About Us

We are a world-class mental health treatment center with a dual diagnosis (co-occurring substance use disorders) angle founded by widely recognized leaders in behavioral health. We put those who suffer on a path to thriving in all areas of life through five uniquely tailored “lanes” – Clinical, Psychiatric, Medical, Spiritual, and Vocational.

Our mission is to be the standard-bearer for mental health treatment and dual-diagnosis care in both Florida and the United States by prioritizing clinical care above all else, focusing on a long-term plan of action both in treatment and beyond, and working intimately with families throughout the process. We specialize in primary mental health diagnoses, which includes demonstrating expertise on trauma’s lasting impact on psychological health and the importance of trauma-informed care. Rather than simply conforming to the status quo, we take a more thoughtful and logical approach to treating co-occurring conditions.

Unparalleled Treatment for Mental Health Disorders

We focus on identifying core mental health issues, healing through a variety of modalities, mitigating symptoms that persist, and empowering people to thrive. Patients complete our program with a firm understanding of their condition and a robust set of tools for managing symptoms.

Our “5 Lanes” approach attacks mental illness simultaneously from a number of different angles. Different angles work for different people. We want to maximize the chances of success by casting a wide net, and then honing in on those “lanes” that are effective. Equally as important are the 5 experts we’ve brought together under one roof to pioneer each lane. They are all widely respected and accomplished, each of them a critical part of a cohesive unit to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

>Unparalleled Treatment for Mental Health Disorders

We invite you to read further about the people and philosophy that make The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center genuinely unique. Below summarizes the key things you should know about our center:

Rigorous focus on primary mental health conditions
First-rate Family Program – the “Crown Jewel” of SBMHC
Career Launch Program – unique and innovative
Exceptional clinical, medical, and psychiatric backbone
Intimate and small with individually-tailored treatment
Outside-the-box modalities and wellness offerings (TMS, genetic testing, etc.)
Dual-diagnosis spiritual immersion track pioneered by international speaker Peter Marinelli

Filling the Gap in Mental Health Treatment

Our co-founders, Jaime Blaustein, and Ben Brafman have a unique story. The most important aspect of that story is that they saw a significant gap in the supply of quality, evidence-based treatment centers focused on the primary mental health population. They saw that, while there is a plethora of substance abuse-focused facilities nationally, there were very few that could treat mental health diagnoses with excellence. Thus, our formation was based on trying to fill a need and underscored by the belief many people are misdiagnosed and under-treated for their mental health conditions due to the lack of available options.

We often see people who require more intensive partial hospitalization care instead directed to outpatient treatment first. Others begin in outpatient with the best intentions but wonder why they seem “stuck” or “plateaued” after months – or even years – of seeing a therapist several times weekly. Therefore, the goal is to bring the entire process of recovery from mental illness under one roof. We encourage people to “take a stand” and get off the proverbial merry-go-round so that they can truly drill down on the mental health symptoms that ail them, all with the intention of taking “baby steps” back into life with continued support.

Sylvia Brafman takes a more refreshing and optimistic view of mental illness. We support people who are simply existing to reach a point where they are thriving. Mental wellness is the prerequisite for being a part of life’s joys. A life well-spent means a life lived as one’s best version of themselves. We seek to turn the stigma surrounding mental health disorders into a revitalized attitude and outlook on life. When patients get better, the struggles they have endured are transformed into assets for living life happily and successfully.

Mental Health Focus

Unlike substance abuse programs which treat mental illness as an afterthought, we provide careful, thorough assessment and continuous evaluation. We believe this is necessary for truly effective treatment and lasting recovery.

Thought Leaders

Our team is comprised of thought leaders and mental health professionals with first-hand experience overcoming mental health disorders. We have both expertise and empathy.

Passionate & Authentic

Mental health treatment is our calling. We work in this field because watching the proverbial ‘light’ turn on is our passion. We recognized a need for a truly exemplary mental health program with expertise in dual-diagnosis.

Small & Intimate

Our small size enables us to foster intimacy and ensure our patients feel seen and heard, while we are large enough to offer a full suite of modalities to attack mental illness. We see our patients not as patients, but as family.

Family Inclusion in Treatment Is Our One “Non-negotiable”

We often refer to our Family Program as the “Crown Jewel” of Sylvia Brafman, as it is truly unique and a critical part of our treatment program. This program is laced throughout all levels of care. Family inclusion is a non-negotiable for us; we like to say that when the patient comes into treatment, the family enters a “virtual wing” of Sylvia Brafman. In that vein, we are not the type of program in which family members can drop off their loved one and say “see you when you’re out.” On the contrary, we work closely with families throughout their loved one’s time in treatment. Our Chief Clinical Officer Ben Brafman takes a hands-on approach with this element of treatment because the entire family suffers when a loved one is mentally ill.

Mental Health and External Success Are Not Mutually Exclusive

Our Career Launch Program channels the innate potential that so many of our potential hold deep within. While the priority is, of course, addressing mental health, we believe it can also be valuable to address external life in parallel. As such, our CEO Jaime Blaustein works directly with folks to help them navigate the career or educational path forward. This is truly a unique element of our program which is equally appreciated by patients and their families.

