Jewish Community Mental Health Support
For over 35 years, Lifeskills has partnered with Jewish communities to support individuals receiving evidence-based treatment for mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders in a culturally sensitive environment.
Culturally Informed Care for the Jewish Community
At Lifeskills, we provide a respectful, dignified, and culturally sensitive environment where each client’s identity and values are honored throughout treatment. Our clinical approach encompasses psychiatric and medical care, nursing, individual and family therapy, group therapy, and case management, delivering evidence-based care within a framework that respects Jewish values, traditions, and community.
Jewish Cultural Support Services
In addition to evidence-based clinical programming, we offer specialized cultural 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 sustained clinical progress while honoring each client’s cultural values and Jewish identity.
Meet Rabbi Gaines
Rabbi Brandon Gaines leads culturally informed care at Lifeskills, supported by our medical director, clinical director, and a team of over a dozen licensed clinicians with advanced certifications, ensuring expert, individualized treatment for every client.
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“At Lifeskills, we recognized that the Jewish community has distinct cultural needs — so we built dedicated support for individuals receiving treatment here. For someone to truly make progress, they need to feel understood and welcomed, which is why we have a clinically excellent team with real 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 is an online peer support community established in February 2024 by Lifeskills alum Baila B. Designed for Jewish individuals seeking genuine connection and understanding, the group meets weekly on Tuesday evenings in a structured format that includes peer support, group check-ins, and educational discussions centered on Judaism, Jewish values, and the Jewish calendar.
Open to Jewish alumni, family members, and friends of the community, the group provides a space to be fully and honestly oneself. To join the Jewish Alumni Online Community on GroupMe and receive the weekly meeting link, contact Dani Lozzi, our alum coordinator at [email protected].
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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’m 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
The Lifeskills Difference
Expert Treatment
Lifeskills’ specialized clinical pathways are the foundation of our evidence-based treatment. Each pathway is led by a doctoral-level or licensed clinician with advanced national certifications, bringing expert oversight to every stage of care.
Collaborative Care
Lifeskills takes a collaborative approach to mental health treatment, working closely with clients, their families, and external providers to develop individualized treatment plans that respect each person’s cultural, spiritual, and personal background.
Take the first step toward a brighter future.
Lifeskills offers evidence-based treatment for mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders across Florida. Contact the admissions team to request a confidential assessment — the first step toward lasting recovery.
Your privacy is our priority. All communication is completely confidential.