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Lifeskills South Florida

1431 SW 9th Avenue Deerfield Beach, FL 33441
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Top 10 Rehab In Florida
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Top 10 Rehab In Deerfield Beach
Lifeskills South Florida FL 33441
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Top 10 Rehab In Florida
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Top 10 Rehab In Deerfield Beach

About Lifeskills South Florida

During the inpatient program they provide a cozy and comfortable atmosphere to create a more at home environment and minimize the feeling of being in a clinical setting. Throughout the duration of treatment you will be on your ongoing journey of recovery with peers who experience similar challenges. Individual and group therapy will be part of your treatment plan as well as working on personal goals you wish to achieve.

The treatment approaches they utilize here include EMDR, Cognitive Remediation, and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. EMDR can help you process past, present, and future events by helping you reprocess memories to lessen their traumatic impact. CRT can help with regaining memory and helps assist with adjusting day to day life by helping you learn to minimize distractions and strengthen your focus. REBT helps you gain a better perspective on combating negative thoughts and behaviors by approaching them rationally.

Recreational therapy provides activities to keep you moving and engaged Yoga helps increase self awareness and reduces anxiety and depression. Music therapy can help with trauma, reduce pain, improve sleep, and even heighten blood flow to certain parts of the brain where you control your emotions. Art helps bring out self expression, boosts creativity, and can help you develop healthy coping skills.

Facility Overview

Bed icon 30
Number of Available Beds

Latest Reviews

Joe
1 week ago on Google
5
Dr. Paul, the and the clinical staff as a whole did a wonderful job! Everyone from the techs to my therapist were quite helpful and always positive
Ann Vaughan
2 weeks ago on Google
5
Life Skills is a game changer!! One that we are forever grateful to. Her counselor and therapist were especially helpful, Tamas and Dr Mirella. Both quickly built rapport through their compassion and professionalism. Also they were super responsive to my questions, often the same day. Even Farisha in billing is cheerful and helpful, when I needed advice. Life Skills began to teach budgeting and meal planning immediately; the clients’ Trust Fund is for groceries. Many places provide meals until they step-down to a PHP. Still, huge progress was made and a vital understanding that taking Rx is critical. Also some solid friendships were formed, so we wish the Center was closer to home. Activities like art and yoga are meaningful extras. The facilities are beautiful and in a wonderful and safe area. Our loved one significantly improved at Life Skills.
Erin Miller
3 weeks ago on Google
1
I refuse to believe any of these great reviews are authentic. I copied and pasted Kate Templins review because it was verbatim what i experienced. A tech got in my face because she swore I escaped rehab and returned even though I was asleep in a chair in the living room the whole time but she swore that wasn't me. I was then drug tested. Despite this, she faced no consequences and did not apologize for her disgusting behavior. Instead, all female patients were told to obey staff even if they’re wrong. The staff, mostly techs, were often unprofessional and rude. Every staff member treated every person like crap unless they were there willingly. Then they had to play nice to get their $35k a month. Admissions people are so friendly but its a scam. As soon as you sign those papers, you're worthless to them. Whenever I spoke up about the treatment, other clients would justify it by saying it was normal for southern Florida. There is NO excuse for making people who are already struggling feel so alone in a place where they’re supposed to be getting better. Here are a few other issues I had: - Rules changed almost daily. There is a handbook stating all of them, but it doesn't matter becasue the rules change depending who the patient is or who the supervisor is. you constantly get in trouble just to figure them out. Nothing made sense, and the staff couldn’t even keep up with their own rules; - The facility misused the Baker Act to keep people from leaving. They do this to almost everyone who tries to leave against medical advice. At one point I overheard a police officer telling a therapist that Lifeskills' behavior was becoming a noticeable pattern; - Phone calls were monitored AND RECORDED They claim upfront that this is done to provide emotional support when distressing calls arise. This isn’t true at all. I had many calls where I was on the phone with my family trying to share my experiences at Lifeskills. It was only when I had bad things to say that I would either get cut off by the tech or they would forcefully hang up the phone and cut my time short. The only reason the staff is there is to stop you from bad mouthing the program. That's it. My therapist Sandra was THE WORST in history. I've never been gaslit by a therapist before. She was on a call with my mom and thought she hung up but she didn't. My mom heard her screaming about how she hated her job and it was too much to handle even though she took a 3 week vacation in the middle of my stay in hell. I am now in therapy to heal the pstd i experienced at life Skills. GREAT WASTE OF $35k/MONTH They didn't give me my meds for 3 weeks! Until my sister came in to the facility and said something. 3 WEEKS! UNREAL I could go on and on but you get the jist. My "therapist" Sandra/Sandy pulled me aside and swore me to secrecy saying that I shouldn't go to life skills PHP program because she didn't want me to fail at sobriety and was teling me how bad the program sucked. I had to walk on egg shells around her. i was never able to be truly honest with any therapist bc all life skills cares about is money and making you stay there longer. Don't believe the reviews. Don't listen to your attorney bc he/she will recommend life skills only because he/she gets a kickback for referring you. No one at life skills has your best interest at heart. You're an inconvenience. Road kill has received more respect I recommend indiana center for recovery as a rehab. They have one in south florida as well. You're actually treated like a human there and they care about your feelings and make sure you have your meds. Life skills should be shut down for incompetency. Puppy mills have better ethics than Life skills The only good human at life skills was Tammy the nurse tech. Everyone else was awful.
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Rehab Score

