Jewish Community Mental Health Support
For over 35 years, Lifeskills has partnered with Jewish communities to provide compassionate, evidence-based treatment for mental health and substance use disorders in a culturally sensitive, supportive environment.
Program Highlights
At Lifeskills, we provide a respectful, dignified, and culturally sensitive environment where clients’ strengths promote healing. Our comprehensive approach encompasses a range of therapeutic interventions and services, including psychiatric and medical care, nursing, individual and family therapy, group therapy, case management, and additional holistic services.
In addition to evidence-based programming, we offer specialized support, including:
- One-on-one spiritual counseling
- Weekly Shabbat dinners and celebrations
- Observance of major Jewish holidays
- Weekly kosher food shopping
- Kosher kitchenware and appliances
These services are designed to support lasting recovery and personal growth while honoring each client’s cultural values.
Meet Rabbi Gaines
Rabbi Brandon Gaines leads personalized care, supported by our Lifeskills medical director, clinical director, and a dedicated team of over a dozen licensed clinicians with advanced certifications, ensuring comprehensive, high-quality treatment for every client.
The Lifeskills Difference
Expert Treatment
Lifeskills’ clinical pathways are the foundation of our evidence-based practices. A doctoral-level or licensed clinician with advanced national certifications leads each pathway, bringing expertise to every stage of care. Each pathway offers tailored care to guide clients toward lasting recovery.
Collaborative Care
Lifeskills offers a deeply personalized and collaborative approach to recovery. We work closely with clients, their families, and external providers to create tailored treatment plans, ensuring comprehensive care while respecting each individual’s spiritual beliefs and traditions.
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“At Lifeskills, we have a thriving Jewish community with unique needs, so we developed dedicated mental health treatment support for that community. We recognize that for an individual to be successful in recovery, they need to feel understood and welcomed, which is why we’re proud to have a clinically excellent treatment team with expertise in this area. I’m grateful every day that I can practice my faith in my profession while helping others in need.”
Rabbi Brandon Gaines, DBT Intensively Trained
Group Leader
Jewish Alumni Support Group
The Jewish Support Group was created in February 2024 by Baila B., an alum of Lifeskills, to provide a safe, grounded space for Jewish individuals seeking connection, understanding, and community. In a time when many felt heightened scrutiny and emotional pressure simply for being Jewish, it became clear that we needed a place where we could show up as ourselves—fully, honestly, and without explanation.
Our group meets every Tuesday night. The first half of each meeting is dedicated to personal check-ins and mutual support, following a format familiar to anyone with experience in process-based or 12-step groups. The second half focuses on learning together through topics connected to Judaism, Jewish values, and the Jewish calendar. While familiarity with 12-step structure is helpful, especially for members who prefer to share without cross-talk, any Jewish person is welcome to join. Whether you’re an alum, a family member, or a friend of the community, this is a place to grow and feel supported alongside others who understand the unique challenges of being Jewish today.
To join the Jewish Alumni Online Community on GroupMe and receive the weekly meeting link, reach out to your Alumni Coordinator, Dani Lozzi.
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“Going to a treatment center as a religious Jew can be challenging—especially when it comes to keeping kosher. That’s why I was so relieved and grateful when I discovered that Lifeskills had a rabbi on staff. Rabbi Gaines, Dr. Ockman, and my entire clinical team made sure I felt seen, supported, and understood every step of the way.
Lifeskills went above and beyond: they bought me new pots and pans, along with a convection oven, so I could maintain the highest standards of kosher. Even the nutritionist was knowledgeable about kosher laws and helped me create a healthy meal plan that worked within the small space I had available.
Rabbi Gaines helped me reconnect with a part of myself I thought I’d lost. He even joined my care team at times to bridge cultural understanding. Shabbat wasn’t always easy, but Lifeskills made sure I had what I needed — including a havdalah candle. I am deeply thankful to Rabbi Gaines and the entire Lifeskills team for allowing me to be myself while also helping me rebuild my life.”
Baila B.
Alum
Voices from our community
“Rabbi Brandon Gaines and Dr. Krista were a part of my treatment here at Lifeskills. They were always there to listen and help me process the challenges coming from the exposure therapy. I'd describe my time here as life-changing in many ways.”
Your Transformation Starts Now
Take the first step toward a brighter future. Call Lifeskills today or complete our form to connect with a dedicated admissions specialist. Hope and healing are within reach.
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