Women’s Drug Rehab Treatment Team

At the Destination Hope: The Women’s Program, we are a team of dedicated professionals whose career goals are to help others in need, offering the best drug rehab Florida has to offer. Indeed, Destination Hope was founded on a promise of giving those who have tried it all another chance at moving beyond their addiction. We know first-hand that addicted individuals need unique help and they need people in their lives who have fought the same battle before. Many of the clinicians and counselors on our staff have worked in the addictions field for their entire professional lives and have worked in all areas of mental health, behavioral health and substance abuse. We know the power of the individual, the group and the family.

As a result, we have developed a drug rehab Florida can count on.

Ben Brafman, LMHC, CAP – CEO & Founder

Ben is the CEO and Founder of Destination Hope. He a leading authority in addiction issues and has focused Destination Hope to address not only the client’s addictions but the concerns of the families as well. Ben is one of the most well-known experts in alcohol and drug rehab in Florida, and he is also the founder of two not-for-profit organizations; The Evan Glugeth Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Fund and Rx Angels. Ben has been awarded the “Spirit of the Community” award, given to those who excel in helping others in the local community. Ben has helped families all over the country and is a published author in the area of dual diagnosis and chemical dependency. Ben is also an educator, supervising and training others to be certified professionals in the field of addiction through his Academy for Addiction Professionals.

Suzanne Brafman, LCSW – CFO & Founder

Suzanne is the Chief Financial Officer and co-founder of Destination Hope. She has been working in the substance abuse and mental health field since 1993 and received her masters in social work from Florida International University in 1995. In addition to managing the finances, she sees clients individually and as couples to help them re-assimilate into their previous relationships in a healthy way. Suzanne loves finding creative solutions to help people by thinking out of the box and involving the whole family in the recovery process. She feels very strongly about the importance of having a gender specific treatment environment for women because it creates an environment where women can be truly honest about their history and issues. Suzanne believes that women need to be real about who they are and the support of women will get them there.

Alton Smith – Vice President of Operations

Alton works with clients and other treatment facilities alike to ensure the best care for each and every one of our clients. Boasting a long career in the addictions field and exceptional knowledge of effective treatment programs, Alton is a great asset to the Destination Hope team. Alton hold two masters degrees in mental health and substance abuse areas and is involved in the day-to-day working of our Academy for Addiction Professionals that trains aspiring addiction professionals.

Thomas Sibilia, CAC – Director of Quality Assurance

Thomas is a Certified Addiction Counselor and with his expertise and knowledge of addiction and addiction treatment is able to properly place clients in the correct level of treatment for their circumstance. He also works closely with our insurance partners and affiliated treatment and detox centers to create a plan that best suits our clients’ needs. He also teaches courses at the Academy for Addiction Professionals.

Shira Ackerman – Director of Human Resources

Shira manages the daily administration of personnel as director of Human resources for Destination Hope. Her primary task is to develop, maintain and update Destination Hope’s employee and company policies to ensure that all regulatory and company requirements are being met by the staff. She co-ordinates personnel files, applications and resumes and conducts secondary job interviews. Shira also develops and implements plans for employee participation in charitable organizations and community building activities.

Juanita McGhee, CAC – Lead Therapist

Juanita is a Certified Addiction Counselor and the Lead Therapist for Destination Hope: The Women’s Program. She has worked tirelessly in the substance abuse field for more than ten years and loves helping women achieve recovery.

Beth Austin – Director of Housing, CAC, CBHT

For the past 8 years, Beth has been helping those suffering from addiction find their way out of the depths of this disease. Her role at Destination Hope, as Director of Housing is to ensure that each and every one of our clients receives the very best care that they deserve. After therapy sessions are over, the clients head to our community housing facilities which are kept in top condition by Beth and her team. Beth ensures that the stringent quality guidelines that Destination Hope subscribes to are met every single day. She completed her CAC at the Academy for Addiction Professionals and is currently enrolled at Broward College.

Ladonna Robbins – Mental Health Technician

Stacy Edsell – Receptionist & Director of First Impressions

Stacy is the Receptionist and Director of First Impressions at Destination Hope. She has worked in customer service for more than 15 years and takes great pride in welcoming clients and their families to Destination Hope. Stacy is also responsible for setting up charts for admissions, keeping the office stocked full of the necessary supplies, and acting as the assistant to the CEO at Destination Hope. She is very well-organized, works hard and always has a smile on her face.