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Scoring is assigned by a proprietary system which helps surface key metrics that determine quality. The 10-point scale factors in categories such as operations, customer satisfaction, and trust metrics. Read Full MethodologyCaret icon
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8.5 / 10

Accepted Insurance

Lifeskills South Florida works with several private insurance providers and also accepts private payments when possible, please contact to verify your specific insurance provider.

Other Forms of Payment

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.

Addiction Treatments

Levels of Care

outpatient iconOutpatient

Outpatient programs are for those seeking mental rehab or drug rehab, but who also stay at home every night. The main difference between outpatient treatment (OP) and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) lies in the amount of hours the patient spends at the facility. Most of the time an outpatient program is designed for someone who has completed an inpatient stay and is looking to continue their growth in recovery. Outpatient is not meant to be the starting point, it is commonly referred to as aftercare. Lifeskills South Florida offers comprehensive outpatient treatment programs for men and women ages 18 over suffering from psychiatric and substance use disorders who need a structured, intensive and extended care experience. Their licensed and professional staff in the Delray Beach outpatient facility, provide individual treatment plans that allows clients to modify their level of participation within the various group sessions offered.

inpatient iconInpatient

Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements. Lifeskills Residential Treatment and Extended Care Program offers hope, healing and a healthy lifestyle for all its residents. Whether they’re a referring mental health professional or they’re interested in Lifeskills for themselves or a family member, they’ll soon discover why their facility has been named a “Center for Clinical Excellence” for adults and their families.

aftercare iconAftercare Support

Rehab aftercare programs are a collection of highly individualized services designed to promote long-term recovery. These services evolve as your needs change. Case managers and recovery teams typically begin formulating the rehab aftercare service plan early in the recovery process to facilitate your reintegration back into the home, workplace, and community.

sober-living iconSober Living Homes

Sober Living Houses (SLHs), aka sober homes or halfway houses, are safe, substance-free, supportive living facilities for those recovering from substance abuse. Ideal for those who've just been through inpatient or outpatient treatment, SLHs are supervised environments with rules that support sobriety, such as curfews, shared chores, and therapeutic meetings. Residents are also often trained on life skills and coping skills to make it easier to transition into society. SLHs also provide a strong sense of community that can lead to the kind of deep and lasting connections with other sober individuals that supports a new, healthy lifestyle.

heart-hands iconIntervention Services

If a person with a substance use disorder continually denies their problem or refuses to get treatment, a drug intervention in Florida may be necessary. Intervention services can help mediate the intervention by providing an addiction expert. This professional can de-escalate situations and facilitate a healthier discussion between the individual and their loved ones. Specialists can also help families handle issues they don't know how to navigate on their own.

partial-hospitalization iconPartial Hospitalization Program

A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a short-term form of intensive rehab, usually for those with acute symptoms that are hard to manage but don’t require 24-hour care. PHPs have structured programming (i.e. individual and/or group therapy), and usually meet 3-5 days a week for around 6 hours (i.e. 9am-3m). Some PHPs are residential (patients sleep on site) and some are not, so patients sleep at home. PHPs can last from 1-6 months, and some offer transportation and meals.

