A little over a year ago, I became a legal guardian. The minor in my care was disoriented and distraught at times, experienced delusions and hallucinations, suffered from bipolar disorder, PTSD, and eating disorder. If that weren’t enough, she is also on the autism spectrum.
Ray Gonzalez, the office manager, Dr. Janice Downey, the licensed psychiatrist, and Lisette Perez, the licensed therapist with specialization in autism counseling at Professional Counseling and Services of Vero Beach provided the support and professional services the minor needed to thrive.
Friday evenings and the weekends, when the office is closed, of course, are usually when an emergency arises. Caring for a minor with complex mental health issues, is emotionally draining.
When we’re experiencing an emergency, I text Ray and, almost immediately, he replies, which helps reduce anxieties we’re experiencing at the moment because we know, once Ray replies, we’ll receive the help we need. Ray treats us like family. He sincerely cares about his clients’ mental wellness. He’s accommodating. He works with our schedule to get us an appointment as soon as possible.
Dr. Downey, with over 35 years experience under her belt, is a great listener. She’s empathetic and “extremely professional,” as the minor puts it. Thanks to Dr. Downey, I’ve seen drastic improvements and emotional stability in the minor’s mental and overall health.
Lisette Perez, her therapist, has helped the minor improve behaviors and thoughts common in children with autism since they see the world differently than we do. The minor has said to me, “Lisette gets it… she knows how I think… she understands me … she teaches me skills to cope with day-to-day stressors and triggers. I always look forward to my weekly therapy sessions.”
Today, thanks to Ray’s genuine interest, Dr. Downey’s professional care, and Lisette Perez’s weekly therapy counseling, the minor has a new outlook on life. She feels happy and embraces life every day!
Thank you Ray, Dr. Downey, and Lisette!