J.J. Valderrama Behavioral Management Center

29/04/2026

💡 “Recovery is a process of becoming present again, where even the smallest moments can feel refreshing and real.”

Recovery becomes more meaningful when individuals reconnect with the present moment. Studies in mindfulness-based interventions show that cultivating awareness enhances emotional regulation, reduces cravings, and supports sustained recovery outcomes (Bowen et al., 2014).

Presence restores a sense of connection that is often disrupted during addiction. When individuals learn to slow down and engage with their immediate experience, they begin to notice simple yet significant moments. This awareness strengthens their ability to respond rather than react, builds resilience, and supports healthier coping patterns over time.

At J.J. Valderrama Behavioral Management Center(JJVBMC), presence is nurtured through structured therapeutic practices. These include mindfulness exercises, guided reflections, grounding techniques, and experiential activities that encourage clients to stay engaged in the here and now. Through these interventions, clients develop the capacity to observe their thoughts and emotions without judgment, reconnect with their environment, and find meaning in everyday experiences.

In treatment, presence transforms routine moments into opportunities for growth. Recovery deepens when life is experienced fully, one moment at a time.

Reference:
Bowen, S., Chawla, N., & Marlatt, G. A. (2014). Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Addictive Behaviors: A Clinician’s Guide. Guilford Press.

28/04/2026

Who really gets better?
Page 122

"We can also use the steps to improve our attitudes. Our best thinking got us into trouble. We recognize the need for change."

Basic Text, p. 55

When new in recovery, most of us had at least one person we just couldn't stand. We thought that person was the rudest, most obnoxious person in the program. We knew there was something we could do, some principle of recovery we could practice to get over the way we felt about this person--but what? We asked our sponsor for guidance. We were probably assured, with an amused smile, that if we just kept coming back, we'd see the person get better. That made sense to us. We believed that the steps of NA worked in the lives of everyone. If they could work for us, they could work for this horrible person, too.

Time passed, and at some point we noticed that the person didn't seem as rude or obnoxious as before. In fact, he or she had become downright tolerable, maybe even likeable. We got a pleasant jolt as we realized who had really gotten better. Because we had kept coming back, because we had kept working the steps, our perception of this person had changed. The person who'd plagued us had become "tolerable" because we'd developed some tolerance; he or she had become "likeable" because we'd developed the ability to love.

So who really gets better? We do! As we practice the program, we gain a whole new outlook on those around us by gaining a new outlook on ourselves.

Just for Today: As I get better, so will others. Today, I will practice tolerance and try to love those I meet.

Copyright (c) 2007-2023, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved

23/04/2026

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸?

🌟 Whether it is stress from school, pressure at work, conflict at home, or simply having too much on your mind, strong emotions can sometimes make us react before we think.

✨ Emotional self-regulation is an important part of mental health and recovery. It helps us pause, reflect, and respond in healthier ways—for ourselves and for the people around us.

🎯 Learning how to manage emotions can help you:
✔ Communicate better
✔ Make healthier choices
✔ Handle stress more effectively
✔ Build stronger relationships

No one gets it right all the time—and that is okay. What matters is learning, growing, and giving yourself the chance to respond differently next time.

📍 Brought to you by J.J. Valderrama Behavioral Management Center in partnership with SMCTI AB Psychology Program Student Interns

20/04/2026

Welcome to J.J. Valderrama Behavioral Management Center, student-interns from Malayan Psychology Association(Batch 1)! We are delighted to have you join us for your .

May this internship be a meaningful season of growth deepening your skills, strengthening your compassion, and enriching your understanding as you support individuals on their journey to recovery.

We look forward to learning and growing together with you!

20/04/2026

Welcome to J.J. Valderrama Behavioral Management Center, student-interns from SMCTI AB Psychology Program (Batch 1)! We are delighted to have you join us for your .

May this internship be a meaningful season of growth deepening your skills, strengthening your compassion, and enriching your understanding as you support individuals on their journey to recovery.

We look forward to learning and growing together with you!

20/04/2026

💡 "Together in recovery, we become stronger - lifting one another, growing as one, and proving that healing is brighter when shared."

Recovery becomes more sustainable when it is shared. Research shows that peer support and connected communities are essential in strengthening long term recovery outcomes (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2017).

Unity in treatment helps restore a sense of belonging, something often lost during addiction. When individuals feel understood and supported by others who share similar experiences, they are more likely to stay engaged, build confidence in their ability to change, and reduce the risk of relapse.

At J.J. Valderrama Behavioral Management Center (JJVBMC), unity is intentionally developed through structured group dynamics activities. These include sharing circles, process groups, team building exercises, and therapeutic activities that encourage openness, trust, and mutual support. Through these experiences, clients learn to listen without judgment, express themselves honestly, and hold one another accountable. The group becomes a safe space where healing is not done alone, but alongside others who understand the journey.

In treatment, unity transforms struggle into strength. Healing deepens when it is experienced together.

Reference:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2017). Value of Peer Support Services in Substance Use Disorder Recovery. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

16/04/2026

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗹: 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆

During the first days of the month, as Holy Week was observed, everything seemed to slow down just enough for people to pause, breathe, and reflect. For our clients at J.J. Valderrama Behavioral Management Center, it became more than a tradition. It became a meaningful space for healing, connection, and quiet renewal.

