November 17, 2024 • 42 mins
Discover the incredible journey of Dr. Patricia Hernandez-Poudevida, a clinical psychologist who has navigated cultural transitions and professional landscapes with grace and ingenuity. During our conversation, Dr. Hernandez-Poudevida shares her story from her educational roots at the Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico to her transformative experiences in Iowa and Florida. Listen as she recounts the influential mentorship that shaped her focus on ADHD assessment and the heartwarming hospitality of Iowans that stood in stark contrast to the harsh winters.
Dr. Hernandez-Poudevida's entrepreneurial spirit shines as she discusses the founding of her private mental health practice in 2019. We delve into the challenges she faced, from overcoming accessibility barriers in mental health to the steep learning curve of transitioning into business management. Her story highlights the crucial role of mentorship and support systems, especially her spouse’s unwavering encouragement, that fueled her journey into entrepreneurship.
The episode wraps up with an exploration of Dr. Hernandez-Poudevida’s integrated healthcare approach at her joint practice. Together with her husband, she offers a harmonious blend of medical and psychological care, creating a uniquely compassionate environment for elderly patients. Through personal anecdotes, Dr. Hernandez-Povita emphasizes the importance of respect and deep understanding in dementia care, bringing to life the profound impact of collaborative healthcare on patient wellbeing.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:11):
Welcome to another episode of the let's Get Comfy
podcast.
Florida numbers one healthcareedutainment station.
I'm your host and soleproprietor, norman Harris, so
glad for you to join us again.
We're a home of peace, joy,love, but, most of all, comfort
Today.
I have a special guest with metoday, dr Patricia
(00:37):
Hernandez-Povita.
Povita, yes, Povita, good job.
See, we've practiced thisbefore the camera started
rolling, but hey, I still missup.
Sorry, it was fine, I apologize.
Porta Vida is fine.
Thank you so much for joining.
You're the owner, right, yes,of Mother, my Psychology.
Yes, I am Right, I wanted tohave you on the show one to
(00:58):
discuss One.
Well, you know what.
I'm just going to start offlike this Tell the audience who
you are and what you do.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I'm a clinical psychologist.
I'm licensed in the state ofFlorida, I have my private
practice, I do in my privatepractice individual, I do
testing.
I graduated in 2008, so notthat long ago, okay, 2008.
(01:27):
If you say so From El PonceSchool of Medicine in Puerto
Rico.
Then I worked there for four tofive years in Jauco that's
another town hospital inpatientunit and then we moved to Iowa
in 2013.
(01:48):
That's interesting but not sointeresting story, I think.
We moved to Iowa.
There I did my postdoc and itwas especially in ADHD
assessment.
I wanted to really get good atdoing psychological assessment
and I had a great mentor thereand she helped me a lot with
that.
(02:08):
After my intern, my postdoc, Igraduated that, I did my
licensing and then we moved toFlorida in 2017 or 2016.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Oh, wow, okay.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
And I've been in private practice since 2019 here
2019.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Thank you, thank you.
That's very impressive.
Now, why did you choose?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Iowa.
Iowa was kind of like a throwin the dark kind of a situation
Really.
Me and my husband.
My husband is a medical doctor,so he finished his residency
and we wanted to move out ofPuerto Rico and we had a couple
of offers.
He had a couple of offers.
Oh okay, one was in Colorado andthe other one was in Iowa and I
(02:53):
think another place around thattime.
I don't know if you remember ashooting that happened in
Colorado in a movie theater.
It was a while ago, I won't lie, I don't remember.
Anyways, and we were like, oh,maybe not Colorado, let's just
go here.
And we went there for theinterview.
Everybody said we went for theinterview in June or July and
(03:16):
everybody we met said, oh, it'sgoing to get really cold.
And it's really cold.
I'm like how cold can it get?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Like really, how bad can it get?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
We'll just wear jackets, whatever it got cold
Different type of cold.
Yes, a different type of cold,but we were there for four years
, four years.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Okay, and now you mentioned your mentor.
Now, do you mind justexpounding on that person?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Her name is Johnson.
She married Amanda Johnson.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Amanda Johnson.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
She married him.
She has a different last nameand, um, she's an amazing.
She's a really amazing person.
She's one of those people thatyou're like.
You're so good and so kind.
There must be something wrongwith you, wrong with you, but no
, she was really nice and kindand helpful and she taught me so
(04:08):
much and I really love her todeath because she gave me an
opportunity when nobody knew me.
Um, I was new in that place.
Nobody knew who I was.
You know, I was a hispanic, uh,a professional woman in a
mainly a white kind of um a town, because it was mutant, of
course.
You know about mutant is a verypopular little town that nobody
knows about, but they gave mean opportunity.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
I'm very grateful for them they were, and I love them
very much so right.
I always say and I said this inmany episodes is that, a lot of
times, all you use one chance,somebody just give you one
opportunity that changes yourlife, changes your just your
trajectory and that changes yourlife, changes your trajectory,
and it changes your family,ultimately, right, yeah, and my
first actually guest on the showwas a gentleman, reginald
(04:52):
Eldridge, who opened the door tome to even get into the
healthcare space in general.
And that one opportunity, sothat's why I wanted to make sure
you highlighted that person aswell.
So how was it?
Living in Iowa, though?
Speaker 2 (05:09):
It was interesting.
I think the first thing that Inoticed about Iowa was that
everybody was friendly.
When I was out, we left thehouse and our neighbors would
pass by and go like, and I waslike, do you know them?
I don't know them.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Like I don't know why they're saying hi.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
They were generally nice and high and curious about
who you were Iowa.
We lived in Marshalltown, Iowa.
It's a small town and peopleare really friendly and nice and
it's really cold in winter andthe winters are very long and I
never got used to that Really.
First winter, the first littlespe, very long and I didn't.
I never got used to that reallyfirst winter, the first little
(05:47):
speckles of snow, oh, I criedreally like, oh my god, this is
so beautiful.
And then the snow piled up andit got black and wet and cold
and nobody liked the snow no soI have an embarrassing
confession.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
So I'm 36 years old.
I still haven't seen snow.
What never, never seen snow,what Never, never seen snow.
Okay, you can talk about me,all you want Somebody.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
please take him to see some snow.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
I know, I know, man, I've never seen snow, but I said
I would not have.
My kids have that same sort oflife as well, so it's like I'm
dedicated to make sure they getan opportunity to make a snow
angel and a snowman, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
But yeah, I never saw snow before.
It's nice, but my experience, Ididn't love it.
When my kids wanted to gooutside to play in the snow, it
was not like, oh my God, let'sgo.
It's like, why, why God?
I did not like the snow, butthey liked it.
And my dog, my dog?
I thought my dog would hate it.
I had a boxer, um, and we triedto dress him up appropriately
(06:48):
to go out playing the snow.
He wouldn't have any of that,he would just run and he, like I
don't know, piled like deep inthe snow and the kids were
playing.
It was.
They had a great time.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
They had a great time .
So maybe I think I would.
I was about to say I think itwould take me back to what I've
always wanted to experience andI would do mine in a trip, so I
wouldn't be moving to somewherewhere it snows.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
See, that's a good idea.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
See, you know what I mean.
So yeah, that's how I want toexperience it.
Then I think when, after Imoved to Tampa back home, I'm
from Tallahassee, Quincy,actually, Quincy Florida it's
snow there, but now I'm downhere in Tampa, Florida, it's
like I still didn't get a chanceto experience it and my mom,
brother's sending me all thepictures of the snow.
I'm like still didn't get tosee all them scenes of snow and
(07:34):
I'm still the only one in myfamily.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Well, we'll get to it .
Speaker 1 (07:49):
This is a good year for you to go see some sun.
Okay, all right, good, I'll dothat.
So I want to get into yourhobbies, things that you like to
do enjoy for the audience andshare.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Just to know a little bit about the person Hobbies I
don't have a lot of time forhobbies and I say that and close
my eyes because I want to, butwhen I do, I like kayaking a lot
.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Really.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
But when I do, I like kayaking a lot.
Really, I went kayaking in thesprings.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
And I've always wanted to go kayaking Crystal
River or here in.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Florida, here in Florida, in Wikiwaki, wikiwachi.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
And I went kayaking in Puerto Rico, but I wanted to
do it in the ocean Right, but inPuerto Rico I went in the river
to do it in the ocean right,but in Puerto.
Rico, I went in a river it wasin the ocean, got it okay, in
Puerto, in here.
