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Review content:
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.
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