24-hour icon24-Hour Clinical Care

24-hour clinical care in Florida is an essential part of treatment, particularly with medical detox. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe, and supervised detox provides around the clock access to medical professionals who can adminsiter proper medications and treatment to address these symptoms and step in should an emergency occur. This intensive clinical care will help curb the withdrawal effects, minimize substance dependence, and prepare you for the next step of treatment.

medically-assisted-detox iconMedically Assisted Detox

Drug and alcohol addiction often takes a heavy toll on one's body. Over time, a physical dependence can develop, meaning the body physiologically needs the substance to function. Detox is the process of removing drugs and/or alcohol from the body, a process that can be lethal if mismanaged. Medical detox is done by licensed medical professionals who monitor vital signs and keep you safe, healthy, and as comfortable as possible as you go through detox and withdrawal.

intensive-outpatient iconIntensive Outpatient

Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) involve frequent and robust therapeutic sessions for clients requiring high-level care. Clients may engage in a combination of medication assisted treatment (MAT), addiction counseling, recovery skills training, and holistic therapies for a minimum of nine and a maximum of 20 hours per week. Intensive outpatient rehab is designed primarily for persons in early recovery, those exiting detox or inpatient care, and those at an elevated relapse risk.

Treatments

The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. For these people, success is measured by longer periods of abstinence, reduced use of alcohol, better health, and improved social functioning. Recovery and Maintenance are usually based on 12 step programs and AA meetings.

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.

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.

A combined mental health and substance abuse rehab has the staff and resources available to handle individuals with both mental health and substance abuse issues. It can be challenging to determine where a specific symptom stems from (a mental health issue or an issue related to substance abuse), so mental health and substance abuse professionals are helpful in detangling symptoms and keeping treatment on track.

Opioid rehabs specialize in supporting those recovering from opioid addiction. They treat those suffering from addiction to illegal opioids like heroin, as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone. These centers typically combine both physical as well as mental and emotional support to help stop addiction. Physical support often includes medical detox and subsequent medical support (including medication), and mental support includes in-depth therapy to address the underlying causes of addiction.

mental-health iconMental Health And Substance Abuse

Programs

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Adult Program

Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.
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Young Adult Program

Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.
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LGBTQ Program

Recovery is most successful when clients feel accepted and validated by their peers and treatment providers. Facilities that offer LGBTQ-inclusive programming are committed to creating a safe space where everyone can grow and recover without fear of judgment or discrimination. They will have dedicated policies in place to create a safe and supportive environment that fosters free expression.
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Program For Women

Rehabs for women provide a safe, nurturing space for female clients to heal. These treatment programs consider the specific obstacles that women can face during recovery and place a special emphasis on mental, social, physical, and reproductive health. They explore how each woman's experience has shaped the trajectory of their substance use, addressing issues such as sexual abuse and past trauma.
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Military Program

Serving in the military is both mentally and physically challenging, and can result in trauma that persists even after combat ends. Military programs are tailored to the specific and often complex needs of active duty personnel, veterans, and military families. Clients often access these programs through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

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.

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.

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.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical approach to helping people with substance abuse issues and other conditions shift behavior in positive ways. It is more goal-oriented than traditional psychotherapy, as MI counselors directly attempt to get clients to consider making behavioral change (rather than wait for them to come to conclusions themselves). Its primary purpose is to resolve ambivalence and help clients become able to make healthy choices freely.

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.

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.

EMDR is a therapeutic modality originally developed to help process trauma. In an EMDR session, a patient is prompted to undergo eye movements that mimic those of REM sleep. This is accomplished by watching a therapist's finger move back and forth across, or following a bar of light. The goal is repetitive sets of eye movements that help the brain reprocess memory, which can significantly reduce the intensity of remembered traumatic incidents. Associated memories can heal simultaneously, leaving patients significantly calmer, more stable, and more emotionally relaxed.

