Addiction and Relapse Prevention National Recovery Month with Ben Brafman of Destination Hope

September is designated as Addiction and Relapse Prevention National Recovery Month. On this episode of eHealth Radio and the Mental Health Channel, we have Behavioral health expert Ben Brafman, the founder and CEO of Destination Hope, a full-service mental health and substance abuse treatment facility located in Fort Lauderdale, FL with gender specific treatment.

Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels & guest Ben Brafman discuss the following:

• September is the 24th annual National Recovery Month, but for those suffering from addiction even those who have been in recovery a long time, each month is recovery month. What is the significance of having a national recovery month and do you think recovery month has made an impact on substance abuse education and treatment over the last 24 years?
• This year's Recovery Month theme is Pathways to Wellness, highlighting the importance of mental, physical, and emotional well-being as part of the recovery process. This is something you've been focused on throughout your career and something that you have made a tenet of your treatment programs. Why is overall wellness such an important part of substance abuse and mental health recovery?  What can be done to improve an individual's overall wellness while in rehab?
• One of the things we keep seeing in behavioral health research is the value of family, friends, and community members throughout the recovery journey. How can family members help loved ones suffering from addiction improve their wellness and overall health?
• On that note, your center, Destination Hope offers intensive family counseling weekends. Why did you start holding these family weekends? What impact have you seen from these weekends
• In the past 24 years how do you think the behavioral health field has changed? What do you see happening in the future?

Duration: 16:19

Ben Brafman, LMHC, CAP, is the Clinical Director, President and CEO of Destination Hope, a nationally recognized substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  With more than two decades of hands-on experience in the field of substance abuse and addiction, Ben is a leading authority on substance abuse, addiction and treatment protocols.  A licensed behavioral health counselor and certified addiction professional, Ben has grown into an industry expert, educating both healthcare and public audiences on issues in the field of addiction.

In 2007, Ben founded Destination Hope, a new model in full service addiction recovery. Combining his experience as an addiction tech, behavioral health counselor and clinical director, Ben developed treatment protocols that focused on individualized treatment, versus an all in one approach.  His unique approach, to treat an individual as a whole instead of a set of symptoms by addressing the psychological, physical and emotional issues related to substance abuse set a new standard in addiction treatment.  Destination Hope was an immediate success, and today has expanded into multiple treatment programs including separate female and male treatment programs.

Ben has experience serving clients and leading therapy programs at a variety of residential, clinical and outpatient behavioral health programs.  Ben is a Member of the Mental Health Association, the Broward County Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol and a member of the Dual Diagnosis Association.  He is a nationally certified counselor, a certified addiction professional, a licensed mental health counselor and an anger management specialist.  Ben has served as an expert witness in DUI/drug cases.

As a behavioral health counselor, Ben is dedicated to helping those beyond the treatment facility.  He is an active volunteer with Community Friends Association, and co-founder of Southern Lights A.I.D.S. project.  Ben has been awarded community service commendations from the Salvation Army – 1990’s Community Service Person of the Year and the Spirit of the Community Award in 2000.

Ben Brafman holds a BA from Syracuse University and a MA from Barry University in Mental Health Counseling and Family Therapy. He and his wife live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with their three wonderful children.   He has completed three marathons and is training for a triathlon.

Links: www.drugrehabfl.net

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