“Where flowers bloom so does hope” Lady Bird Johnson
By Pablo Gonzalez, M.Ed., LMHC
Entering Spring earth will provide its tranquil reminder seen through the vibrant colors that will soon blanket the ground around us that the grey of winter is only for a season.
Throughout life we transition and experience change, it’s an inevitable process.
On one hand life is filled with opportunities to enjoy and explore the things we determine as good, things that bring us joy, things worthy of our time, and attention. We will feel love, joy, companionship, and peace. They can be seen and experienced through the love we have for our furbaby, a newborns giggle, our natural supports, or a slice of pie that brings a flood of pleasurable memories from our youth.
On the other hand, life can also bring challenges that may resemble the stifling and stinging gust brought by winter blizzards that for many prompt feelings reminiscent of the grayness that comes with seasonal changes.
In the same way that spring brings life and growth, know that the cold & darkness of our struggles do not last forever. There is hope. Yes, the feelings are valid, the emotions are real, enduring undesired change can be overwhelming, and difficult to process but that season of your life does not define you.
As Lady Bird Johnson said it, “Where flowers bloom so does hope.”
Below you will find suggestions that may help you walk into your new season, help you to display the burst of colors within, help you to process repressed emotions / feelings, and provide an opportunity for change.
Reach out to a Licensed Clinician or your Health Care Provider if struggling. You do not have to be alone.
Reach out to friends and loved ones, natural supports can be a tremendous aid in the process of growth.
Engage in meditation
Develop an exercise routine if medically cleared
Start a journal, providing a personal safe place can be very liberating.
Use positive affirmations, the work begins within
Professionals United for Parkland, Eagles' Haven & Broward Mental Health Counselors Association were grateful to help bring in Deb Del Vecchio-Scully and Paula Reed to help support our community during the fifth year anniversary of the Parkland tragedy. We are thankful for to our co-presenters and sponsors who helped make this dream a reality!
Thank You To Our Sponsors!
GOLD SPONSOR
Rossen Law Firm’s legal team understands what's at stake when you’re charged with a crime in South Florida. We’re committed to defending you and protecting your rights. Our legal team is ready to create a customized strategy for your case to fight for the best possible outcome. We handle Criminal, DUI, Federal, Domestic Violence, Marchman Act & Baker Act cases and more. At the Rossen Law Firm, it’s all about you - not us. Searching for an attorney in South Florida can be a nerve-wracking experience. At our firm, you’ll be met with respect, understanding and compassion. We take the time to hear your full story and make sure you understand your rights and options so you’re empowered to make the best decisions about your case moving forward. We believe bad things happen to good people, and when they do - we’re here to help.
SILVER SPONSOR
Resilience Recovery provides clinical aftercare and life skills development for the adolescent and emerging adult male population, ages 16-24. We treat individuals with substance use disorder, co-occurring disorders, complex developmental trauma, PTSD, and more. We are licensed at the Partial Hospitalization (PHP), Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and Outpatient (OP) levels of care for primary substance use disorder, and work in collaboration with our FARR accredited sober living, Resilience Recovery Residences in West Palm Beach. We provide a highly structured community environment, where clients can lean on each other and hold each other accountable. Our vision is to empower individuals and families to increase self-awareness and cultivate a consistent application of skills to navigate emotional healing and maintenance of their own mental health & sobriety.
BRONZE SPONSORS
The Mental Health Counselor's Association is a nonprofit organization in Palm Beach that prides itself in providing mental health professionals with opportunities to continue their education and stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the field. Through a variety of events, the association hosts speakers who are experts in their respective areas of mental health, allowing clinicians to earn CEU's (Continuing Education Units) to maintain their professional licenses. The association is committed to improving the mental health care community and ensuring clinicians have the knowledge and skills they need to provide the best possible care to their clients. We hope to see you at one of our events soon!