I went, uh, solo kayaking,because my husband doesn't like
the water he doesn't, you know,he doesn't swim and um, so I
(08:41):
went, I'm like you know, I'mgonna do this, I'm gonna do this
all by myself.
There's a group of people thatgo that do this.
So I went, I'm like you know,I'm going to do this, I'm going
to do this all by myself.
There's a group of people thatgo that do this.
So I went and it was super funand when I was in it I was in a
two people kayak, but I was bymyself.
So at first it's like, ah, thisis so much fun right in the
middle of it, what am I doingthis?
is so hard and I was the lastone in the group and I was like
(09:04):
I'll catch up with you guys.
Yeah, I'll catch up with you,but it was fun, that's good
though I like doing that, I likeworking out.
I used to like martial arts atone point but then I got old and
I dislocated a shoulder and allthat kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
You're not old.
How did you dislocate yourshoulder?
What?
Speaker 2 (09:24):
you was doing the first time.
It was so stupid.
The first time I dislocated myshoulder was because my daughter
was a little baby and then shestarted crying and I had long
pajamas on pants and I slippedand I put my hand in the bed and
like something happened and myshoulder dislocated.
(09:45):
So my husband was sleeping.
I was like Jada, jada come myshoulder and he was half asleep.
He woke up like what, oh, myshoulder, my shoulder?
And he kind of like, put itback in place, went back to bed.
I was like oh, okay, wow.
And then it happened again whenI was doing uh, uh, martial
(10:05):
arts and we were trying to MMAand all that kind of stuff and I
I wanted to take him down, mmaand all that kind of stuff.
I wanted to take him down buthe's tall and he didn't let me
win and I kind of really triedto win for it and then my
shoulder went out again andsince then this thing hasn't
been the same Did he feel bad?
No, no, he doesn't.
He didn't, no, he doesn't.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Dr Vasquez.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Yes, dr Vasquez, it's his fault.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
It's his fault.
It's his fault On record.
Oh man, not really.
That's good that you all havefun like that, yes, but thank
you for sharing.
So I'm going to get this tobreak.
We're breaking the ice, so Iwant to continue with doing so.
So I have a game we're going toplay.
It's called this or that.
Okay, okay, okay, all right.
Uh, if you could eat, uh, onedish or one meal every single
(10:53):
day, what would it be?
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Oof, see you, I'm a food human I love.
You can tell Um I would eatsomething that I cannot eat ever
again, cause my mom used tomake it and she's not alive
anymore.
She used to make.
Um, I have to think it inSpanish, so I'm going to go.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
We can do the caption Carne mechada.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
I don't know how to say that in English Carne
mechada with white rice andbeans, and I think this is a
Dominican thing, that we likebananas, not plantains.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Not plantains.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Bananas with rice and beans.
Oh okay, that's so good.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
In fact, just yesterday we just had some
Spanish rice, Puerto Rico rice,but it was really good.
She made the sauce, my friend'swife.
She made the sauce in like theblender with the I don't know
all the ingredients, but it wasreally good.
I don't even like rice likethat, but that rice was really
good, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
So that's what I would have every day if I could.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Really, you said your mom made it.
I was about to say that'sboring.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
It's delicious, that's because he haven't had it
.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
You're right, you're going to make him some.
No, you're right, you're gonnamake some.
No, I can't, that's not thebest way.
Can she make something please?
No, he can't, he can't.
Yes, all right, I can't have it, but thank you.
I think that's good, though.
My next one is if you have onedate, right that, uh, dr basket
to take you on, where would itbe one day, only one day, 24
(12:28):
hours.
You have to come back homeafterwards.
What would you do one day, onedate, date date.
Yep, like a date, like date daydate date.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
We've done a lot of cool things.
We've been to fights, we'vebeen to um, we went.
We used to go dancing a lot, soI love to go dancing.
You love to go dancing, oh yeah.
So I would take him dancing andnot like just as a club dancing
like reggaeton and all thatkind of stuff.
Oh yeah, got it, that's wherewe're going to go.
I like dancing a lot, so Iwould definitely go dancing and
(13:06):
have a really nice meal whenexactly I don't know.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
It doesn't matter where geographically, but if I
could do those things, have anice dinner and desserts I had a
pear dessert once.
I've never had that again.
It was delicious.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
But I love chocolate, so it doesn't matter.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
I love chocolate too.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
And dancing, and going, dancing, and dancing,
going, dancing.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
All right.
Favorite genre of music Oofthat's difficult.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
I like music.
I like a lot of merengue salsa.
I like reggaeton.
I like rock.
Really, yes, I like everything.
I love rock.
Really, yes, I like everything.
I love music.
I like old Frank Sinatra things.
Yeah, I love music.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
That's good.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Country music.
I'm not a fan of.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
But there are certain songs.
Maybe there are certain songs,yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Jolene.
I do this because she used to.
I forget her name, but she usedto sing and go like this with
her nails.
The person that sings that songJolene.
I do this because she used to.
I forget her name, but she usedto sing and go like this with
her nails.
The person that sings that'sJolene.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Yeah, I'm not just.
You're far ahead of me.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Anyways.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Yeah, thank you.
That's good.
That's good.
So we're going to get intocareer mode, right, and just
what you do on a daily.
So what inspired you to focuson your own practice?
You started your privatepractice in 2019, right.
So what just led you to do that?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Well, last time I worked for somebody I'm not
going to say who she was, a verya lady that you would look up
to, right, she had two practicesand she made it seem so easy,
like I'm like, if she can do it,I can do it.
(15:00):
So in a way she inspired me todo my own practice because I saw
her do it, with such of coursethere were issues and troubles
and whatnot, and it's not likeshe made it seem it was an easy
thing, but it just made it seemlike something I could do.
And I talked to my husband andI thankfully I had his support
(15:21):
at the time, because it's hardto do that, so he stayed working
where he was and I could startthis venture with doing my own
practice.
And that's why I did it,because I thought for the first
time that it was something thatI could.
You know, this is something Ican do.
So you did it and I did, you didyes, congratulations to you.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Congratulations to you, proud about that, you
should be, you should be.
And congratulations to uh DrVasquez as well, because there's
a lot of challenges that comeinto play when you're starting
your own business.
Yes, so I do admire theentrepreneurial spirit that you
both possess, but also thecamaraderie and the team that
you all have as well.
(16:05):
Just being that power coupletogether.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Yeah, we've been a couple since 2000.
Wow, we started dating in 1999and we became a couple in 2000
and we've been together eversince, with ups and downs and
everything in between.
But it is very, it is not easy,but it almost seems like I told
you, possible to do this kindof thing when you have support,
(16:30):
possible to do this kind ofthing when you have support, so,
and to have that, that riskspirit, a high risk spirit.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
So, because I think we're both like that and we just
said, why not?
Let's make it happen.
Good, good, congratulations toyou both.
My next question is just moreso about what are some of the
most common health concerns orhealth challenges you see as
mental health challenges, Ishould say.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Well, there's many, I would say.
Accessibility to mental healthservice is one of them, both
from the economical insuranceand a cultural, personal
perspective.
Economical, because noteverybody can pay for a therapy
(17:19):
session.
Insurance, because insurancemakes it difficult for both the
professional and sometimes thepeople to have access to the
services.
It's not as easy because not alot of professionals have or
take insurance, so it makesstill difficult for a lot of
(17:55):
people to recognize that theyneed services and then to
understand what it will do forthem.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Right, yes, that's a big piece too, just
understanding how psychology,clinical psychology, actually
impacts you from a mental healthstandpoint, and then it being
common as well in society ingeneral.
So what got you to?
What, would you say, changedjust the most about yourself
(18:27):
pursuing this business, thebusiness?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
The business and the profession are different.
So, pursuing the business, Ihad to learn so many things that
I didn't know.
I didn't know because to starta business, you, I studied
psychology.
I didn't take a break, like, Iwent from school to to undergrad
(18:54):
, to grad.
I did six years I didn't take abreak.
So I was a student, oh, foreverright, and I knew psychology
right.
I can say I know my, myprofession right.
But the business side of it isa completely different story.
Um, you have to understand somany things that I didn't, and
(19:15):
how to, how to start an llc andhow to do taxes and how to do
insurances and how to how tomarket yourself and do so many
aspects into it.
And everybody thinks, oh,entrepreneurship is so cool but
it's such a monster.
(19:36):
But at the same time it's sofun and you get to do so many
creative things and yourcreative side kind of takes part
into it.
So for me, the business parthas been a new professional
growth right it's been a lot.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Eye-opening for you.