Throughout the week, clients took part in simple but intentional activities such as arts and crafts, film viewings, and the Stations of the Cross. These moments allowed them to express what they sometimes could not put into words, reflect on their own journeys, and see pieces of themselves in the stories they encountered. In the stillness, many began to understand their experiences more deeply.

The Stations of the Cross became a particularly meaningful experience, offering a space to pause, reflect, and begin letting go of pain, guilt, and burdens that have long been carried. It gently opened conversations about forgiveness, both for others and for oneself.

There was also something comforting in returning to familiar traditions. Clients came together to prepare Filipino delicacies like champorado, biko, and binignit, a practice many grew up with during Holy Week. In these shared moments, there was laughter, cooperation, and a sense of home. Sometimes, healing also happens in these small and ordinary experiences.

Recovery, much like the message of Holy Week, is not a straight path. It comes with struggles, setbacks, and the quiet decision to keep going. Each person carries their own story, but within those stories is always the possibility of change.

At JJ Valderrama Behavioral Management Center, we continue to create spaces like this, where healing is not rushed, people are met with understanding, and growth is nurtured in both simple and meaningful ways.

“𝙄𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙄𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙖𝙡.”

16/04/2026

"Acting as if"
Page 110

"Today, we seek solutions, not problems. We try what we have learned on an experimental basis."

Basic Text, p. 58

The first time we heard that we should "act as if," many of us exclaimed, "But that's not honest! I thought we were always supposed to be honest about our feelings in Narcotics Anonymous."

Perhaps we can reflect on when we first came into the program. We may not have believed in God, but we prayed anyway. Or maybe we weren't sure the program would work for us, but we kept coming to meetings regardless of what we thought. The same applies as we progress in recovery. We may be terrified of crowds, but if we act confidently and extend our hand, we'll not only feel better about ourselves, we'll find that we are no longer so frightened of large gatherings.

Each action we take in this vein brings us closer to becoming the people we were meant to be. Each positive change we make builds our self-esteem. Through acting differently, we will realize that we are beginning to think differently. We are living ourselves into right thinking by "acting as if."

Just for Today: I will take the opportunity to act as if I can accept a situation I used to run from.

Copyright (c) 2007-2023, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved

06/04/2026

💡 “Like Easter eggs brought to life with color, recovery reminds us that new beginnings are always possible. Hope is real.”

Easter Sunday is a celebration of life renewed. At the heart of this tradition is the Easter egg, a symbol of new beginnings, hope, and transformation. What once appears simple and unadorned is carefully transformed into something vibrant, full of color and meaning.

At J.J. Valderrama Behavioral Management Center, this message came to life as each client painted their own Easter egg. Through colors, patterns, and designs, they expressed their personal recovery journeys and their pursuit of better, renewed beginnings. Each egg became more than an artwork. It became a reflection of growth, hope, and the courage to move forward.

Just as an egg is brought to life through creativity and intention, recovery is a process of rediscovering life within ourselves. Every stroke of color reflects a step toward healing and a renewed sense of purpose.

Easter reminds us that new beginnings are always within reach. And through this simple yet meaningful activity, each painted egg stands as a quiet but powerful testament that recovery is real, and that a brighter, more meaningful life is always possible.

📷 Taken during their Easter Sunday activity

01/04/2026

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴!

At J.J. Valderrama Behavioral Management Center, healing lives in everyday moments that make the space feel safe and alive.

Meet some of the center’s companions:

𝐒𝐧𝐞𝐤𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐚, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 🐍
𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 🦜
𝐓𝐨𝐛𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐭 🐱
𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐨𝐢 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡 🐟

Their presence brings a gentle kind of comfort. A pause, a breath, a sense of calm. These simple encounters often become part of the healing journey, creating space for connection, ease, and quiet reflection.

Thank you to CMC Lions' Quill for capturing these moments.

01/04/2026

01/04/2026

𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲

The J.J. Valderrama Behavioral Management Center hosted PsychExplore 2026, a flagship program of the CMC Psychology Department, on March 27, 2026, bringing third-year Psychology students into a space where theory is translated into lived clinical practice.

The program opened with a welcoming message from Jerry Joseph C. Valderrama, ICAP II, ICAP RS, Program Director and CEO, who underscored the responsibility of future psychology professionals to uphold ethical standards while remaining grounded in compassion and real-world understanding.

At the core of the activity was a lecture on psychological assessment delivered by Argel Joseph S. Aventura, RPsy, RPm, ICAP I, Clinical Operations Supervisor. The session outlined the center’s actual assessment processes, from intake and test administration to documentation and interpretation, situating these within the broader context of rehabilitation and client-centered care.

Participants were then guided through the facility, gaining firsthand insight into therapeutic environments and multidisciplinary approaches to recovery. A structured demonstration of psychological testing further deepened their appreciation of both the technical precision and ethical discipline required in assessment practice.

PsychExplore 2026 reflects a shared commitment to formative education, one that moves beyond instruction and into immersion. Through this collaboration, students were not only informed, but also oriented toward the realities, responsibilities, and deeper purpose of psychological work.

The partnership between the JJ Valderrama Behavioral Management Center and Central Mindanao Colleges continues to affirm the importance of experiential learning in shaping competent, ethical, and practice-ready professionals.

📷 Photos by CMC Lions' Quill