EP# 273: From Childhood Insights to Clinical Advocacy: Dr. Krista Puente Trefz's Journey with Baytree Behavioral Health

What makes Dr. Krista Puente Trefz with Baytree Behavioral Health a good neighbor?

Ever wondered how the seeds of a childhood steeped in psychiatric care can blossom into a dedicated career in clinical psychology? Join us as we sit down with Dr. Krista Puente Trefz of Baytree Behavioral Health. Growing up with a psychiatric nurse mom and a neuropsychologist dad, Dr. Krista was destined to make mental health her life’s mission. From handing out Christmas cards while her dad made house calls to volunteering at soup kitchens in college, she was always drawn to helping others. Today, she specializes in maternal health, veterans, and those grappling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and trauma. 

Dr. Krista also shares an emotional chapter from her personal life: the heart-wrenching moment when her newborn son's life hung in the balance. This experience deepened her empathy and commitment to maternal mental health, making her an invaluable resource for mothers facing similar challenges. Outside her practice, Dr. Krista cherishes family time at the beach, boating adventures, and the simple joy of walking her dog. Tune in to hear her inspiring journey and why she believes therapy is a valuable tool for everyone, not just those with severe mental health issues.

To learn more about Dr. Krista Puente Trefz go to:

https://baytreebehavioralhealth.com/

Baytree Behavioral Health

321-543-7685

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, GarfieldBowen.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in need of a clinicalpsychologist?
Well, one may be closer thanyou think.
Today I have the pleasure ofintroducing your good neighbor,
dr Krista Prentice-Trez, withBaytree Behavioral Health.
Dr Krista, how are you doingtoday?

Speaker 3 (00:32):
I'm doing great.
How are you doing?

Speaker 2 (00:35):
I am doing fine.
Look, listen.
We're excited to learn allabout you and your practice.
Tell us about your company.

Speaker 3 (00:41):
So I work with basically any age.
I typically see children asyoung as seven and then go all
the way to any age adult.
I specialize in working withwomen, maternal health, veterans
, and then I have, you know,really an interest in helping

(01:03):
people with things likedepression, anxiety, ptsd, any
kind of trauma and any sort ofstress, really in general.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
So tell us, how did you get into this business?

Speaker 3 (01:21):
Well, I'd like to say it pretty much runs in my blood
.
Well, I'd like to say it prettymuch runs in my blood.
So my mom was a psychiatricnurse before I was born and my

(01:41):
dad is a clinicalneuropsychologist who works with
veterans and older.
Just like all around me, andyou know from an early age we
would go to shelters, you know,at holidays and bring pies and
go help, and my dad did housecalls all my life.
So I would kind of make alittle Christmas card and hold
that out and then I'd go sit inthe car while he went and saw,

(02:03):
you know, someone who's maybe,like medically unable to go into
office for therapy.
So I just really wanted to helpand started doing some things
in college, like soup kitchensand working at a homeless
shelter in New York City, andjust loved it.

Speaker 2 (02:20):
So I guess you had the vocabulary in your head all
that time and the language saidis interesting how people learn
and find different fields thatthey're interested in by seeing
different role models and soforth.
What are some of the myths andmisconceptions?

Speaker 3 (02:38):
I'd say some of the misconceptions is that you have
to be, like you know, reallysick to need therapy.
That's not true.
Anybody can benefit fromtherapy.
You know you don't have to be.
You know we do see people whohear voices, but you don't have
to be.
You know hearing voices to needhelp.
You know if you have stress oryou have relationship problems

(03:01):
or maybe you don't sleep well oryou feel like you're not coping
well and you're using badcoping methods like overeating
or maybe substances anythinglike that you can benefit from
therapy.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
I was about to ask you about patients.
Do they help?
Oh yes, Do that help.

Speaker 3 (03:25):
Oh yes, oh yes.

Speaker 2 (03:27):
Because I think everybody could use you, because
you know patience is kind ofhard to come by.

Speaker 3 (03:32):
Oh yeah, for sure.
Patience is so hard to come by.
Yeah, you're right.
So when you're not busy withyour practice.
What does Dr Krista like to dofor fun?
I like to spend time with myfamily and friends and I like to
go to the beach, or we like togo boating.
Go to an island, I love to swim, walk my dog all those things.