Yes, right, ah, I would say thesame.
Just knowing how to deep divein, I would say what I've
learned the most is what yousaid is the marketing and
branding.
Like that is a beast in itself,yeah, and now I see why it's so
prevalent.
Like right now, you can Googleon your phone like marketing
(20:18):
companies or services firms nearme and there will be a list of
them, because there's such aneed now, with social media
being just so prevalent and justa must.
And some companies actuallydon't even have a website.
They have a social media pageand that's why I like
restaurants, for instance.
A lot of times with thoserestaurants, you go to their
Facebook page there areInstagram to learn the menu and
(20:39):
what they have for that day.
You don't even have a website.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Yeah, and I did my own website when I started with
I can't even remember theplatform that you used to do
that and, thankfully, mybrother-in-law, Jonathan Vasquez
he has a business where he doesthis for people he does the,
amongst other things, but hedoes the websites and all that.
(21:03):
And he, when he saw my website,he's like oh no, no, no, no, no
, that's not, that's not cute.
So he helped me with it andhe's the one that's been helping
me with my work Got it sothat's a big component.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
Big component, big component.
So we talked about just how youstarted up as far as business,
what you've learned, what youspecialize in, but let's get
more so into just how you canassist patients and the
community.
So what would you say are somesigns that a patient would be
appropriate for your servicesand, if you don't mind, just
(21:38):
listing just services that youprovide as well.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
I think, because I've done so many things, I am
really open with my population.
Like I said, I started in aninpatient unit, so inpatient,
there's a lot of people thathave very severe mental health
illnesses.
So I am not.
(22:01):
I don't shy away from thataspect, right.
And I don't see children, tinypeople, as much, because it's
time consuming.
It's different, it's adifferent preparation when you,
when you work with kids.
So right now I see earlyteenagers, let's say 10 preteens
(22:25):
to adults, and I do testing.
So I do ADHD testing, autismassessments, intellectual
assessment, for example.
If people want to do bariatricsurgeries and they need a
psychological evaluation, I dothose as well.
(22:46):
So medical evaluations forpre-surgical and stuff like that
.
So I do that.
I do individual therapy, I docouples counseling that's
interesting and I supervise.
So I have students that Isupervise, both in the mental
(23:09):
health and medical field.
So I supervise students thatare in LMHC or other psychology
students and they work in mypractice.
I found a way to make all thatwork so they can get paid for
the services they provide andthen they can get the
supervision they need.
And also for the medicalstudents, I teach them about
(23:31):
mental health and what theyshould know about working with
people in this field.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
So you're maximizing yes, yes, that's really good,
but also fostering the growth ofother individuals that are
trying to become that is one ofmy main, I think, passions.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
I love to teach.
I love to be part of theirgrowth, just like I had good
mentors.
I was so lucky when I was goingto school because I had really
good teachers and really goodprofessors and really good
mentors.
So I want to be that for otherpeople and I know how important
it is and how inspiring it is toto to have a good mentor and
(24:18):
how much it helps your careergrow versus a bad one, because
I've had bad ones too.
So I don't, I want to be thatgood person, that good stepping
stone for somebody else.
I really enjoy that.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Yes, that's one piece that I've learned really just
this year how impactfulmentorship is.
So just with areas in which I'mtrying to grow, like with
podcasting major shout out toNicole Will with Will Gather
podcast.
Melanie Hand, the probate nurse, melanie Hand the program nurse
(24:51):
.
Erin Thompson from Aspiring forMore she's also a podcaster.
So when I was going to startthis, I reached out to those
individuals to be mentors ofmine and they had free calls
with me, of course, no charge,and just really embraced my
(25:14):
vision and mission and gave mepointers, gave me tools and
assets that I could use toimplement in what I was trying
to do.
So mentorship is very importantif you're trying to grow
further in life, even withkeynote speaking.
So I want to become a speaker,I do speaking engagements at
assisted living facilities,skilled nursing facilities,
educations facilities, skillednursing facilities, educations
(25:34):
and one mentor who just embracedme was Ms Lisa Perez.
She's in a different industry,really primarily with human
resources, but just her justsetting up calls with me,
encouraging me, giving meguidance, books to read and
resources, has been justmonumental in just my growth as
well.
So healthcare I've had a mentor, so I would advise people just
(25:54):
in general, any segment of lifethat you want to grow in advance
.
Find someone that will be ableto foster your growth and really
take a passion on doing it.
Some people want to charge youevery time you talk to them or
call them.
That's okay.
Just find the next person.
Don't give up.
But that's something that Iwant to become one day as well
Someone that can pour back intoothers.
(26:17):
At Comfort Measures Consulting,we're here to help you navigate
the complexity of health care.
If you're caring for a lovedone as a caregiver, you don't
have resources, you don't knowwhat questions to ask.
You need to have options Right.
Give Comfort Measures a call.
(26:58):
Give us a chance.
First consultation is free.
Speak with me.
Comfort Measures Consultant,850-879-2182.
You can also visit our websiteat
wwwcomfortmeasuresconsultingcom.
Talk to you soon.
Talk to you soon.
Someone that can pour back intoothers, to give back to just
the youth as well.
Like sort of like you're doingas well.
(27:20):
Well, not sort of, but you aredoing it, but because I know
that someone gave me a chanceand a shot.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Yeah, and to be able to pass your knowledge on to
somebody else yes for sure itmakes it seem worthwhile.
Like I said, you know, you dothis thing for a long time and
you finally get to a place whereyou can share what you know
with others.
Why not?
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Why not?
Speaker 2 (27:42):
I don't want to take all this with me.
I want to leave a lot of gooddoctors out there so they can
take it on and probablyhopefully remember me once and
be like oh, I had this greatmentor, patrice Hernandez.
What was her other last name?
Speaker 1 (27:57):
Don't get normal to pronounce it.
Yes, but thank you for that.
That's wonderful.
So for patients, familycaregivers, just what can they
expect from their experiencewith mother mind psychology?
Speaker 2 (28:12):
Well, we, I think one of the things that
differentiates us from everybodyelse is that we wanted to do
kind of old school medicine.
We wanted to be accessible toour patients.
We wanted our patients and wewant our patients, when they
(28:32):
come in, to feel like this is myplace, this is home, this is a
place that I know.
Um, as you've been, you knowyou've been to the office.
Um, we have little things thatseem to be important.
Do you want water?
Do you want coffee?
How you feel, today, we chatwith our, our people.
(28:53):
Yes, right, we talk to them.
We don't just, like you know,robotically do our thing 15
minutes, boom, you're out.
We talk to them.
We, we really want them andwhen I say we's because of me,
dr Vasquez, the people that workwith us.
We really want people to feelthat they've come to a place,
that they're going to belistened to and taken care of
(29:15):
and that there's a that's,there's a place for them, right,
um, the, the medical field hasturned into what I think is a
very kind of process, washedkind of a thing.
You go in and out and what'syour name and it's?
It's kind of like that andpeople go to the doctor, people
go to a psychologist becausethey're hurting physically,
(29:37):
emotionally.
They need somebody to listen tothem and I think in the field
that has been unfortunately losta little bit, to be kind, right
.
So we wanted to do this for usbecause this is the service we
wanted to be able to provide,because when you're a doctor and
(30:00):
you're working for bigcompanies, you you have to
follow the the rules right.
You have to.
You cannot stay with a clientfor more than this and you have
to do this in a certain way.
Oh, that's that.
You know.
You can't do more than that.
Like no, that's a person.
That's a person that's comingin that has both mental,
emotional, physical problems.
(30:22):
Yes, and to work together hasbeen.
We knew it was going to be good, because we believe in our
product, we know that, we knowwhat we're doing, but, to see it
, it has been humbling.
Um, because I have a patientthat needs medication, or has
been contemplating medication,or says to me well, I don't want
(30:44):
to take medication because theside effects are all this.
No problem, I have Dr Vasquezhere, he's going to talk to you
about that and if you have anyquestions, you call him and he's
very accessible to his patients.
Yes, very accessible.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Can I chime in there?
Sure, all right.
So with Dr Vasquez.
He's the first physician thatI've seen come from behind the
counter area back in the back,come out and sit in the lobby
and have a conversation with.
I've never seen that before.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Oh yeah, we're not just saying it, we legit do this
.
Yes, his knee, and, by the way,I'm feeling very depressed or
blah, blah, blah.
Oh, I have a psychologypractice right here, right here,
(31:32):
and he calls me.
He goes like Dr Hernandez, Iwant you to, to meet so-and-so,
and and of course, he asks is itokay if she comes in?