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. Lifeskills South Florida values and recognizes the importance of treating the client in the context of the family system. Their goal is to ensure that the gains made in treatment by the client are maintained following discharge. Therefore, participation by family members in their weekend–long intensive family program is recommended.

Life skills trainings involve all the skills a person must have in order to function successfully in the world. These include time management, career guidance, money management, and effective communication. Truly successful addiction recovery is based on the ability to not only live substance-free, but to thrive. Life skills teaches the practical necessities of functioning in society, which sets clients up for success in life, and therefore sobriety.

Creativity is inherently healing, and can help those in recovery express thoughts or feelings they might not otherwise be able to. Creative arts therapy can include music, poetry/writing, painting, sculpting, dance, theater, sandplay, and more. Unlike traditional art, the final product matters far less than the experience of creation and expression itself.

Rational behavior therapy is used in addiction treatment to teach you to challenge and change irrational beliefs and thought patterns that contribute to substance abuse and addiction. Using cognitive and behavioral techniques, your therapist teaches you to manage negative emotions, reduce your cravings, and maintain your sobriety.

Amenities

  • weight iconGym
  • spa2 iconYoga Studio
  • home-setting iconResidential Setting
  • private-room iconPrivate Rooms
  • hiking iconHiking
  • mountain iconMountain Views
  • hiking-poles iconWalking Trails
  • pool iconSwimming Pool

Staff & Accreditations

Staff

Klay Weaver, LCSW

CEO

Daniel Bober, DO

Medical Director

Andrew Spaedy, MD

Psychiatrist

Catherine Manley, LMHC

COO

David Ockman, PsyD, CAP

Executive Director of Clinical Services

Accreditations

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1992 by congress, SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on American's communities.

SAMHSA Listed: Yes

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
Accreditation Number: 231237

State Licenses are permits issued by government agencies that allow rehab organizations to conduct business legally within a certain geographical area. Typically, the kind of program a rehab facility offers, along with its physical location, determines which licenses are required to operate legally.

State License: Florida
License Number: SITE-00000996

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

Building icon

1431 SW 9th Avenue
Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Fact checked and written by:
Johanna Rafael-Huertas
Edited by:
Anna Spooner

Rehab in Cities Near Deerfield Beach

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Reviews of Lifeskills South Florida

4.5/5 (390 reviews)
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Overall Experience
Date Submitted
Reviewer

Google Reviews

4.5 (390 reviews)
Joe
1 week ago
5

Dr. Paul, the and the clinical staff as a whole did a wonderful job! Everyone from the techs to my therapist were quite helpful and always positive

Ann Vaughan
2 weeks ago
5

Life Skills is a game changer!! One that we are forever grateful to. Her counselor and therapist were especially helpful, Tamas and Dr Mirella. Both quickly built rapport through their compassion and professionalism. Also they were super responsive to my questions, often the same day. Even Farisha in billing is cheerful and helpful, when I needed advice. Life Skills began to teach budgeting and meal planning immediately; the clients’ Trust Fund is for groceries. Many places provide meals until they step-down to a PHP. Still, huge progress was made and a vital understanding that taking Rx is critical. Also some solid friendships were formed, so we wish the Center was closer to home. Activities like art and yoga are meaningful extras. The facilities are beautiful and in a wonderful and safe area. Our loved one significantly improved at Life Skills.