Feeling stuck in limbo is often a byproduct of mental illness, and so take those participating in Career Launch through a thoughtful process to help patients understand what makes them tick, the considerations driving career decisions, and how to pursue opportunities. We feel it would be short-sighted to ignore this aspect of life, as circumstances often play a role in our mental well-being. So we roll up our sleeves and provide mentorship in this sense, which bolsters all of the great work our clinicians and doctors do simultaneously.

Clinical and Medical Excellence Is Our Foundation

Our goal from the outset of our founding was to bring the best providers under one roof. An incredibly strong clinical and medical backbone is essential to delivering world-class treatment. While we see the value in some of the “bells and whistles” that come with treatment – our unique wellness offerings, comfortable lodging, etc. – none of that matters without first-rate patient care. Chief Clinical Officer Ben Brafman, Director of Psychiatry Dr. Rick Seely, and the rest of the clinical team are outstanding at what they do.

Our clinical philosophy is informed by decades of experience and evidence-based methods. It is not cookie-cutter, but well thought-out and intentional. Learn more about that philosophy here.

A Family-Like Culture that is Small and Intimate

Treatment is not one-size-fits all. We believe it is critical to tailor a treatment plan to the individual. The right blend of clinical, medical, psychiatric, spiritual, and vocational care must be applied based on the individual’s life to date, diagnosis, and level of trauma among other factors.

The fact that we are small and intimate enables us to implement this level of individualization. Our culture fosters camaraderie and intimacy. We aim to make Sylvia Brafman feel like home. Patients are a family and, in many cases, it’s the first instance of real human connection they have had in quite some time. Communal dinners and group activities help facilitate this camaraderie. But much of the bonding comes through not only a common struggle, but a common solution and commitment to rediscovering a new life.

Our owners and top clinical minds will speak to you directly, not pass you off to an employee in a call center, as many do. We don’t soft-sell that recovery from mental illness requires hard work. We unapologetically ask families and patients to do the hard work. But we believe the rewards are limitless and that they create a ripple effect in the lives of loved ones as well.

Outside-The-Box Modalities and Wellness Offerings Are Critical “Needle Movers”

While our core substance is driven by clinical and medical excellence, we include a number of alternative methods to help people recover. As a result, we incorporate innovative and unique methods to help “move the needle.” Our view is that even if it only helps 1% – the marginal gain from that is worthwhile. What adds little value to one person may be a critical part of another person’s “wellness package.” We, therefore, include unique offerings like TMS Therapy, Acupuncture, Yoga Therapy, Physical Fitness, Physical Therapy, Chiropractic, Recreational Activities, and Genetic Testing.

Addiction Treatment Is a Core Competency

We are a true dual-diagnosis treatment center with a mental health slant. That means that, while we focus primarily on underlying mental health diagnoses, we are as equipped as anyone to treat addiction. Our belief is that addiction falls under the umbrella of mental illness and that it requires requiring adding an especially pronounced spiritual element to one’s treatment plan. Our Through The Archway substance abuse track infuses this spiritual element into those that struggle with drugs and alcohol. Peter and Marion Marinelli, international speakers on addiction and alcohol recovery, run this special program with compassion and optimism.

Patients often find themselves in an addiction treatment center that claims to be “dual diagnosis” but provides only the bare minimum level of mental health support to use that label, which they do in a “by the way” fashion. One 15-minute visit with a psychiatrist or counselor at the beginning of treatment and a hasty diagnosis is all they get. Labeled with depression or anxiety disorder and perhaps prescribed an SSRI, that’s the last they hear about mental health treatment for the remainder of their stay. The rest of these programs are often entirely focused on chemical dependency. We believe this is a large reason why addiction treatment often results in the same old behaviors rearing their ugly heads.

The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center Accepts Insurance

At The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center, conveniently located in Tamarac near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, we prioritize accessibility to mental health care through an extensive range of accepted health insurance plans. We partner with leading insurance providers such as Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, and Florida Blue. As an NYSHIP mental health provider and Empire Plan mental health provider, our center ensures that patients, whether from Atlanta, Georgia, or nearby in Fort Lauderdale, can seamlessly access our comprehensive services. Our team is dedicated to helping you understand your mental health insurance coverage, providing expert guidance for those with Ambetter cover and UMR mental health coverage, and ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of receiving quality care for conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, and BPD.

We understand that navigating the complexities of outpatient mental health costs and intensive outpatient program costs can be challenging. At Sylvia Brafman, we offer personalized assistance to help patients explore how to pay for mental health treatment effectively. By accepting a broad spectrum of insurance plans, we aim to alleviate the financial strain often associated with mental health care, including the cost of counseling and specific treatment expenses. Our knowledgeable team is committed to maximizing your insurance benefits, ensuring that you receive the necessary support without the added stress of high out-of-pocket expenses.

Moreover, our services are not limited to traditional treatment settings. We also offer holistic therapy approaches, which is popular for those seeking mental wellness retreats i Florida. These mental health retreats provide an immersive environment for healing and are accessible to those with compatible insurance plans. By integrating these innovative options with comprehensive insurance acceptance, The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center ensures that every patient receives the care they need for a healthier, more balanced life. Our mission is to support your journey to mental wellness, regardless of financial constraints.

About Us

Unparalleled Treatment for Mental Health Disorders