Yes, how you doing?
He has, or she has, a couple ofminutes with me right there and
there.
So it's, that is what we wantedto create and I am so thankful
that we're able to do it and togrow.
It's been difficult, becauseeverything that starts it's
(31:58):
difficult, but we've seen ithappen and I'm so proud that I
can do that.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
Yes, so, so that we're clear, for clarification,
give us the full um experience,because I know dr vasquez, your
spouse, right, what he does, butalso your location is all one
right, it's all inclusive.
So just get from a start tofinish perspective, because I
know we're speaking of him.
Uh, but just, I want to justgive people, if they were to
(32:22):
come to the office one day,right, how would that experience
be just okay?
Speaker 2 (32:27):
so we have, um, I would say, a building and
building, small building, andit's in lutz.
You come in the door and thefront desk is not separate, it's
just one big front desk.
You're welcome by any of us.
It could be me, it could beVasquez, it could be his nurse
and we just say who you're hereto see with Dr Vasquez or Dr
(32:52):
Hernandez.
So we have two practices thatare there Mother Mind Psychology
LLC, it's me, and then VastCare, that's him.
So we have a medical practiceand a psychology practice that
is in just one space.
It's not that he has to call mefrom far away.
I'm right there and he's alsoright there.
(33:13):
So it's very familiar.
And when you come in the door,the first thing that we do is
who you're, who do you want tosee or who you're here for,
right?
So it's is that accessibilityto us?
And I don't know after that, ifyou have a consult with Dr
Vasquez and then you want tohave a consult with me, we have
(33:35):
the same phone number.
We have different kind of unitsor I don't know how you call it
, but you call the office andyou can meet with me or you can
meet with him.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
Yes, and you can text them as well.
Text messages calls very cleanlocation as well.
And the restrooms, too.
The restrooms I'm big on likegoing to nasty restrooms, but
very clean, very clean locationas well.
And the restrooms, too.
The restrooms I'm big on likegoing to nasty restrooms, but
very clean, very clean location.
So.
And the aesthetics, like, didyou do decorate?
Speaker 2 (34:04):
decor.
I'm not super huge ondecoration, but we managed to
pull through y'all dig sovasquez is the kind of creative
side of our life.
He's a very creative humanhuman.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
I can believe that for sure.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
So, um, and I, I I'm kind of more the organizer of
things, Right, Um, but I just itjust works.
So if you ask me, am I incharge?
No, I, we did it kind of since99, 2000.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
That's a long time, so that's good, you guys.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
the bathroom was me though I did.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
You like the restroom ?
Yes, I like the restroom.
Good, good, okay, so if youcould share your experiences
with, of course, let's Get Comfy.
It's empowering listeners toage more comfortably.
We provide the resources todoing so.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
So if you can share your experiences, with mental
health issues, with patientsthat you may have that's above
the age of 60 years old.
Yes, so the elderly is a verydear population to my heart,
because when I started in thehospital in Puerto Rico, the
population was mainly elderlypeople, dementia patients for
different reasons.
Dementia is not justAlzheimer's, it could be other
(35:18):
kinds of dementia.
So I did not know that I wasgoing to enjoy working with that
population as much as I did.
I think when you're you hit acertain age and you have certain
things, you've earned yourright to.
You know to just be blah withlife, like I had this old lady
(35:40):
once tell me like are you stupid?
You've asked me that samequestion three times.
I was like you know, I keptdoing my interview with her and
the nurse was like don't you?
It doesn't bother you that shejust called you.
Or just like no, she earned herright to call me stupid.
Like yeah, it's fine, we'regoing to be OK.
So it is just nice to take careof them.
(36:03):
And they need so much takingcare of and so much respect,
because people tend to treatelderly like their kids.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
Right.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Because they lost certain abilities and skills and
functions.
And no, no, no, no, no, that'san adult, that's a grown person
there battling or going throughthings.
Don't treat him like he's achild or stupid or right.
So I I found a lot of respectand a lot of love and a lot of
fun memories.
I have so many good memoriesfrom those years at the hospital
(36:32):
.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
So I'm thinking about situations right now myself
yeah, so yeah, yes you work withthe elderly too, with in
skilled nursing.
I worked as an administrator fora few years, uh, and just
dealing with, uh, some of ourcustomers that in the, the
skilled nursing facility man, itwas hilarious.
They say things that yeah, Idon't want to repeat it because
(36:54):
I don't want someone to remember, like who I'm talking about.
But yeah, really funnysituation, like the words they
would say I can tell you somestories, but I don't want to say
it on camera because it's justwords, all right, but they are
fun stories I love to talk aboutthem and I laugh at everything
(37:15):
as an administrator.
I think that was probably likemy I don't know down.
You have to have good humor,you have to have a good sense of
humor to work with thispopulation.
Yeah, I used to have to turn myback sometimes, so my team
wouldn't see me laughing.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
But yeah, it was a prayer, I used to laugh.
Yeah, you have to have goodhumor.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
Yeah, so I love laughing anyway.
So that's just who I am.
So what are some myths orstigmas you think that people
encounter when they're seekingprofessional services?
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Myths you say Myths, yes, that I'm going to fix them.
A lot of people come to me andthey think I'm going to fix them
.
And I don't fix people.
I am not a mechanic.
Right, we work together to getyou to where you need to be,
where you want to be, where youfeel healthy, where you feel
(38:11):
good.
So I, my job, is not fixing myheart, my job is guiding you
through your health process andjourney and that's how I like to
see myself.
And I think a myth is that yougo to the doctor or and they fix
you right, like, oh, you bringme your child and boom, boom,
boom, I tie this and that andthere you go, a respectful,
young little man.
No, it takes a lot of work andit takes kind of that back and
(38:33):
forth and that adults givingtheir time, kids giving their
time, doing their part in theirhealth journey.
I think the misconception isthat it's entirely up to the
physician or the person that'staking care of you.
Your health is yourresponsibility.
I am here 100% when that personis in my chair, with me in the
(38:55):
chair, they have my full,divided attention.
I am there 100% when thatperson is in my chair, with me
in the chair.
They have my full dividedattention.
I am there 100% committing tomaking you feel better and get
better and give you everythingthat I know to help you in that
process.
But it's kind of your job toyou know.
Speaker 1 (39:09):
Well, you know.
They say you know it starts athome.
Yeah, it starts at home most ofthe time.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
So I think the biggest myth is that and also
that you're crazy because youneed services.
That word crazy I have such anissue with, really, because I
love it.
I love crazy.
Crazy is good, crazy isdifferent, crazy is fun, crazy
(39:34):
can be out of the box you knowwhat I mean, but people feel
kind of bad about it, right?
Speaker 1 (39:40):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (39:41):
I think when I started in my practice, one of
the first things that I rememberwas Salvador Dali.
Salvador Dali is a painter,surrealist painter.
He's the one that has themustache.
We have a museum in Tampa here.
You should go if you haven't.
I love him, yeah, and he, forme, was one of the first
(40:06):
presentations to crazy.
Also, comedians sometimes oh,that's a crazy person.
No, they're just.
They think outside the the box.
They have a different timingwith how they think, and so I
think crazy, as much as peoplewant to say, is a bad thing.
I don't see it as a bad thing,so I wish that myth would just
go out the door go out the door,okay.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
So why would a caregiver let's say a caregiver
who's having a challengingexperience with a loved one that
they've, they're taking care ofat home what would they be
prompted to?
Take them to see a psychologist?
Speaker 2 (40:43):
For many reasons.
I think sadness, for example,is normal.
Our emotions are normal Anger,sadness, joy.
Our emotions are emotions RightNow.
When those emotions turn intosomething persistent that causes
problems to the person and tothose around them, then you
should go get some help right.
(41:05):
Um, in the elderly community, Ithink a lot of things are,
pardon me, normalized in thewrong way, like, oh, that's just
because they're old, or that,that's just because they're a
little kid.
They minimize things that arewrong with them.
So I think that is an importantaspect when you see that things
(41:27):
are causing a problem for youor somebody else, you should
definitely go seek some help.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
That's good.
That's good, and that's anotherpiece I wanted to add is a lot
of time with our elderlypopulation as well.
They don't even consider seeinga psychologist.
All right.
So, dr Hernandez, if someonewas interested in your services,
do you provide consultations?
Speaker 2 (41:51):
Yes, the best thing to do is to call the office, let
us know what your concern isand we will pair you with the
right person for you and theright service for you.