Roonie Miller
3 weeks ago
1

Erin Miller
3 weeks ago
1

I refuse to believe any of these great reviews are authentic. I copied and pasted Kate Templins review because it was verbatim what i experienced. A tech got in my face because she swore I escaped rehab and returned even though I was asleep in a chair in the living room the whole time but she swore that wasn't me. I was then drug tested. Despite this, she faced no consequences and did not apologize for her disgusting behavior. Instead, all female patients were told to obey staff even if they’re wrong. The staff, mostly techs, were often unprofessional and rude. Every staff member treated every person like crap unless they were there willingly. Then they had to play nice to get their $35k a month. Admissions people are so friendly but its a scam. As soon as you sign those papers, you're worthless to them. Whenever I spoke up about the treatment, other clients would justify it by saying it was normal for southern Florida. There is NO excuse for making people who are already struggling feel so alone in a place where they’re supposed to be getting better. Here are a few other issues I had: - Rules changed almost daily. There is a handbook stating all of them, but it doesn't matter becasue the rules change depending who the patient is or who the supervisor is. you constantly get in trouble just to figure them out. Nothing made sense, and the staff couldn’t even keep up with their own rules; - The facility misused the Baker Act to keep people from leaving. They do this to almost everyone who tries to leave against medical advice. At one point I overheard a police officer telling a therapist that Lifeskills' behavior was becoming a noticeable pattern; - Phone calls were monitored AND RECORDED They claim upfront that this is done to provide emotional support when distressing calls arise. This isn’t true at all. I had many calls where I was on the phone with my family trying to share my experiences at Lifeskills. It was only when I had bad things to say that I would either get cut off by the tech or they would forcefully hang up the phone and cut my time short. The only reason the staff is there is to stop you from bad mouthing the program. That's it. My therapist Sandra was THE WORST in history. I've never been gaslit by a therapist before. She was on a call with my mom and thought she hung up but she didn't. My mom heard her screaming about how she hated her job and it was too much to handle even though she took a 3 week vacation in the middle of my stay in hell. I am now in therapy to heal the pstd i experienced at life Skills. GREAT WASTE OF $35k/MONTH They didn't give me my meds for 3 weeks! Until my sister came in to the facility and said something. 3 WEEKS! UNREAL I could go on and on but you get the jist. My "therapist" Sandra/Sandy pulled me aside and swore me to secrecy saying that I shouldn't go to life skills PHP program because she didn't want me to fail at sobriety and was teling me how bad the program sucked. I had to walk on egg shells around her. i was never able to be truly honest with any therapist bc all life skills cares about is money and making you stay there longer. Don't believe the reviews. Don't listen to your attorney bc he/she will recommend life skills only because he/she gets a kickback for referring you. No one at life skills has your best interest at heart. You're an inconvenience. Road kill has received more respect I recommend indiana center for recovery as a rehab. They have one in south florida as well. You're actually treated like a human there and they care about your feelings and make sure you have your meds. Life skills should be shut down for incompetency. Puppy mills have better ethics than Life skills The only good human at life skills was Tammy the nurse tech. Everyone else was awful.

valerie bartenfelder
1 month ago
5

The treatment my loved one received at Lifeskills was beyond what I could have asked for. At every turn we were treated with dignity and respect. My husband's condition was challenging (to say the least) and I never felt that they were frustrated with him. The level of communication was beyond what I expected. I, honestly, do not think he would have had the positive outcome anywhere else.

Gabbey Polonsky
1 month ago
5

I was privileged to be able to go to this program, because of how much invaluable support and priceless advice I got during my 2 month+ stay. I would encourage anyone who is needing the essential skills for living a life of success and the necessary tools of being resilient mentally and emotionally (of course through the needs provided by the staff physically and spiritually) and the community they provide, which is a truly beautiful experience potentially and in actuality. It's worth trying out and making a visit to visit their facility, but more importantly to meet their well rounded and friendly staff who made my stay truly a pleasure!

Response from the owner
Thank you for your positive feedback. Our team of professionals are master or doctorate level professionals, licensed in Florida with multiple certifications in their respective specialties. Each team member is dedicated to providing quality, ethical care to our clients and we feel honored to be a part of the recovery journey.
Vincenzo Cilino
1 month ago
5

Dr. Paul was a great therapist.

