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I want to share this for the sake of others considering this facility: • Misled about the level of care provided (was promised safety and trauma-informed structure—not delivered) • Patient was overmedicated without proper informed consent • Staff discouraged invol ...
About The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center
Located in the greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida area, The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center in Taramac offers an intimate treatment experience where you can enroll in partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), or general outpatient programs. The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center is focused primarily on mental health disorders and dual diagnosis substance abuse and eating disorders.
Comprehensive Program Structure
All levels of care include assessment, case management, and medical and psychiatric care. Programs include group and individual therapy, family counseling, and career training. Programs use the Through the Archway structure, which includes 12 Step immersion and spirituality. They also include lectures on spirituality and recovery. Through the Archway is designed to help you navigate the mental obsession that comes with addiction. Other unique program elements include sound therapy and nutrition counseling.
Choose a Level of Intensive Care for Your Life
The partial hospitalization program at Sylvia Brafman includes six days per week of treatment. Counseling will address the complex relationship between addiction and mental health issues. If you choose the IOP level of care, you’ll attend treatment between three and five days per week. You’ll learn how to develop healthy habits, improve interpersonal relationships, and cope with daily stressors.
Outpatient programs include one to two therapist visits per week. This is the least intensive level of care. Counseling will address ongoing sobriety and mental health concerns.
This unique career training program was developed by one of the co-founders of Sylvia Brafman. This program goes through contextualization, reflection, consideration, preparation and execution. They’ll help you identify your strengths and help you begin your job search.
Latest Reviews
This is my honest opinion of Sylvia Brafman after being a patient there for a short while.
The majority, if not all, of the staff there appear to be genuinely friendly. Pretty much everyone there seems to be invested in the patients and willing to accommodate in any way possible that is within the parameters of their program. Further, from my experience, the program is quite good at documenting communications that one has with the staff and relaying it to other staff members, techs, the clinical team, etc. I believe many of the people there will do everything in their power to try to help the patients.
The main reason this place gets three stars is due to delivery of the help they purport to deliver. While this is not in the literature anywhere on the website, it appears that a large number of the patients enrolled at Brafman are doing so under court-order for a criminal case. That said, Brafman seems heavily geared towards providing supposed treatment that gives the appearance of improvement for purposes of winning a criminal case. This can be quite different from actual improvement. I have been in many programs where many patients are routinely "failed" out of it and leave on bad terms. That said, Brafman seems to have the opposite problem, in that they will push people thru that aren't fully helped. This can be great for those facing criminal charges as it gives the appearance of improvement to a court or to a prosecutor. However, I would be wary of this program for someone that does not have an active criminal case and merely wants the program to better themselves. Relapse seems very plausible for those who successfully completed the program due to these issues.
I would also be wary of any promises made that aren't in writing prior to Brafman having your money. For me, I have a sleep condition called delayed sleep phase, which is a valid sleep condition listed on Sylvia Brafman's website under "sleep disorders." For me, it is difficult to successfully adapt to a "normal" sleep schedule and I adapt to my condition by going to bed and waking up at later hours. I asked my parents to ask point blank if the schedule could be accommodated. The program gave a non-answer prior to me attending and then a straight "no" once I got there. I ultimately left the program AMA (against medical advice) due to this issue. Overall, I would demand that any promise that Brafman claims they will make be listed on their actual website or in writing.
Similar to many other mental health facilities I was at, Brafman uses numerous cost-cutting methods to maximize their bottom line. The housing is relatively bare-bones while habitable it is not luxury by any stretch of imagination. The facility hires psychiatric nurse practitioners to cover the majority of medication management as well as therapeutic interns who are not yet certified to practice unsupervised to provide many of the 1:1 and group therapies. The majority of actual treatment involves group therapy there is very limited time that is 1:1 working directly on one's personal issues. I assume this is all to save money while I'm assuming the program will bill insurance and/or the patients as much as they possibly can.
Me personally, if I TRULY wanted to get better I would personally try to see a really good 1:1 therapist while maintaining one's life as much as possible. I am suspect about programs in general doing good towards their patients but I am trying to put my personal bias aside to write a fair review of Sylvia Brafman. If I had higher expectations for a mental health facility, in that I believe the majority of them actually help people, I would give a lower rating to the facility. But I recognize the low bar set by the facilities themselves and by the patients in them. Giving a lower rating would discount horrid experiences at other facilities that I didn't face at Brafman. That said, I give Brafman a fair 3 stars due to the pros and cons as listed above.
Sylvia Brafman is a place that truly cares about everyone who walks through the doors, and you can feel it right away. The team is diverse, passionate, and incredibly knowledgeable, and it’s clear they put real thought into understanding each person as a whole, not just their symptoms. The care feels individualized, nothing about it is “one-size-fits-all.”