So the thing to do is just tocall the office and let us know
how we can help.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
Okay For our listeners and audience.
How can they find you?
Your social media accounts,website?
Let them know.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
Okay, so you can call the number 813-400-0375.
We are also on Instagram andFacebook.
That would be with my name,patricia Saidi, or Mother Mind
Psychology.
That's how you would find us,and we are in Lutz, so that's
our physical office.
Speaker 1 (42:36):
Okay, all right.
Thanks for watching.
If you found this informationhelpful, don't forget to like,
comment and subscribe and hitthe notification bell so you
never miss an update.
Have any comments or want toshare your thoughts?
Drop them in the commentsection below.
Until next time, stay empowered.
Welcome to another episode of the let's Get Comfy
podcast.
Florida numbers one healthcareedutainment station.
I'm your host and soleproprietor, norman Harris, so
glad for you to join us again.
We're a home of peace, joy,love, but, most of all, comfort
Today.
I have a special guest with metoday, dr Patricia
(00:37):
Hernandez-Povita.
Povita, yes, Povita, good job.
See, we've practiced thisbefore the camera started
rolling, but hey, I still missup.
Sorry, it was fine, I apologize.
Porta Vida is fine.
Thank you so much for joining.
You're the owner, right, yes,of Mother, my Psychology.
Yes, I am Right, I wanted tohave you on the show one to
(00:58):
discuss One.
Well, you know what.
I'm just going to start offlike this Tell the audience who
you are and what you do.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I'm a clinical psychologist.
I'm licensed in the state ofFlorida, I have my private
practice, I do in my privatepractice individual, I do
testing.
I graduated in 2008, so notthat long ago, okay, 2008.
(01:27):
If you say so From El PonceSchool of Medicine in Puerto
Rico.
Then I worked there for four tofive years in Jauco that's
another town hospital inpatientunit and then we moved to Iowa
in 2013.
(01:48):
That's interesting but not sointeresting story, I think.
We moved to Iowa.
There I did my postdoc and itwas especially in ADHD
assessment.
I wanted to really get good atdoing psychological assessment
and I had a great mentor thereand she helped me a lot with
that.
(02:08):
After my intern, my postdoc, Igraduated that, I did my
licensing and then we moved toFlorida in 2017 or 2016.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Oh, wow, okay.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
And I've been in private practice since 2019 here
2019.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Thank you, thank you.
That's very impressive.
Now, why did you choose?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Iowa.
Iowa was kind of like a throwin the dark kind of a situation
Really.
Me and my husband.
My husband is a medical doctor,so he finished his residency
and we wanted to move out ofPuerto Rico and we had a couple
of offers.
He had a couple of offers.
Oh okay, one was in Colorado andthe other one was in Iowa and I
(02:53):
think another place around thattime.
I don't know if you remember ashooting that happened in
Colorado in a movie theater.
It was a while ago, I won't lie, I don't remember.
Anyways, and we were like, oh,maybe not Colorado, let's just
go here.
And we went there for theinterview.
Everybody said we went for theinterview in June or July and
(03:16):
everybody we met said, oh, it'sgoing to get really cold.
And it's really cold.
I'm like how cold can it get?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Like really, how bad can it get?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
We'll just wear jackets, whatever it got cold
Different type of cold.
Yes, a different type of cold,but we were there for four years
, four years.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Okay, and now you mentioned your mentor.
Now, do you mind justexpounding on that person?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Her name is Johnson.
She married Amanda Johnson.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Amanda Johnson.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
She married him.
She has a different last nameand, um, she's an amazing.
She's a really amazing person.
She's one of those people thatyou're like.
You're so good and so kind.
There must be something wrongwith you, wrong with you, but no
, she was really nice and kindand helpful and she taught me so
(04:08):
much and I really love her todeath because she gave me an
opportunity when nobody knew me.
Um, I was new in that place.
Nobody knew who I was.
You know, I was a hispanic, uh,a professional woman in a
mainly a white kind of um a town, because it was mutant, of
course.
You know about mutant is a verypopular little town that nobody
knows about, but they gave mean opportunity.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
I'm very grateful for them they were, and I love them
very much so right.
I always say and I said this inmany episodes is that, a lot of
times, all you use one chance,somebody just give you one
opportunity that changes yourlife, changes your just your
trajectory and that changes yourlife, changes your trajectory,
and it changes your family,ultimately, right, yeah, and my
first actually guest on the showwas a gentleman, reginald
(04:52):
Eldridge, who opened the door tome to even get into the
healthcare space in general.
And that one opportunity, sothat's why I wanted to make sure
you highlighted that person aswell.
So how was it?
Living in Iowa, though?
Speaker 2 (05:09):
It was interesting.
I think the first thing that Inoticed about Iowa was that
everybody was friendly.
When I was out, we left thehouse and our neighbors would
pass by and go like, and I waslike, do you know them?
I don't know them.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Like I don't know why they're saying hi.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
They were generally nice and high and curious about
who you were Iowa.
We lived in Marshalltown, Iowa.
It's a small town and peopleare really friendly and nice and
it's really cold in winter andthe winters are very long and I
never got used to that Really.
First winter, the first littlespe, very long and I didn't.
I never got used to that reallyfirst winter, the first little
(05:47):
speckles of snow, oh, I criedreally like, oh my god, this is
so beautiful.
And then the snow piled up andit got black and wet and cold
and nobody liked the snow no soI have an embarrassing
confession.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
So I'm 36 years old.
I still haven't seen snow.
What never, never seen snow,what Never, never seen snow.
Okay, you can talk about me,all you want Somebody.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
please take him to see some snow.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
I know, I know, man, I've never seen snow, but I said
I would not have.
My kids have that same sort oflife as well, so it's like I'm
dedicated to make sure they getan opportunity to make a snow
angel and a snowman, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
But yeah, I never saw snow before.
It's nice, but my experience, Ididn't love it.
When my kids wanted to gooutside to play in the snow, it
was not like, oh my God, let'sgo.
It's like, why, why God?
I did not like the snow, butthey liked it.
And my dog, my dog?
I thought my dog would hate it.
I had a boxer, um, and we triedto dress him up appropriately
(06:48):
to go out playing the snow.
He wouldn't have any of that,he would just run and he, like I
don't know, piled like deep inthe snow and the kids were
playing.
It was.
They had a great time.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
They had a great time .
So maybe I think I would.
I was about to say I think itwould take me back to what I've
always wanted to experience andI would do mine in a trip, so I
wouldn't be moving to somewherewhere it snows.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
See, that's a good idea.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
See, you know what I mean.
So yeah, that's how I want toexperience it.
Then I think when, after Imoved to Tampa back home, I'm
from Tallahassee, Quincy,actually, Quincy Florida it's
snow there, but now I'm downhere in Tampa, Florida, it's
like I still didn't get a chanceto experience it and my mom,
brother's sending me all thepictures of the snow.
I'm like still didn't get tosee all them scenes of snow and
(07:34):
I'm still the only one in myfamily.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Well, we'll get to it .
Speaker 1 (07:49):
This is a good year for you to go see some sun.
Okay, all right, good, I'll dothat.
So I want to get into yourhobbies, things that you like to
do enjoy for the audience andshare.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Just to know a little bit about the person Hobbies I
don't have a lot of time forhobbies and I say that and close
my eyes because I want to, butwhen I do, I like kayaking a lot
.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Really.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
But when I do, I like kayaking a lot.
Really, I went kayaking in thesprings.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
And I've always wanted to go kayaking Crystal
River or here in.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Florida, here in Florida, in Wikiwaki, wikiwachi.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
And I went kayaking in Puerto Rico, but I wanted to
do it in the ocean Right, but inPuerto Rico I went in the river
to do it in the ocean right,but in Puerto.
Rico, I went in a river it wasin the ocean, got it okay, in
Puerto, in here.
I went, uh, solo kayaking,because my husband doesn't like
the water he doesn't, you know,he doesn't swim and um, so I
(08:41):
went, I'm like you know, I'mgonna do this, I'm gonna do this
all by myself.
There's a group of people thatgo that do this.
So I went, I'm like you know,I'm going to do this, I'm going
to do this all by myself.
There's a group of people thatgo that do this.
So I went and it was super funand when I was in it I was in a
two people kayak, but I was bymyself.
So at first it's like, ah, thisis so much fun right in the
middle of it, what am I doingthis?
is so hard and I was the lastone in the group and I was like
(09:04):
I'll catch up with you guys.
Yeah, I'll catch up with you,but it was fun, that's good
though I like doing that, I likeworking out.
