child to do.
Do not engage in power struggles. Staying calm and avoiding debates shows your child that you are in charge of the situation, not the emotion.
Be consistent with follow-through. Children thrive when they know expectations are predictable and consequences are the same each time.

Remember the goal is not just to stop non-compliance in the moment, it is to teach your child responsibility, respect, and self-control over time. With patience, structure, and a consistent approach, you can help your child develop positive habits while keeping peace in your home.

As a parent myself, I have first hand experience too with common parenting challenges. And you parents are not alone in these challenges. This is why I meet with the parent or parents for the entire first session to understand your perspective, and obtain information about your child’s needs and wants, their history, and of course the reason for wanting therapy now. After our first session is complete, I will meet with your child for future sessions to collaboratively work on their treatment plan. I also offer continuous parent sessions, at your request, to have you stay involved and active throughout the sessions. During these parent sessions, I am happy to provide information with parenting approaches and teaching consequences utilizing the 1-2-3 Magic method.

More episodes of Dr. Frey’s podcast, Mental Health Without Borders The Global Wellness Podcast, were released in September.

September 4: In this episode Dr. Lindsay Frey is traveling to Scotland to speak with Dr. Jennifer Bradtke. Dr. Bradtke is a U.S. and UK-licensed clinical psychologist (Based in Edinburgh) with over a decade of experience helping clients reclaim balance, rest, and clarity. Dr. Bradtke‘s work is informed by a belief in meaningful change, intentional living, and the healing power of community. In this episode we learn meaningful ways to manage burnout, anxiety, and insomnia that high- achieving professionals carry.

September 18: Dr. Frey virtually traveled to Tokyo to meet with Tony Parmenter, who is the creator of TF-EMDR. TF-EMDR is an innovative therapeutic approach that combines the healing power of fly-fishing with trauma-focused EMDR therapy. Tony has years of experience working with veterans, first responders, artists, and spiritually curious individuals, while offering a unique perspective on trauma recovery that goes beyond traditional clinical models.

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

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