There’s a perfect balance between compassion and practical preparation for life. It isn’t just about getting through treatment, but about building the confidence and readiness to thrive afterward. The combination of genuine care, personalized treatment, and focus on long-term growth is rare, and it’s what makes Sylvia Brafman stand out, something that’s truly hard to find when looking for treatment.
I came to the facility with sheer desperation to get help for my son and they took advantage of our family. Jaime saw my exasperation, anxiety and depression and instead of helping us cope and come to a decision he played on my fears as a mother. They guided us toward inpatient and manipulated me into running to the bank immediately to get a cashier check without presenting a clear financial plan from my insurance. They knew we just had a death in our family and we were all extremely affected by that in this meeting.
. nonetheless, we left us some there and ran to the bank. Again, everything was rushed and pushed towards keeping my son at the facility and admitting him.
The living quarters were atrocious. The tub was filthy and backed up. It was in total disrepair. I guess we weren’t supposed to go inside because after that they changed the policy to no visitors.
It has weighed on me and took mea long time to write this. Healthcare workers are bound by the ethical principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence to act in their patients' best interests and protect them from harm. This responsibility is a cornerstone of the medical profession, grounded in ancient ethics and reinforced by modern codes of conduct.
Rehab Score
Our Methodology
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 Methodology
7.5 / 10
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Accepted Insurance
Medica
Allegiance
NYSHIP
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
Outpatient Programs (OP) 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.
Inpatient
Clients typically choose inpatient rehab when they are in early recovery or are experiencing a crisis that puts them at an increased risk of relapse. They reside at the treatment center for the length of their program, which may range from two weeks to more than 18 months, depending on the program design. Intensive psychotherapy is often the primary treatment modality, but clients in inpatient care may also receive holistic treatment and recovery-focused life skills training.
Intensive Outpatient
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are for those who want or need a very structured treatment program but who also wish to live at home and continue with certain responsibilities (such as work or school). IOP substance abuse treatment programs vary in duration and intensity, and certain outpatient rehab centers will offer individualized treatment programs.
12-Step
12 step programs support recovery through emotional, psychological, and spiritual development to address the root causes of addiction. These programs are peer directed, with participants regularly attending 12 step meetings, which are anonymous, free, and accessible day and night, year-round. Recovery is based on "working the steps" to understand the source of addiction, take accountability for one's life choices, and relinquish control for that which cannot be changed. Age-specific, gender-separate, and other specialized programs are widely available.
Partial 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.
Treatments
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.
In Florida, dual-diagnosis addiction treatment treats mental health and substance use disorders concurrently to enhance successful recovery outcomes and improve overall health. Specialized rehab programs include medical detox, outpatient, residential treatment, and intensive outpatient programs. Using evidence-based therapies, like dialectical behavioral therapy or medication-assisted treatment, clinicians successfully treat dual-diagnosis addiction and mental health conditions. Other activities include group therapy and skills training, to equip you with the skills required to achieve and sustain your recovery.
Programs
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.
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.
Clinical Services
Therapists who apply cognitive behavioral therapy in Florida believe patient thoughts and behaviors are closely linked. They use this treatment method to help clients change their thought patterns so they can also change behaviors and break free from substance abuse.
Dialectical behavior therapy in Florida consists of individual therapy and group instruction. This structured program is a form of psychotherapy that incorporates the development of skills for managing emotions and relationships.
Group therapy provides a safe and supportive environment for people in Florida who are struggling with drug addiction. There you can openly discuss the challenges and progress you're making without fear of judgment from your peers who experience many of the same things you are.
Trauma therapy helps you work through the psychological impact that traumatic events have had on your life. Your therapist helps you identify the physical, emotional, and mental triggers and develop coping mechanisms. This helps rebuild a sense of safety and trust in yourself and others.
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.
Life skills are the core skills you need for daily success. They can include self care, stress management, daily routines, and emotion control. Rehab treatment includes the development of these skills so you have the tools you need for long term recovery.
Recreational therapy helps you recover from addiction by giving you structured activities that promote your physical health and mental well being. These activities could range from sports and fitness to creative arts and provide a constructive outlet for your emotions and stress.
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.
Amenities
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Yoga Studio -
Residential Setting -
Private Rooms -
Gym -
Meditation Room
Staff & Accreditations
Staff
Ben Brafman, MS, LMHC, CAP
Co-Founder & Clinical Director
Richard Seely, MD
Director Of Psychiatry
Linda Dolin, MD
Medical Director
Jaime Blaustein, MBA, BA
Co-Founder & CEO
Accreditations
LegitScript has reviewed The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center as part of their certification program, and has determined that it meets the LegitScript standards for legality, safety and transparency.
LegitScript verified in April 2022
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
7710 NW 71ST CT
Tamarac, FL 33321
Get Help Now - 786-492-1158
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Fact checked and written by:
Kelly Junco, CPC, CPRC, BA, BS
Edited by:
Peter Lee, PhD