I used to like martial arts atone point but then I got old and
I dislocated a shoulder and allthat kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
You're not old.
How did you dislocate yourshoulder?
What?
Speaker 2 (09:24):
you was doing the first time.
It was so stupid.
The first time I dislocated myshoulder was because my daughter
was a little baby and then shestarted crying and I had long
pajamas on pants and I slippedand I put my hand in the bed and
like something happened and myshoulder dislocated.
(09:45):
So my husband was sleeping.
I was like Jada, jada come myshoulder and he was half asleep.
He woke up like what, oh, myshoulder, my shoulder?
And he kind of like, put itback in place, went back to bed.
I was like oh, okay, wow.
And then it happened again whenI was doing uh, uh, martial
(10:05):
arts and we were trying to MMAand all that kind of stuff and I
I wanted to take him down, mmaand all that kind of stuff.
I wanted to take him down buthe's tall and he didn't let me
win and I kind of really triedto win for it and then my
shoulder went out again andsince then this thing hasn't
been the same Did he feel bad?
No, no, he doesn't.
He didn't, no, he doesn't.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Dr Vasquez.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Yes, dr Vasquez, it's his fault.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
It's his fault.
It's his fault On record.
Oh man, not really.
That's good that you all havefun like that, yes, but thank
you for sharing.
So I'm going to get this tobreak.
We're breaking the ice, so Iwant to continue with doing so.
So I have a game we're going toplay.
It's called this or that.
Okay, okay, okay, all right.
Uh, if you could eat, uh, onedish or one meal every single
(10:53):
day, what would it be?
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Oof, see you, I'm a food human I love.
You can tell Um I would eatsomething that I cannot eat ever
again, cause my mom used tomake it and she's not alive
anymore.
She used to make.
Um, I have to think it inSpanish, so I'm going to go.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
We can do the caption Carne mechada.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
I don't know how to say that in English Carne
mechada with white rice andbeans, and I think this is a
Dominican thing, that we likebananas, not plantains.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Not plantains.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Bananas with rice and beans.
Oh okay, that's so good.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
In fact, just yesterday we just had some
Spanish rice, Puerto Rico rice,but it was really good.
She made the sauce, my friend'swife.
She made the sauce in like theblender with the I don't know
all the ingredients, but it wasreally good.
I don't even like rice likethat, but that rice was really
good, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
So that's what I would have every day if I could.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Really, you said your mom made it.
I was about to say that'sboring.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
It's delicious, that's because he haven't had it
.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
You're right, you're going to make him some.
No, you're right, you're gonnamake some.
No, I can't, that's not thebest way.
Can she make something please?
No, he can't, he can't.
Yes, all right, I can't have it, but thank you.
I think that's good, though.
My next one is if you have onedate, right that, uh, dr basket
to take you on, where would itbe one day, only one day, 24
(12:28):
hours.
You have to come back homeafterwards.
What would you do one day, onedate, date date.
Yep, like a date, like date daydate date.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
We've done a lot of cool things.
We've been to fights, we'vebeen to um, we went.
We used to go dancing a lot, soI love to go dancing.
You love to go dancing, oh yeah.
So I would take him dancing andnot like just as a club dancing
like reggaeton and all thatkind of stuff.
Oh yeah, got it, that's wherewe're going to go.
I like dancing a lot, so Iwould definitely go dancing and
(13:06):
have a really nice meal whenexactly I don't know.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
It doesn't matter where geographically, but if I
could do those things, have anice dinner and desserts I had a
pear dessert once.
I've never had that again.
It was delicious.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
But I love chocolate, so it doesn't matter.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
I love chocolate too.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
And dancing, and going, dancing, and dancing,
going, dancing.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
All right.
Favorite genre of music Oofthat's difficult.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
I like music.
I like a lot of merengue salsa.
I like reggaeton.
I like rock.
Really, yes, I like everything.
I love rock.
Really, yes, I like everything.
I love music.
I like old Frank Sinatra things.
Yeah, I love music.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
That's good.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Country music.
I'm not a fan of.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
But there are certain songs.
Maybe there are certain songs,yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Jolene.
I do this because she used to.
I forget her name, but she usedto sing and go like this with
her nails.
The person that sings that songJolene.
I do this because she used to.
I forget her name, but she usedto sing and go like this with
her nails.
The person that sings that'sJolene.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Yeah, I'm not just.
You're far ahead of me.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Anyways.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Yeah, thank you.
That's good.
That's good.
So we're going to get intocareer mode, right, and just
what you do on a daily.
So what inspired you to focuson your own practice?
You started your privatepractice in 2019, right.
So what just led you to do that?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Well, last time I worked for somebody I'm not
going to say who she was, a verya lady that you would look up
to, right, she had two practicesand she made it seem so easy,
like I'm like, if she can do it,I can do it.
(15:00):
So in a way she inspired me todo my own practice because I saw
her do it, with such of coursethere were issues and troubles
and whatnot, and it's not likeshe made it seem it was an easy
thing, but it just made it seemlike something I could do.
And I talked to my husband andI thankfully I had his support
(15:21):
at the time, because it's hardto do that, so he stayed working
where he was and I could startthis venture with doing my own
practice.
And that's why I did it,because I thought for the first
time that it was something thatI could.
You know, this is something Ican do.
So you did it and I did, you didyes, congratulations to you.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Congratulations to you, proud about that, you
should be, you should be.
And congratulations to uh DrVasquez as well, because there's
a lot of challenges that comeinto play when you're starting
your own business.
Yes, so I do admire theentrepreneurial spirit that you
both possess, but also thecamaraderie and the team that
you all have as well.
(16:05):
Just being that power coupletogether.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Yeah, we've been a couple since 2000.
Wow, we started dating in 1999and we became a couple in 2000
and we've been together eversince, with ups and downs and
everything in between.
But it is very, it is not easy,but it almost seems like I told
you, possible to do this kindof thing when you have support,
(16:30):
possible to do this kind ofthing when you have support, so,
and to have that, that riskspirit, a high risk spirit.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
So, because I think we're both like that and we just
said, why not?
Let's make it happen.
Good, good, congratulations toyou both.
My next question is just moreso about what are some of the
most common health concerns orhealth challenges you see as
mental health challenges, Ishould say.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Well, there's many, I would say.
Accessibility to mental healthservice is one of them, both
from the economical insuranceand a cultural, personal
perspective.
Economical, because noteverybody can pay for a therapy
(17:19):
session.
Insurance, because insurancemakes it difficult for both the
professional and sometimes thepeople to have access to the
services.
It's not as easy because not alot of professionals have or
take insurance, so it makesstill difficult for a lot of
(17:55):
people to recognize that theyneed services and then to
understand what it will do forthem.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Right, yes, that's a big piece too, just
understanding how psychology,clinical psychology, actually
impacts you from a mental healthstandpoint, and then it being
common as well in society ingeneral.
So what got you to?
What, would you say, changedjust the most about yourself
(18:27):
pursuing this business, thebusiness?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
The business and the profession are different.
So, pursuing the business, Ihad to learn so many things that
I didn't know.
I didn't know because to starta business, you, I studied
psychology.
I didn't take a break, like, Iwent from school to to undergrad
(18:54):
, to grad.
I did six years I didn't take abreak.
So I was a student, oh, foreverright, and I knew psychology
right.
I can say I know my, myprofession right.
But the business side of it isa completely different story.
Um, you have to understand somany things that I didn't, and
(19:15):
how to, how to start an llc andhow to do taxes and how to do
insurances and how to how tomarket yourself and do so many
aspects into it.
And everybody thinks, oh,entrepreneurship is so cool but
it's such a monster.
(19:36):
But at the same time it's sofun and you get to do so many
creative things and yourcreative side kind of takes part
into it.
So for me, the business parthas been a new professional
growth right it's been a lot.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Eye-opening for you.
Yes, right, ah, I would say thesame.
Just knowing how to deep divein, I would say what I've
learned the most is what yousaid is the marketing and
branding.
Like that is a beast in itself,yeah, and now I see why it's so
prevalent.
Like right now, you can Googleon your phone like marketing
(20:18):
companies or services firms nearme and there will be a list of
them, because there's such aneed now, with social media
being just so prevalent and justa must.
And some companies actuallydon't even have a website.
They have a social media pageand that's why I like
restaurants, for instance.
A lot of times with thoserestaurants, you go to their
Facebook page there areInstagram to learn the menu and
(20:39):
what they have for that day.