Speaker 2 (03:57):
watch movies Okay, now that we got the fun stuff
out of the way, let's changegears a little bit.
Life often throws us curveballs.
Let's talk about one hardship,one life challenge, something
that you went through.
You can look back to it and sayyou're better and stronger
because of it.
What comes to mind?

Speaker 3 (04:17):
So when my son was born, he had a medical issue
that they weren't sure whetherhe was going to live or not, and
that was probably one of thehardest moments as a mom and it
really made me want to focus.
Once we got through it, helived miraculously, we were very
fortunate and he's doing greatnow and, you know, really want

(04:38):
to, helped me, want to focus onmaternal health, especially in
terms of mental health, becauseon maternal health, especially
in terms of mental health,because you know it was a very
stressful time and so I have aspecial, you know, place in my
heart for moms going throughchallenges with their babies,
you know, or even just anyonegoing through a health challenge
, because that can just be very,very hard, for sure.

Speaker 2 (05:01):
Yeah, and I'm sure a lot can appreciate that, because
it's tough.
We take childbirth for granted,but it's really a miracle.
Nobody really understands howthe process actually happens, so
we just have to, we just haveto grab on to stuff like that.

Speaker 3 (05:16):
That's right, that's right.

Speaker 2 (05:17):
You're right, yeah absolutely, so I'm going to put
you on the spot a little bit, ifthat's okay.

Speaker 3 (05:23):
Sure.

Speaker 2 (05:24):
I know there's a lot you'd like to share about your
practice, but I want you tonarrow it down to one thing, one
thing that you want ourlisteners to remember about
Baytree Behavioral Health.

Speaker 3 (05:34):
I'd say what I really feel is the most touching thing
about my job is seeing peoplefeel better, and probably one of
the best things is when aclient, you know, gets to the
place where they feel like youknow, they're just getting a lot
of relief.
And I had one not long agowhere he he he was a veteran and

(05:59):
felt like he was, you knowreally got so much support and
he was able to really do thingshe had never done travel outside
of the US and do things thatwere really before therapy not
really possible because he hadso much stuck inside and once he
worked on healing from allthose things that he'd seen

(06:21):
overseas, he was able to leadhis best life with his family
and, you know, just seeing thatwas just so powerful and when,
when he was emotional, it waslike emotional for me just
because I was so happy to seehim feel better and be able to
sleep well and be able to traveland feel safe enough to do so.

Speaker 2 (06:43):
My personal feelings is if it matters is that I think
everyone like how we get anannual checkup.
We should be able to speak withsomebody once a year to just
make sure.
We need a little tune up right.

Speaker 3 (06:57):
I love that idea, you know.
I think that's probably thebest recommendation, because we
all can benefit from just aneutral professional talking and
hearing you know what's workingin your life, what's not
working, okay, how do you wantto work at it and make some
improvements?
Yeah, love that.

Speaker 2 (07:15):
Okay, so a lot of the listeners have one word on
their lips right now, and that'show?
How can you get moreinformation on Baytree
Behavioral Health?

Speaker 3 (07:24):
Yeah, well, you can give the office managers at my
office a call and they are readyfor your call.
They work nine to four, mondaythrough Friday, and you can also
leave a voice message.
Their number is 321-253-8887.
And then also, I do freeconsultations for anybody
interested in therapy.

(07:45):
Or if you're going to do asurgery, for bariatric surgery,
I also do evals for that as well.

Speaker 2 (07:51):
Okay, is there a website you also like to share?

Speaker 3 (07:53):
Yeah, we actually have a website which is Baytree
Behavioral Health and if you putthat in your Google, that'll
come right up and that has allthe information about myself.
There are other about six otherproviders in our clinic.
They're located in theMelbourne location and we also
have one in West Palm.

Speaker 2 (08:11):
Well, Dr Krista, I really appreciate you being on
the show.
I wish you and your businessthe very best moving forward.

Speaker 3 (08:16):
Thank you, it was a real joy to be on the show.
Thanks so much.

Speaker 1 (08:20):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast Port St Lucie.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go tognpportsaintluciecom.
That's gnpportsaintlucycom,that's gnpportsaintlucycom, or

(08:43):
call 772-362-3840.