Caron Florida Treatment Centers is an internationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to addiction and behavioral healthcare treatment, research, prevention, and addiction medicine education. With three distinct rehabilitation facilities in Southeast Florida, including a new state-of-the-art medical center, our mission is Recovery for Life. For more than 65 years in Pennsylvania, and more than 25 years in Florida, we have helped many individuals struggling with substance use disorder and their families begin to manage this chronic, treatable disease. Caron Florida provides a continuum of care including detox, residential, mental health care, recovery support, and outpatient programming for young adults, adults, and older adults. Caron Florida’s signature programming provides concierge treatment for executives, older adults, and mental health patients. In addition to the Florida campus, Caron provides services in Wernersville, PA, Philadelphia, PA, Northern Virginia, Atlanta, and New York City. Caron Florida provides financial assistance for those who qualify. For more information, please visit caron.org or @CaronTreatment.
Mobilizing MSD Alumni is a national organization founded in the wake of the mass shooting on February 14, 2018, to support the community of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School High School students, teachers, and alumni.
Next Level Recovery Associates offers comprehensive support services to individuals and families affected by substance use disorders and mental health concerns. The Next Level Team puts together individual care plans to guide people towards achieving long term success.
Professionals United for Parkland and the Broward Mental Health Counselor Association would like to thank Newport Healthcare for donating the lunch for our CEU event on 2/3/2023. Newport Healthcare is the national leader in treating higher-acuity mood and co-occurring disorders in teens and young adults, such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, and substance use disorder. As our country and the world face the most devastating crisis of our time—the youth mental health crisis—Newport Healthcare is at the forefront in the essential work of helping young people to heal and to thrive.
Coral Shores Behavioral Health is a state-of-the-art freestanding psychiatric hospital since June 2017. The hospital is located in Stuart, Florida, on the beautiful Treasure Coast, just 30 minutes North from West Palm Beach. CSBH has 80 inpatient beds and serves children, adolescents, adults and older adults. Services include - Crisis Intervention and Stabilization; Medication Management; Individual and group counseling; Psychoeducational Groups, Recreational Therapy; Patient and Family Education; Discharge and aftercare planning. Outpatient treatment services provide a framework for recovery and healing and can include Adult PHP, Adult IOP, and Adolescent IOP. Available both in office or virtual. CSBH is the only Baker Act receiving facility in Martin County.
If you should find yourself or someone you know in immediate crisis or need for help, dial 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Some other resources for immediate crisis support include:
211 – In Florida, and many areas, most counties will have a dedicated 211 resource hotline. Dial 211 from your phone to be connected to your local 211 branch. This may depend on where you’re calling from if it’s from your Cell Phone.
Crisis Text Line – Text any word (Help, Talk, etc.) to 741741 to be connected via text to a trained crisis counselor.
Paational Suicide Prevention Hotline – Until the 3-digit hotline number is active later in 2022, the original number will still be the one to use – 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).P al. al. al a Our Mission “Professionals United for Parkland was created to identify and meet the short and long-term needs related to mental health/well-being of the South Florida community in the aftermath of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy through evidence-based services including education for the general community and professionals, clinical training, clinical services, support for clinicians, and more. We work alongside other local organizations and groups to ensure that we identify gaps in current services and that the needs of our community are being adequately addressed. We are entirely non-political.
Professionals United For Parkland Honors the 17
Professionals United for Parkland remembers Meadow Pollack. Her family is aggressively pursuing making our schools safe and has created #MeadowsMovement with this purpose. They have raised funds to build a safe playground & garden in the community. Meadow’s Playground at Betti Stradling Park and the Coral Springs Chabad.
To learn more: https://www.meadowsmovement.org/
PU4P Updates Interested in joining our trauma trained therapists (licensed only) - please take a few moments of your time and join the PU4P referral directory. The MSD community will need services for the long run. PU4P links those in need with a vetted list of trauma therapists. We ask for a commitment of 2 pro-bono clients a year. For more information or questions, please contact info@pu4p.org. Please support PU4P by designating it as your charity with The AmazonSmile Foundation. They will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible smile.amazon.com purchases. Don't forget to check our Facebook page for the most current events, updates, and information about PU4P! Thank you for your support of PU4P and your dedication to the Parkland community.
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