You don't even have a website.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Yeah, and I did my own website when I started with
I can't even remember theplatform that you used to do
that and, thankfully, mybrother-in-law, Jonathan Vasquez
he has a business where he doesthis for people he does the,
amongst other things, but hedoes the websites and all that.
(21:03):
And he, when he saw my website,he's like oh no, no, no, no, no
, that's not, that's not cute.
So he helped me with it andhe's the one that's been helping
me with my work Got it sothat's a big component.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
Big component, big component.
So we talked about just how youstarted up as far as business,
what you've learned, what youspecialize in, but let's get
more so into just how you canassist patients and the
community.
So what would you say are somesigns that a patient would be
appropriate for your servicesand, if you don't mind, just
(21:38):
listing just services that youprovide as well.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
I think, because I've done so many things, I am
really open with my population.
Like I said, I started in aninpatient unit, so inpatient,
there's a lot of people thathave very severe mental health
illnesses.
So I am not.
(22:01):
I don't shy away from thataspect, right.
And I don't see children, tinypeople, as much, because it's
time consuming.
It's different, it's adifferent preparation when you,
when you work with kids.
So right now I see earlyteenagers, let's say 10 preteens
(22:25):
to adults, and I do testing.
So I do ADHD testing, autismassessments, intellectual
assessment, for example.
If people want to do bariatricsurgeries and they need a
psychological evaluation, I dothose as well.
(22:46):
So medical evaluations forpre-surgical and stuff like that
.
So I do that.
I do individual therapy, I docouples counseling that's
interesting and I supervise.
So I have students that Isupervise, both in the mental
(23:09):
health and medical field.
So I supervise students thatare in LMHC or other psychology
students and they work in mypractice.
I found a way to make all thatwork so they can get paid for
the services they provide andthen they can get the
supervision they need.
And also for the medicalstudents, I teach them about
(23:31):
mental health and what theyshould know about working with
people in this field.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
So you're maximizing yes, yes, that's really good,
but also fostering the growth ofother individuals that are
trying to become that is one ofmy main, I think, passions.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
I love to teach.
I love to be part of theirgrowth, just like I had good
mentors.
I was so lucky when I was goingto school because I had really
good teachers and really goodprofessors and really good
mentors.
So I want to be that for otherpeople and I know how important
it is and how inspiring it is toto to have a good mentor and
(24:18):
how much it helps your careergrow versus a bad one, because
I've had bad ones too.
So I don't, I want to be thatgood person, that good stepping
stone for somebody else.
I really enjoy that.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Yes, that's one piece that I've learned really just
this year how impactfulmentorship is.
So just with areas in which I'mtrying to grow, like with
podcasting major shout out toNicole Will with Will Gather
podcast.
Melanie Hand, the probate nurse, melanie Hand the program nurse
(24:51):
.
Erin Thompson from Aspiring forMore she's also a podcaster.
So when I was going to startthis, I reached out to those
individuals to be mentors ofmine and they had free calls
with me, of course, no charge,and just really embraced my
(25:14):
vision and mission and gave mepointers, gave me tools and
assets that I could use toimplement in what I was trying
to do.
So mentorship is very importantif you're trying to grow
further in life, even withkeynote speaking.
So I want to become a speaker,I do speaking engagements at
assisted living facilities,skilled nursing facilities,
educations facilities, skillednursing facilities, educations
(25:34):
and one mentor who just embracedme was Ms Lisa Perez.
She's in a different industry,really primarily with human
resources, but just her justsetting up calls with me,
encouraging me, giving meguidance, books to read and
resources, has been justmonumental in just my growth as
well.
So healthcare I've had a mentor, so I would advise people just
(25:54):
in general, any segment of lifethat you want to grow in advance
.
Find someone that will be ableto foster your growth and really
take a passion on doing it.
Some people want to charge youevery time you talk to them or
call them.
That's okay.
Just find the next person.
Don't give up.
But that's something that Iwant to become one day as well
Someone that can pour back intoothers.
(26:17):
At Comfort Measures Consulting,we're here to help you navigate
the complexity of health care.
If you're caring for a lovedone as a caregiver, you don't
have resources, you don't knowwhat questions to ask.
You need to have options Right.
Give Comfort Measures a call.
(26:58):
Give us a chance.
First consultation is free.
Speak with me.
Comfort Measures Consultant,850-879-2182.
You can also visit our websiteat
wwwcomfortmeasuresconsultingcom.
Talk to you soon.
Talk to you soon.
Someone that can pour back intoothers, to give back to just
the youth as well.
Like sort of like you're doingas well.
(27:20):
Well, not sort of, but you aredoing it, but because I know
that someone gave me a chanceand a shot.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Yeah, and to be able to pass your knowledge on to
somebody else yes for sure itmakes it seem worthwhile.
Like I said, you know, you dothis thing for a long time and
you finally get to a place whereyou can share what you know
with others.
Why not?
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Why not?
Speaker 2 (27:42):
I don't want to take all this with me.
I want to leave a lot of gooddoctors out there so they can
take it on and probablyhopefully remember me once and
be like oh, I had this greatmentor, patrice Hernandez.
What was her other last name?
Speaker 1 (27:57):
Don't get normal to pronounce it.
Yes, but thank you for that.
That's wonderful.
So for patients, familycaregivers, just what can they
expect from their experiencewith mother mind psychology?
Speaker 2 (28:12):
Well, we, I think one of the things that
differentiates us from everybodyelse is that we wanted to do
kind of old school medicine.
We wanted to be accessible toour patients.
We wanted our patients and wewant our patients, when they
(28:32):
come in, to feel like this is myplace, this is home, this is a
place that I know.
Um, as you've been, you knowyou've been to the office.
Um, we have little things thatseem to be important.
Do you want water?
Do you want coffee?
How you feel, today, we chatwith our, our people.
(28:53):
Yes, right, we talk to them.
We don't just, like you know,robotically do our thing 15
minutes, boom, you're out.
We talk to them.
We, we really want them andwhen I say we's because of me,
dr Vasquez, the people that workwith us.
We really want people to feelthat they've come to a place,
that they're going to belistened to and taken care of
(29:15):
and that there's a that's,there's a place for them, right,
um, the, the medical field hasturned into what I think is a
very kind of process, washedkind of a thing.
You go in and out and what'syour name and it's?
It's kind of like that andpeople go to the doctor, people
go to a psychologist becausethey're hurting physically,
(29:37):
emotionally.
They need somebody to listen tothem and I think in the field
that has been unfortunately losta little bit, to be kind, right
.
So we wanted to do this for usbecause this is the service we
wanted to be able to provide,because when you're a doctor and
(30:00):
you're working for bigcompanies, you you have to
follow the the rules right.
You have to.
You cannot stay with a clientfor more than this and you have
to do this in a certain way.
Oh, that's that.
You know.
You can't do more than that.
Like no, that's a person.
That's a person that's comingin that has both mental,
emotional, physical problems.
(30:22):
Yes, and to work together hasbeen.
We knew it was going to be good, because we believe in our
product, we know that, we knowwhat we're doing, but, to see it
, it has been humbling.
Um, because I have a patientthat needs medication, or has
been contemplating medication,or says to me well, I don't want
(30:44):
to take medication because theside effects are all this.
No problem, I have Dr Vasquezhere, he's going to talk to you
about that and if you have anyquestions, you call him and he's
very accessible to his patients.
Yes, very accessible.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Can I chime in there?
Sure, all right.
So with Dr Vasquez.
He's the first physician thatI've seen come from behind the
counter area back in the back,come out and sit in the lobby
and have a conversation with.
I've never seen that before.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Oh yeah, we're not just saying it, we legit do this
.
Yes, his knee, and, by the way,I'm feeling very depressed or
blah, blah, blah.
Oh, I have a psychologypractice right here, right here,
(31:32):
and he calls me.
He goes like Dr Hernandez, Iwant you to, to meet so-and-so,
and and of course, he asks is itokay if she comes in?
Yes, how you doing?
He has, or she has, a couple ofminutes with me right there and
there.
So it's, that is what we wantedto create and I am so thankful
that we're able to do it and togrow.
It's been difficult, becauseeverything that starts it's
(31:58):
difficult, but we've seen ithappen and I'm so proud that I
can do that.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
Yes, so, so that we're clear, for clarification,
give us the full um experience,because I know dr vasquez, your
spouse, right, what he does, butalso your location is all one
right, it's all inclusive.
So just get from a start tofinish perspective, because I
know we're speaking of him.
Uh, but just, I want to justgive people, if they were to
(32:22):
come to the office one day,right, how would that experience
be just okay?
