All mothers want what is best for their child. We try to guide them to do the right thing and make the right choices. We will go to any length to protect them. As they grow older and reach their teenage years, some of these things become more challenging. As a mother of a 13 year old girl, I realized quickly how challenging these times can be. My daughter made a very poor choice and succumbed to peer pressure. She and her friends were caught shoplifting. This was devastating to our family. I knew that we needed help in sorting through why this occurred, and more importantly, we needed help in moving past this.
My daughter and I were extremely fortunate to find Dr. Brittany Bevilacqua. I knew the minute I spoke with Dr. Bevilacqua things were going to be ok. In a situation like this, one wants a knowledgeable professional. But more importantly, I was looking for someone with compassion as well. Someone that would make my daughter feel comfortable in sharing information. That is EXACTLY what we received when we spoke with Dr. Bevilacqua. After my daughter’s first visit, she asked if she could go see “Dr. B” more than once a week! I knew then that I had made the right choice.
Our unfortunate experience turned into a positive with the help of Dr. Bevilacqua. While I would not want to repeat the reason why we became acquainted with her, I would seek her services, guidance and friendship again if ever my daughter or I need to “talk.”
Thank you Dr. B!
–Mother of 13 year old girl
We sought help from Dr. B on the recommendation of a colleague. At first, we only needed her services for one of our sons. He was having a difficult time regulating his emotions and anxieties while playing sports. We tried everything we could at home to help him, but he needed someone impartial to help him learn coping skills. Dr. B helped our son develop those skills and transfer those skills when needed. Dr. B also helped our older son during a difficult time in middle school. He was going through a challenging period with peers and needed someone impartial to talk to. Dr. B was the perfect person for our sons. We found her to be easy to talk to and open up to. Both of our sons looked forward to seeing her. She taught our sons coping and self-regulating techniques that helped them in all settings of their lives. We would recommend Dr. B to anyone who needs help with these skills.
–Mother of 10 and 13 year old boys
My wife and seventeen year old daughter were involved in a head on collision about a year ago. My daughter was driving, and the psychological effects were extremely traumatic for her. I knew I had to find her help, but being a teenager it couldn’t be just anyone, it had to be the right fit. Dr. Bevilacqua was the perfect fit. Having conversed with other psychologists, and viewing profiles, Dr. Bevilacqua just kept moving to the top of my list. Once our relationship was established and our daughter began her sessions it was obvious that my concerns of “have I made the right choice in terms of helping my daughter “were answered time and again by the immediate results. I am so thankful and so blessed to have found Dr. Bevilacqua, and can only say what a positive experience my family and I have had. I would like to encourage anyone in a similar situation to do the same, and I feel that though there are many in the field to choose from, if given the chance Dr. Bevilacqua would be at the top of your list as well.
–Father of 17 year old girl
I began treatment with Dr. Bevilacqua (Dr. B as I so affectionately called her) after my mother and I were involved in a head on automobile collision. Before beginning treatment my life was completely turned upside down and I felt as though I was beyond repair. Not only was my physical health damaged but my mental well being. In my mind, life would never be the same; and granted although that was true it has turned out to be much different than I had foreseen. I was in a dark place, spinning out of control and praying for a way out until I began sessions with Dr. B. At first I was apprehensive and did not want to share any of the thoughts I had with anyone let alone a complete stranger. It turns out that stranger was exactly what I needed; she listened to me and never judged anything I said. She was kind, compassionate, and understanding. She listened and comforted me all while making me feel “normal” for the first time in months. Dr. B was the very friend I needed in that time. After a few introductory sessions I was diagnosed with acute PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and Dr. B taught me ways to confront and deal with how I was feeling. I couldn’t sleep due to having vivid and painful nightmares; I would have panic attacks all throughout the day and I was having trouble getting back into the swing of life. However Dr. B taught me relaxation techniques and offered helpful suggestions as to distract myself and help me to move on from the pain. Without Dr. B I would be in a completely different place in my life, and I can guarantee it wouldn’t be a healthy or successful one like I am in now. There is no way that I could possibly thank Dr. B for all of her help, she truly connected with me and helped me change for the better.
–17 year old girl
Dr. Bevilacqua helped our family through some trying times with our 6 year old daughter. She was kind, intelligent, and offered a much needed professional perspective on the issues our daughter was facing. Most of all, our daughter bonded with Dr. B more than we ever imagined. Our anxious and shy little girl looked forward to her weekly counseling session with Dr. B. Thank you for helping our little girl overcome her anxiety and giving us the tools we needed to understand her. We will always be grateful!
–Mother of 6 year old girl
As a parent, you want to do everything in your power to protect your children and make them feel safe and happy. When your child begins to experience sadness and depression and slips into a deep, dark state, you begin to feel as though you have no control. As a father, this can be particularly terrifying. When my teenage son began to show signs of depression, we tried several therapists and none seemed to be helping. Then we found Dr. Bevilacqua. My son was adamant before the first session saying, “There’s no way I am talking to another person.” When my wife and I met with Dr. Bevilacqua, she instantly reassured us that being afraid to open up was a common experience, especially among teenage boys. We were still unsure that this would work at all, but we gave it a try and I am so glad we did. After that first session, our son came out and said, “I can come back here.” For a boy who refused to open up to anyone, this was a shocking and exciting change. He began to see Dr. Bevilacqua weekly and we began to see subtle changes at home with our son right away. Dr. Bevilacqua coordinated with other doctors and after 6 months, our son is the happiest we have seen him in ages. He now looks forward to his sessions with Dr. Bevilacqua and we cannot thank her enough for all she has done to help our family.
–Father of 15 year old boy
I cannot recommend Dr. B highly enough. I contacted her after the birth of my first child. When he was 6 months old, I was continuing to feel sad, irritable, and worried over every detail to the point that I could not eat, sleep or function well at work. I began to doubt that I had made the right decision to become a mother, and figured I must be horrible for even having thoughts like I did. What mom was as bad as I was? I was so scared to tell anyone how I felt for fear that they would cart me away and lock me up, never to see my family again. When I got up the nerve to call Dr. B, I cried with her on the phone because she instantly made me feel heard and supported, and reassured me that I was a good mom for making this call. After our first session together, I knew that I could do this, even if it was a long journey and even if I was not the perfect mom that society makes us feel we have to be. I began to look forward to our sessions, and it gave me the boost I needed to get through the week. I began to feel more confident, more relaxed with myself and with my son, and we also worked on strengthening my relationship with my husband which had deteriorated. Dr. B is so “real” and after almost a year working together, I was happy, healthy, and even pregnant with baby number 2! I now have 2 wonderful children, a marriage that is stronger than ever, and a new appreciation for being true to myself and not worrying about being “perfect” anymore. Thank you so much, Dr. B!