Response from the owner
Thank you for the feedback!
J B
1 month ago
1

jeff pavone
2 months ago
3

⸻ My Experience at LifeSkills Residential I honestly really enjoyed my time at LifeSkills Residential. The group work there was incredibly impactful and pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect. I originally came for substance abuse treatment, but I quickly realized the residential setting is geared more toward individuals stabilizing on psychiatric medications. Because of that, I occasionally felt a little out of place—many of the other clients were navigating much more intense mental health challenges than I was. That said, the groups were the heart of the program for me. They kept my mind engaged and my spirit grounded throughout the day. Rabbi Gane’s spirituality group was a beautiful space that helped me reconnect with myself. But the group that left the biggest mark on me—hands down—was Dr. Forstat’s male trauma group. I was in tears on my last day, not because I was sad about leaving the facility, but because leaving that group felt like leaving a piece of myself behind. It was truly the most life-changing experience I’ve ever had in any therapeutic setting. LifeSkills is lucky to have someone like Dr. Forstat on their team. On the flip side, I did have a challenging experience with one of the primary therapists, Dr. Paul. Unfortunately, he had a habit of talking down to clients and often came across as disconnected from the reality we were living. He seemed more focused on touting his credentials than creating real connection or using effective, up-to-date methods. His approach made me uncomfortable and honestly felt outdated. Thankfully, when I asked to switch therapists, the request was handled quickly and respectfully. Enter Dr. Despenia—an absolute gem. She brought the compassion, insight, and presence I needed, and my experience completely turned around under her care. She made my stay not just tolerable, but meaningful. Outside of clinical hours, the housing is pretty basic—there aren’t many on-site amenities. But they balance that out by taking us off campus regularly: to the beach, the gym, recovery meetings, and more. That made a big difference. And a special shoutout to Gus, the housing manager—he runs a tight, structured ship and brings so much heart to what he does. I don’t think things would run half as smoothly without him. Getting to know him was a highlight of my stay. So, thank you, LifeSkills—for the growth, the healing, and the people who made it all worthwhile.

Daniel Graeff
2 months ago
5

Life Skills Deerfield Beach provided empathetic, professional, experienced and successful help to our son and his family. Providing much needed support, confidence and guidance during a traumatic crisis. The facilities, the entire staff are empathetic, kind professionals.

Response from the owner
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful feedback. We value each of our clients and strive to provide an individualized program that is comprehensive and compassionate. Our goal is to help each client develop the skills they need to return to a fulfilling life outside of treatment.
Megan Medenis
2 months ago
5

Admitting our son into this program literally saved his life. Our experience with every therapist, doctor, counselor and tech support personnel was exceptional. Through their patience and support for, not only our son but for our entire family, he was able to reset and graduate to partial hospitalization with confidence and is on the path to mental recovery. Tomas and Mirella were crucial to our son’s initial diagnosis and recovery plan going forward. They were extremely supportive and would meet with us weekly, as well as when requested outside of our weekly meeting. We would highly recommend sending a loved one to this facility.

Response from the owner
Thank you for your positive feedback. Our team of professionals are master or doctorate level professionals, licensed in Florida with multiple certifications in their respective specialties. Each team member is dedicated to providing quality, ethical care to our clients and we feel honored to be a part of the recovery journey.
Cathrine A.
2 months ago
4

The behavioral technicians, the supervisors/directors of residential operations, and the alum relations coordinator were actually the best part about the whole experience. I got more out of getting to know their stories than what the doctors there could provide. Most of the doctors there were honestly the opposite of helpful, except for Dr. Robert, Dr. Mirella, and Dr. Ilissa. What I truly benefited from was the empathy, compassion, patience, understanding, and authentic support of the following members of the residential community: Marcia (tech), Fredline (tech), Jason (tech), Bill (supervisor), Jackie (supervisor), Dan (supervisor), René (aid), Taylor (tech), Kelvin (tech), Dani Lozzi (alum relations coordinator), Heather (personal trainer), and Karen (nutritionist). I'm currently off and strongly against all kinds of psychiatric prescription medications/drugs. They were making me worse. Once I removed myself from their grasp, I began to see everything more clearly. I do not claim any of the diagnoses/disorders the doctors were so quick to label me with. I simply view myself as someone who has experienced trauma and the domino effect of conditions that come along with it. I'm in college, exercising, and learning a musical instrument. I lost 40 out of the 50 pounds that I gained from the harmful pills I was fed daily during my 6-month stay. I'm smarter and stronger because of it all, and ultimately thankful to have met those (previously mentioned) kind, good people. This review is for them. I would like to add Jean-Claude to the list of the many many techs that I developed connections with. Forgive me techs if I fail to include you. The community was THE experience. I’ll end it here.

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