Speaker 2 (32:27):
so we have, um, I would say, a building and
building, small building, andit's in lutz.
You come in the door and thefront desk is not separate, it's
just one big front desk.
You're welcome by any of us.
It could be me, it could beVasquez, it could be his nurse
and we just say who you're hereto see with Dr Vasquez or Dr
(32:52):
Hernandez.
So we have two practices thatare there Mother Mind Psychology
LLC, it's me, and then VastCare, that's him.
So we have a medical practiceand a psychology practice that
is in just one space.
It's not that he has to call mefrom far away.
I'm right there and he's alsoright there.
(33:13):
So it's very familiar.
And when you come in the door,the first thing that we do is
who you're, who do you want tosee or who you're here for,
right?
So it's is that accessibilityto us?
And I don't know after that, ifyou have a consult with Dr
Vasquez and then you want tohave a consult with me, we have
(33:35):
the same phone number.
We have different kind of unitsor I don't know how you call it
, but you call the office andyou can meet with me or you can
meet with him.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
Yes, and you can text them as well.
Text messages calls very cleanlocation as well.
And the restrooms, too.
The restrooms I'm big on likegoing to nasty restrooms, but
very clean, very clean locationas well.
And the restrooms, too.
The restrooms I'm big on likegoing to nasty restrooms, but
very clean, very clean location.
So.
And the aesthetics, like, didyou do decorate?
Speaker 2 (34:04):
decor.
I'm not super huge ondecoration, but we managed to
pull through y'all dig sovasquez is the kind of creative
side of our life.
He's a very creative humanhuman.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
I can believe that for sure.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
So, um, and I, I I'm kind of more the organizer of
things, Right, Um, but I just itjust works.
So if you ask me, am I incharge?
No, I, we did it kind of since99, 2000.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
That's a long time, so that's good, you guys.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
the bathroom was me though I did.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
You like the restroom ?
Yes, I like the restroom.
Good, good, okay, so if youcould share your experiences
with, of course, let's Get Comfy.
It's empowering listeners toage more comfortably.
We provide the resources todoing so.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
So if you can share your experiences, with mental
health issues, with patientsthat you may have that's above
the age of 60 years old.
Yes, so the elderly is a verydear population to my heart,
because when I started in thehospital in Puerto Rico, the
population was mainly elderlypeople, dementia patients for
different reasons.
Dementia is not justAlzheimer's, it could be other
(35:18):
kinds of dementia.
So I did not know that I wasgoing to enjoy working with that
population as much as I did.
I think when you're you hit acertain age and you have certain
things, you've earned yourright to.
You know to just be blah withlife, like I had this old lady
(35:40):
once tell me like are you stupid?
You've asked me that samequestion three times.
I was like you know, I keptdoing my interview with her and
the nurse was like don't you?
It doesn't bother you that shejust called you.
Or just like no, she earned herright to call me stupid.
Like yeah, it's fine, we'regoing to be OK.
So it is just nice to take careof them.
(36:03):
And they need so much takingcare of and so much respect,
because people tend to treatelderly like their kids.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
Right.
Speaker 2 (36:10):
Because they lost certain abilities and skills and
functions.
And no, no, no, no, no, that'san adult, that's a grown person
there battling or going throughthings.
Don't treat him like he's achild or stupid or right.
So I I found a lot of respectand a lot of love and a lot of
fun memories.
I have so many good memoriesfrom those years at the hospital
(36:32):
.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
So I'm thinking about situations right now myself
yeah, so yeah, yes you work withthe elderly too, with in
skilled nursing.
I worked as an administrator fora few years, uh, and just
dealing with, uh, some of ourcustomers that in the, the
skilled nursing facility man, itwas hilarious.
They say things that yeah, Idon't want to repeat it because
(36:54):
I don't want someone to remember, like who I'm talking about.
But yeah, really funnysituation, like the words they
would say I can tell you somestories, but I don't want to say
it on camera because it's justwords, all right, but they are
fun stories I love to talk aboutthem and I laugh at everything
(37:15):
as an administrator.
I think that was probably likemy I don't know down.
You have to have good humor,you have to have a good sense of
humor to work with thispopulation.
Yeah, I used to have to turn myback sometimes, so my team
wouldn't see me laughing.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
But yeah, it was a prayer, I used to laugh.
Yeah, you have to have goodhumor.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
Yeah, so I love laughing anyway.
So that's just who I am.
So what are some myths orstigmas you think that people
encounter when they're seekingprofessional services?
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Myths you say Myths, yes, that I'm going to fix them.
A lot of people come to me andthey think I'm going to fix them
.
And I don't fix people.
I am not a mechanic.
Right, we work together to getyou to where you need to be,
where you want to be, where youfeel healthy, where you feel
(38:11):
good.
So I, my job, is not fixing myheart, my job is guiding you
through your health process andjourney and that's how I like to
see myself.
And I think a myth is that yougo to the doctor or and they fix
you right, like, oh, you bringme your child and boom, boom,
boom, I tie this and that andthere you go, a respectful,
young little man.
No, it takes a lot of work andit takes kind of that back and
(38:33):
forth and that adults givingtheir time, kids giving their
time, doing their part in theirhealth journey.
I think the misconception isthat it's entirely up to the
physician or the person that'staking care of you.
Your health is yourresponsibility.
I am here 100% when that personis in my chair, with me in the
(38:55):
chair, they have my full,divided attention.
I am there 100% when thatperson is in my chair, with me
in the chair.
They have my full dividedattention.
I am there 100% committing tomaking you feel better and get
better and give you everythingthat I know to help you in that
process.
But it's kind of your job toyou know.
Speaker 1 (39:09):
Well, you know.
They say you know it starts athome.
Yeah, it starts at home most ofthe time.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
So I think the biggest myth is that and also
that you're crazy because youneed services.
That word crazy I have such anissue with, really, because I
love it.
I love crazy.
Crazy is good, crazy isdifferent, crazy is fun, crazy
(39:34):
can be out of the box you knowwhat I mean, but people feel
kind of bad about it, right?
Speaker 1 (39:40):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (39:41):
I think when I started in my practice, one of
the first things that I rememberwas Salvador Dali.
Salvador Dali is a painter,surrealist painter.
He's the one that has themustache.
We have a museum in Tampa here.
You should go if you haven't.
I love him, yeah, and he, forme, was one of the first
(40:06):
presentations to crazy.
Also, comedians sometimes oh,that's a crazy person.
No, they're just.
They think outside the the box.
They have a different timingwith how they think, and so I
think crazy, as much as peoplewant to say, is a bad thing.
I don't see it as a bad thing,so I wish that myth would just
go out the door go out the door,okay.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
So why would a caregiver let's say a caregiver
who's having a challengingexperience with a loved one that
they've, they're taking care ofat home what would they be
prompted to?
Take them to see a psychologist?
Speaker 2 (40:43):
For many reasons.
I think sadness, for example,is normal.
Our emotions are normal Anger,sadness, joy.
Our emotions are emotions RightNow.
When those emotions turn intosomething persistent that causes
problems to the person and tothose around them, then you
should go get some help right.
(41:05):
Um, in the elderly community, Ithink a lot of things are,
pardon me, normalized in thewrong way, like, oh, that's just
because they're old, or that,that's just because they're a
little kid.
They minimize things that arewrong with them.
So I think that is an importantaspect when you see that things
(41:27):
are causing a problem for youor somebody else, you should
definitely go seek some help.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
That's good.
That's good, and that's anotherpiece I wanted to add is a lot
of time with our elderlypopulation as well.
They don't even consider seeinga psychologist.
All right.
So, dr Hernandez, if someonewas interested in your services,
do you provide consultations?
Speaker 2 (41:51):
Yes, the best thing to do is to call the office, let
us know what your concern isand we will pair you with the
right person for you and theright service for you.
So the thing to do is just tocall the office and let us know
how we can help.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
Okay For our listeners and audience.
How can they find you?
Your social media accounts,website?
Let them know.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
Okay, so you can call the number 813-400-0375.
We are also on Instagram andFacebook.
That would be with my name,patricia Saidi, or Mother Mind
Psychology.
That's how you would find us,and we are in Lutz, so that's
our physical office.
Speaker 1 (42:36):
Okay, all right.
Thanks for watching.
If you found this informationhelpful, don't forget to like,
comment and subscribe and hitthe notification bell so you
never miss an update.
Have any comments or want toshare your thoughts?
Drop them in the commentsection below.
Until next time, stay empowered.
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