At our Specialized Treatment for Veterans program, we have the expertise and experience to treat severe trauma/post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder using cognitive processing therapy (CPT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), seeking safety, and other evidence-based modalities.


What We Treat
How We Treat
As the foundation of our evidence-based practices, Lifeskills offers Clinical Pathways, each led by a doctoral-level or licensed clinician with additional national certifications in their area of expertise, including a Substance Use Disorder Pathway and a Trauma Treatment Pathway.
Veteran-Specific Treatment
As part of our Specialized Treatment for Veterans program, we treat severe trauma/post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder. At Lifeskills, we provide a respectful, dignified, and supportive milieu where each individual’s strengths are used for healing. Based on each client’s diagnosis and specific needs, treatment is tailored appropriately and may include:
- Case management
- Family therapy & a Family Support Program
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Metabolic fitness
- Mindfulness, meditation, & yoga therapy
- Psychiatric medication evaluation, treatment, & management

We help each client process their traumas using cognitive processing therapy (CPT), seeking safety, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and exposure and ritual prevention (ExRP) therapy. Substance use disorder treatment includes cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT), chemical dependency dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and 12-step recovery or SMART recovery. For those with traumatic brain injuries, psychosis, or alcohol-related processing issues, we offer cognitive remediation therapy (CRT). Experiential activities also play a vital role in treatment, including beach trips, fishing, rock climbing, kayaking, equine work, and team building.

Locations & Levels of Care
We offer a true continuum of care with a multidisciplinary treatment team approach. Our clinicians provide the highest quality of clinical care at the detoxification, residential treatment, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient levels of care. Lifeskills clients can live at Osceola Village, one of our transitional living residences, while attending the partial hospitalization program (PHP) and the intensive outpatient program (IOP).
Clinically Excellent Veterans Treatment Team
As the Medical Director, Dr. Daniel Bober oversees the clinical pathways. Tailored programming for the Veterans Treatment Pathway is supported by Dr. Despina Karfis and Florance Davidson, LCSW, as well as a dozen other licensed doctoral and master’s level clinicians with multiple certifications in their areas of expertise.

Daniel Bober, DO
As the Lifeskills Medical Director, quintuple-board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Bober oversees the clinical pathways. He previously served as a mental health policy fellow in the US Senate through the American Psychiatric Association, which allowed him to work with Congress to impact mental health policy, particularly for veterans and active-duty service members.

Despina Karfis, PsyD, CCTP
DBT-Intensively Trained
Dr. Despina Karfis, a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) intensively trained in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), is committed to treating Veterans as part of our Specialized Treatment for Veterans. She is also trained in exposure and ritual prevention (ExRP) therapy and has been working with clients with mental health disorders and substance dependency for over twenty years.

Florance Davidson, LCSW
Dr. Florance Davidson, a licensed clinician and Marine Corps Veteran, is passionate about providing a nonjudgmental, safe space to the veteran clients she serves. She is trained in Solution-Focused Therapy and motivational Interviewing and has a certification in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Florance works with her clients to build an alliance of trust and understanding, helping them achieve their goals and attain a better quality of life.
- Grateful Veteran & Lifeskills Alum
Frequently Asked Questions
Does your facility cover veteran's care?
Yes. Lifeskills is dually licensed to treat veterans with a primary mental health diagnosis for complex psychiatric disorders and any primary substance use disorder diagnoses as a participating provider in the VA Community Care Network. Our NPI number is 1891122396, and our Tax ID number is 65-1005595.
Call us today at 954.691.3174 or complete our contact form, and our Admissions Team can guide you through the process.
How do I get started?
To get started, contact our Admissions Team at 954.691.3174 and provide the contact information for each member of your VA team (therapist, social worker, and/or psychiatrist). We can connect with them to let them know that you’ve reached out for help.
You may also ask your team at the VA to reach out to the Admissions Counselor you are working with to help facilitate the process.
Does Lifeskills provide therapy for trauma?
Yes, Lifeskills offers a trauma-specific clinical pathway. Our extensively trained master’s- and doctoral-level clinicians offer several trauma-based therapies.
What is your policy on communication with VA?
We communicate with the VA for authorizations, medications, and progress, but only with each client’s written consent. Each client chooses what information is shared.