Brandon Psychiatric Assoc

I must say that I was not happy to go to Brandon Psychiatric Associates, or any type of counseling after being charged with a DUI in late 2011. I did not want to go to DACCO, so I chose Brandon Psychiatric Associates (BPA), which I had never heard of. I was skeptical after my initial consultation with Hanzel Pereira, and when I got my recommendation in the mail that I had to attend 10 group sessions and 12 AA/NA meetings, I was not happy at all. I believed that he was part of the big ""scam"" to get people who are charged with DUIs to pay money for treatment that many of us don't need. I read the previous review that BPA is a scam, and I was pretty bitter about this place and Mr. Pereira. I was mad at everyone and everything associated with my DUI, except for myself. After my first group session, I actually felt a little better about being forced into treatment/counseling. The topic of the first of ten sessions was about stress and ways to relax. I must say, I was very relaxed after my first session. After my 2nd and 3rd sessions, I started to actually like attending these group sessions. Through the course of my treatment, I learned to take responsibility for my own actions, instead of blaming them on everyone else. I made the decision to drive drunk ( BAL of .213/.197). Mr. Pereira did not make me drive drunk, the DMV didn't make me drive drunk, MADD didn't make me drive drunk, I made that decision! In the course of my treatment, I grew up and learned to take responsibility for my actions. I was still a bit skeptical about Mr. Pereira, because I hadn't talked to him one-on-one since my initial consultation. After my first of two one-on-one counseling sessions, I felt that Mr. Pereir is a pretty nice guy. He listened very intently to my as I spoke, and he provided me with insight into my own problems in life, not just with drinking, but with my childhood, my relationships, my occupation, etc. I really feel like I benefitted from my session with Mr. Pereira. After my 10 group sessions were over, I had my final one-on-one session with Mr. Pereira. I was very pleased by my session with him and I am extremely grateful for helping me with some problems that I had in my life. Mr. Pereira is not a Doctor, and he never claims to be one. Just because he is not a Doctor does not mean that he is not skilled at being a counselor. I know plenty of Doctors who are not nearly as caring as Mr. Pereira. He is a smart and very caring individual. He genuinely cares about clients/patients. I am very thankful to Mr. Pereira and I highly recommend him and BPA to anyone who must undergo treatment for DUI/drugs, or whatever. Mr. Pereira is not a con-artist and he is not trying to scam people out of their money. If anyone is trying to scam you out of money, it is your Attorney, and this is coming from the son of an Attorney. I realized that I cannot change the fact that I got a DUI, and I cannot change the fact that I was recommended to attend counseling. The Judge and the DMV are the ones who made me attend treatment, not Mr. Pereira or BPA. My recommendation to anyone who must attend counseling for their DUI or drug charge: make the best of it. You are paying for it, so keep an open mind and try to learn something. If you stay mad and blame everyone else for YOUR crime, then you are bound to repeat the crime and next time, you will be paying much more than you are paying for your initial treatment. I can't compare BPA to any other treatment facilities, because I have only attended this one, but I feel that I am a better person after my counseling sessions with Hanzel Pereira. more

First let me say that Hanzel Pereira is not a doctor; if you go in his office to see him there are no diplomas or qualifications being displayed. He shares an office with the front desk clerk. He has a Masters...I know a lot of people with Masters and have received one myself...it is one of those things you only get what you put into learning and you can squeak by and get one and if his diplomas are not out to see I would assume his schooling was nothing to be proud of. Now, on to the actual purpose of this office. He is part of the group that makes money off DUI cases. Hillsborough county has a program all DUI suspects (and I say suspects because you have to complete this before your case is even heard) have to go through in order to keep their license. First they do not give you a choice on programs. They have a vendor with special ties to the county and you have to attend that one school. No other schools can be created and offer their services which means there is no competition and no reason for them to improve their services or even have decent services. This is apparently how it is in all of FL counties; it is really a shame they force people into a program that could have a positive impact but because it is not better through competition it is just a way for friends of the county to make money. Brandon Psychiatric Associates is part of the second half of the program. In this half you have few choices unlike the school part (and a few is very limited) but it is still run by con-artists like this facility who see $ walk through the door and not people instead of facilities wanted to help make a difference in people that need help. First after speaking with many others who have been around this system, lawyers, individuals,etc, they all know that no person will ever be found to need anything else besides a long treatment plan. This was told to me upfront before becoming involved and it was 100% true. One facility I spoke to over the phone to set up an appointment for evaluation said point blank that I would need treatment. (I wish my medical dr was this good at his job that instead of me going to his office I could call him and he could have a diagnosis without asking any questions at all...but alas, he is a real dr and that would be impossible). So I walked away from that facility and set up the evaluation with this one. Still a bad choice. The receptionists apparently don't realize that a 1/4 inch thick piece of glass can't block their conversations from being heard. They were making fun of the people coming into the office...great start. Then there was a 10 min meeting with Mr Pereira, most of the time him reading my file from the dui school because he didn't even know my name before he walked in the room (still doesn't, misspelled in in all his documents). Then he proceeded to say I would need treatment and when I dared to ask questions said he would mail his ""recommendation"" in order to end this conversation. And of course; it is a long treatment with big price tags next to each treatment. If I don't complete it my licence is taken away. They all know this and they are only interested in collecting as much money from dui cases before the individual is done running through the county's gauntlet of special favors to friends. Here is what I equate this with. They have these people that have to attend something, the time of individuals is spent. They could spend the time and money in a way that is truly trying to help but instead the county doesn't care to find reputable businesses and allows special connected companies to line their pockets. It takes a special breed of unethical people to do this sort of thing and Mr. Pereira is one of them. more