About Lakeview Center – Residential Treatment for Children
Lakeview Center – Residential Treatment for Children offers residential care for children facing mental health and substance misuse issues in Pensacola, Florida. Their Meridian program is a statewide inpatient psychiatric facility. This facility is designed to assist children who are experiencing severe emotional and behavioral problems. This caring residential setting is characterized by 24 hour supervision and intensive psychiatric treatment tailored to each child’s individual needs.
Their main clientele consists of kids and teenagers aged seven to 17 including both male and female adolescents. Clients must qualify for Medicaid and have serious emotional disorders that require residential treatment. Staff place an emphasis on psychotherapeutic intervention in a structured community living environment, and their team employs a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. This collaborative approach provides all encompassing care that addresses each child’s behavioral and emotional needs.
They also provide intervention services to children and adolescents who are at risk of substance abuse, and they focus on treating related issues. Their philosophy is based on their approach to trauma informed care. They place a high value on comprehending the unique trauma experiences of each child and the spectrum of potential responses. This allows treatment providers to create a psychologically safe environment where children can learn coping skills and develop the capacity to effectively manage their triggers.
They provide a comprehensive framework of support that tackles issues related to substance abuse and mental health. Their methods promote recovery and resilience. Their efforts are reassuring to families who know that experts are putting in effort to help their kids navigate emotional landscapes and secure a healthier future.
Facility Overview
Latest Reviews
Rehab Score
Accepted Insurance
Other Forms of Payment
Medicaid is a state based program that helps lower-income individuals and families pay for healthcare. Medicaid covers addiction treatment so those enrolled can use their coverage to pay for rehab. When a program accepts Medicaid the client often pays very little or nothing out of their own pocket.
Private insurance refers to any kind of healthcare coverage that isn't from the state or federal government. This includes individual and family plans offered by an employer or purchased from the Insurance Marketplace. Every plan will have different requirements and out of pocket costs so be sure to get the full details before you start treatment.
Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.
Financial aid can take many forms. Centers may have grants or scholarships available to clients who meet eligibility requirements. Programs that receive SAMHSA grants may have financial aid available for those who need treatment as well. Grants and scholarships can help you pai for treatment without having to repay.
Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance for those 65 and older. It also serves people under 65 with chronic and disabling health challenges. To use Medicare for addiction treatment you need to find a program that accepts Medicare and is in network with your plan. Out of pocket costs and preauthorization requirements vary, so always check with your provider.
Military members, veterans, and eligible dependents have access to specific insurance programs that help them get the care they need. TRICARE and VA insurance can help you access low cost or no cost addiction and mental health treatment. Programs that accept military insurance often have targeted treatment focused on the unique challenges military members, veterans, and their families face.
Private insurance refers to any kind of healthcare coverage that isn't from the state or federal government. This includes individual and family plans offered by an employer or purchased from the Insurance Marketplace. Every plan will have different requirements and out of pocket costs so be sure to get the full details before you start treatment.
Sliding scale payments are based on a client's income and family size. The goal is to make treatment affordable to everyone. By taking these factors into account, addiction recovery care providers help ensure that your treatment does not become a financial burden to you or your family, eliminating one barrier to care.
Addiction Treatments
Levels of Care
Inpatient
Treatments
Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Mental health rehabs focus on helping individuals recover from mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, clinical depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and more. Mental health professionals at these facilities are trained to understand and treat mental health issues, both in individual and group settings.
When a person has alcohol use disorder (AUD), also referred to as alcoholism or alcohol addiction, they experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking. This physical dependence results from overuse of alcohol, which may be used as a coping mechanism or escape. Individuals who have AUD can overcome the alcohol addiction through alcohol rehab in Florida. This treatment process involves essential therapy and supports to help the individual achieve and maintain recovery.
Drug rehab in Florida provides quality treatment to help individuals overcome dependency related to a wide range of addictive substances. Programs address both the physical and mental aspects of addiction in order to help you make a full recovery.
In Florida, substance abuse treatment focuses on treating mental health and substance use disorders concurrently to improve recovery outcomes and overall health. Levels of care include medical detox, outpatient, residential treatment, and intensive outpatient programs. Clinicians utilize evidence-based therapies such as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) or medication-assisted treatment, group therapy, and skills training activities. This comprehensive approach to treatment helps to ensure sustained recovery.
Programs

Child Program
Clinical Services
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.
Whether a marriage or other committed relationship, an intimate partnership is one of the most important aspects of a person's life. Drug and alcohol addiction affects both members of a couple in deep and meaningful ways, as does rehab and recovery. Couples therapy and other couples-focused treatment programs are significant parts of exploring triggers of addiction, as well as learning how to build healthy patterns to support ongoing sobriety.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.
Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.
Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.
In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.
Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.
Staff & Accreditations
Staff

Allison Hill
CEO

Shawn Salamida
President

Sandy Whitaker
Vice President of Corporate Development

David Josephs, Psy.D
Clinical director, Psychologist

Guido Ludergnani, MD
Chief of Medical Services, Psychiatrist

Jeff Fletcher, Pharm.D. BCNP
Director of Outpatient Services and Medical Operations

Dustin Perry, LCSW
Director of Residential Services – Adult and Children

Joe Carloni, MSM
Director, Behavioral Health Administration and Practice Management
Accreditations

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is a non-profit organization that specifically accredits rehab organizations. Founded in 1966, CARF's, mission is to help service providers like rehab facilities maintain high standards of care.
CARF Accreditation: Yes

The Joint Commission, formerly known as JCAHO, is a nonprofit organization that accredits rehab organizations and programs. Founded in 1951, the Joint Commision's mission is to improve the quality of patient care and demonstrating the quality of patient care.
Joint Commission Accreditation: Yes
Contact Information
1920 North J street
Pensacola, FL 32501