Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Patsy Manzanares
Hi Dr. Patsy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a true Gemini, I have always found myself at the center of everything. People come to me with various life situations, seeking advice, compassion, and a space to be heard; I became a vessel for their stories. I still remember during my master’s level training, a supervisor said, “You are going to make such a good therapist; you know how to listen.”
During my undergraduate studies at Florida International University in Miami, FL, I listened with the ear of a social worker and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Social Work. Then, in my master’s program, I listened with the ear of a therapist and graduated with a Master’s in Mental Health. Now, I listen with the ear of a doctor in clinical psychology. My clinical practice focuses on listening, holding space, giving grace, and honoring the truth without judgment.
I feel like I have heard it all, although I am often proven wrong with new, shocking twists, given my exposure to complex clinical environments. I have practiced in a drug treatment center in downtown Miami, FL, where patients stay with their children; in private practice providing court-mandated treatment to registered sex offenders; and administering psychological testing for individuals in the midst of their immigration process.
The two clinical settings that had the largest impact on my career development are at opposite ends of the spectrum. First, providing psychological care and drug rehabilitation intervention in a federal prison in Miami, FL, and then completing my formal training at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in Center City, MN, a world-renowned drug treatment facility.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have had such diverse and enriching exposure to individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders. Today, I own my private practice on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. Grounding Deeper LLC fills a crucial need for Puerto Ricans, primarily due to the lack of mental health resources on our island, especially providers specializing in substance use disorders.
My patients are relatively diverse, ranging from individuals living paycheck to paycheck to those from much higher socioeconomic backgrounds than I could have ever imagined. Regardless of their backgrounds, they all choose to prioritize their mental health
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey to becoming a clinical psychologist has not been a smooth road. Just today, I was talking to my students about the various times I failed my licensure exam. Each failure was heartbreaking, pushing my goal of treating patients in my community further away. For three years, I endured a cycle of studying, failing, studying, failing, all while managing life and personal stressors. During this time, I became a mother twice and underwent brain surgery twice.
Finally, in 2023, I passed the Puerto Rico licensure exam and opened my practice within a month. Thankfully, I am now filling up my spots and have even had the opportunity to offer concierge psychology services, traveling with my patients.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Grounding Deeper LLC?
Grounding Deeper is a private practice offering mental health and substance use treatment for adults in Puerto Rico. As a licensed clinical psychologist, I provide patients with a space to process and understand their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, and I equip them with tools to manage them effectively. Regarding substance use, I lean towards a harm reduction-based model, exploring with patients the type of safe and healthy relationship they want to have with their substance. Some patients identify that their substance use is harmful, and we develop a plan for an abstinence-based approach. For those who wish to reduce the harm of their substance use, I work with them using evidence-based research to provide skills for harm reduction, even with small changes in behavior or thinking.
Currently, I offer mental health sessions at Ashford Community Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and via telemedicine using a HIPAA-compliant platform. Additionally, I offer concierge services, including home visits and the availability to travel with patients to provide psychological and addiction support. One aspect I take pride in is being always on call for my patients. I wish more patients would utilize the service of reaching out to me through our HIPAA-compliant messaging system for support between sessions!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @GroundingDeeper
- Facebook: @GroundingDeeper
