- Optum
Lifeskills South Florida
About Lifeskills South Florida
Lifeskills South Florida holds dual licensure to treat both addiction and primary mental health disorders. With residential facilities in Fort Lauderdale and Deerfield Beach, the program offers fully furnished townhomes staffed 24/7 by trained professionals. Lifeskills treats substance use disorders, process addictions, mental health conditions, and dual diagnoses through a structured system of six clinical pathways. Comprehensive medical evaluations, diagnostic assessments, and ongoing treatment reviews determine each client’s primary and secondary pathways, ensuring a highly individualized recovery experience.
Personalized, Evidence-Based Treatment
Lifeskills South Florida delivers a wide range of evidence-based therapies facilitated by clinicians with specialized training and credentials. Modalities include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and radically open DBT (RO-DBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), cognitive remediation therapy (CRT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), Seeking Safety, and exposure and ritual prevention therapy (ExRP). Throughout treatment, each client works consistently with their own primary therapist and family therapist to ensure continuity, depth, and personalization of care.
Comprehensive and Clinically Excellent Care
Lifeskills treats a broad spectrum of mental health conditions, including borderline personality disorder (BPD), anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma and PTSD, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, psychosis, thought disorders, and co-occurring diagnoses. Their six clinical pathways—DBT, CBT, addiction, CRT, trauma, and metabolic fitness—meet clients wherever they are in their treatment journey. Clinicians tailor and adjust these pathways based on diagnosis, clinical presentation, and progress, ensuring each client receives the right blend of structure, therapeutic intensity, and support.
A Robust and Enriching Recovery Experience
Clients benefit from a rich combination of clinical and adjunctive therapies. Lifeskills South Florida incorporates yoga, culinary classes, meditation groups, transportation to community activities and off-site services, art and music therapy, and regular gym outings. They are PsychArmor Veteran Ready Certified and provide culturally responsive services tailored to veterans and Jewish clients. On-site amenities include shared bedrooms, community living spaces, and a swimming pool, creating a supportive, comfortable environment for healing and growth.
Insurance Accepted by Lifeskills South Florida
Conditions We Treat
Who We Treat
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Lifeskills South Florida Reviews
What people are saying
Isaac Kesner (Powered By Google)
- I started voluntarily treatment in March of 2023 staff are incredible- shout out to Esther, Nicolle, Lenox and Quiesha im left with more self confid...
Max (Powered By Google)
- When I first got to Life Skills, I was very disoriented and going through a lot of hardship. I feel better now that I have attended groups and activit...
Lizzie Hoptroff (Powered By Google)
- My time here hasn’t been perfect but it has been very helpful. I have worked on my anger, anxiety and depression through my interactions with peers an...
reina b (Powered By Google)
- My time at LifeSkills was a journey of learning, exploring, and connecting. I learned skills I never thought I'd pick up, and they've genuin...
Richard dodson (Powered By Google)
- For anyone searching for help with treatment, I would highly recommend you think seriously about utilizing this facility. The response whenever we ha...
Roxy lee (Powered By Google)
- Dr. Hume was wonderful she was extremely supportive of mine and my families needs. She met my families expectations and was very supportive to our tre...
Alex Dahlberg (Powered By Google)
- Very Understanding place. Dr. Greg was helpful therapist. If considering to attend other Rehabs I recommend this facility. Also "Barbara" on...
Edward (Powered By Google)
- My time at life skills south Florida was very helpful in my life. I’d like to thank my therapist Dr. Gregory Fortune for all the help and support. I w...
6 Clinical Treatment Pathways
Lifeskills South Florida offers six specialized clinical pathways designed to support long-term recovery. Comprehensive psychiatric and medical evaluations—along with a review of family history, mental health symptoms, and substance use—help determine which pathway best aligns with each client’s needs. These pathways target specific areas of concern, including personality disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, thought disorders and psychosis, trauma-related conditions, and physical health. This structured, diagnostic-driven approach ensures every client receives tailored, clinically appropriate treatment.
Family Program
When appropriate and desired, Lifeskills South Florida welcomes families into the recovery process. Each client is paired with a primary family therapist who coordinates family therapy sessions, facilitates visits, and keeps loved ones updated on progress. Family members are invited to join weekly support groups that provide education on addiction and mental health, helping them better understand the recovery journey. Lifeskills South Florida also hosts a dedicated family weekend featuring processing exercises, workshops, and presentations—giving families the tools, insight, and support needed to heal alongside their loved one.
Read moreSpecialized Treatment Services
Lifeskills South Florida provides specialized programs designed to meet the unique needs of veterans and Jewish clients. As a PsychArmor Veteran Ready Certified provider and a partner of the VA Community Care Network, Lifeskills is equipped to treat severe trauma and PTSD, with experienced clinical staff leading their dedicated veterans program. For Jewish clients, Lifeskills offers culturally attuned care that includes kosher meals and kitchenware, one-on-one spiritual counseling with the on-site Rabbi, weekly Shabbat dinners and celebrations, and observance of all major Jewish holidays. These tailored services ensure clients feel supported, understood, and connected to their identity throughout treatment.
Read moreMeet Lifeskills South Florida Care Team
Daniel Bober
- Medical Director DO
Sergio Muriel
- Chief Operating Officer LMHC, CAP
David Ockman
- Director of Clinical Services PsyD, CAP
Tara Alhadeff
- Associate Clinical Director LMHC, CAI, DBT-Intensively Trained
Sheryl Gross
- Associate Director of Family Services LMHC
Jackie Pavone
- Director of Nursing RN
Jamel Lewis
- Associate Director of Nursing RN, BSN
Arthur Chen
- Primary Therapist PsyD, CCTP-II
Sandra Bernstein
- Primary Therapist LCSW, REBT-Trained, DBT-Intensively Trained
Marie Valsaint
- Primary Therapist PsyD
Florin Coltea
- Primary Therapist PhD, LMHC, CAP, NCC
Mirella Ezeta
- Primary Therapist PsyD
Lifeskills South Florida location Details and Hours
Find Lifeskills South Florida on the map
Lifeskills South Florida
- 5.0 (8)
- 1431 SW 9th Ave, Deerfield Beach, Florida, 33441
- Insurance Accepted
FHE Health
- 5.0 (12)
- 505 S Federal Hwy #2, Deerfield Beach, Florida, 33441
- Insurance Accepted

