November Newsletter
MACT Health November 2025 News: Gratitude, Welcomes, and Important Updates
This November, we are focusing on the power of "gratitude". As MACT Health Board Executive Director John Alexander shares, this intention of gratitude gives us strength and momentum to make it through this busy season.
John also reminds us to pay close attention to the upcoming Medi-Cal and Medicare deadlines. These dates are "CRITICAL to our ability to provide the best care possible!".
The Healing Power of Gratitude, Language, and Intentionality
A featured article by Devon Reynoso, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
Gratitude is more than just a momentary feeling—it's a practice that can fundamentally impact the way we experience life. When we recognize, honor, and acknowledge what is meaningful and real, no matter how big or small, we open ourselves to a more resonant way of being.
The Physical and Mental Benefits
Research shows that gratitude can shift our focus from what's lacking to what's present and positive, fostering contentment and grounding. This shift isn't just emotional; it resonates deeply in the body. Gratitude can help reduce stress hormones, reduce systemic inflammation, lower blood pressure, and improve sleep. When we honor the good, we create a physiological response of calm and safety within our nervous system.
The impact on mental health is equally profound. Studies find that individuals who regularly practice gratitude show reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. This is partly because gratitude interrupts rumination—the habit of dwelling on negative thoughts. Instead, it activates brain regions associated with emotional regulation and reward.
Gratitude doesn't ask us to ignore pain; rather, it gently invites us to also make room for what's still beautiful, comforting, or resonant. It becomes a balancing force, helping us build resilience.
How Language and Intention Shape Our Reality
Language plays a powerful role. The language we use to process our thoughts and feelings profoundly impacts the way we feel about ourselves, our relationships, and our lives. Expressing appreciation aloud or writing down moments of meaning helps solidify those feelings in the brain.
Intention magnifies this effect. When we consciously direct our attention toward gratitude, we train the mind to notice more of what supports us. This practice can rewire thought patterns, fostering a mindset that is more open, compassionate, and connected.
Gratitude is not just a feeling—it is a way of seeing and a language of healing we can speak every day.
Welcome to the Team, Devon Reynoso, AMFT!
MACT Health is thrilled to welcome Devon Reynoso, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, who joins us at San Andreas and Valley Springs Behavioral Health.
Devon is a Calaveras County local who has been involved in various community endeavors for many years. She is deeply committed to promoting holistic wellness and is thrilled to offer integrative mental health care to local youth and adults from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and personal identities.
She received her Bachelor's Degree from UC Davis, Majoring in Spanish and Minoring in Psychology and Sociology. After working in private practice as a Certified Professional Coach, Devon pursued her passion for mental health, graduating Summa Cum Laude with her Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from University of Massachusetts Global.
Devon takes a client-centered, holistic, and integrative standpoint to care. She believes care should always come from a place of humility and curiosity, honoring the client's autonomy and fostering self-reflection. She draws from an array of therapeutic modalities, including psychodynamic, CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and somatic therapies, to support youth, adults, families, women, and special populations.
Devon also contracts with the County of Calaveras and First Five Calaveras, facilitating psychoeducational, emotional intelligence, and parenting courses.
In her personal time, Devon enjoys gardening, cooking, time outside, yoga, and time with her husband and three children. Please join us in welcoming her to the MACT team!
Supporting Our Veterans: The VA Tribal Health Program
This Veteran's Day, MACT thanks all of our Veterans for your service.
We want to highlight our partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA Tribal Health Program, which supports all American Indian and Alaskan Native Veterans.
As a participant in this program, you can get medical care at all MACT locations. The VA will cover the cost, eliminating the need for pre-authorizations for most services.
Your Native American Services Medical Update: Don't Miss Open Enrollment!
Your Native American Services (NAS) Team would like to remind you about important upcoming dates for medical coverage. We hope you find this helpful, and please reach out to your NAS Team for further assistance!
Covered California Open Enrollment
November 1, 2025: Open Enrollment begins for signing up for 2026 health coverage.
Medicare Open Enrollment
Now – December 7, 2025: This is the primary time to enroll in or change your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for the following year.
Turning 65? What to Know About Medicare
Should I sign up for Medicare when I turn 65?
Yes, you should.
When do I sign up?
While some individuals are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B (if you start receiving Social Security benefits before 65), others must actively sign up.
Your Initial Enrollment Period begins three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after.
Why is this important?
Failing to sign up during this period can result in a late enrollment penalty on your premium.
Don't Forget: Medicare A&B does NOT include a prescription plan; this will need to be set up as well.
Upcoming Events & Holiday Closures
Daylight Savings Time Ends
Sunday, November 2nd
Veteran's Day
Tuesday, November 11th
MACT sites will be closed.
Thanksgiving
MACT sites will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27th, and Friday, November 28th.
MACT Health Board is a Non-Profit Tribal Corporation serving Mariposa, Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, and Tuolumne counties.