Team

The Healing Center's Addiction Specialists In Fort Lauderdale

The Healing Center is an addiction and mental health treatment that provides the highest level of clinical and medical care to clients. Our team of addiction specialists in Fort Lauderdale, FL has over 100 years of combined experience. We are passionate about helping individuals find long term recovery. Our primary purpose is to provide our clients with the individualized care they need to achieve overall wellness and success.

We understand that addiction is a family disease and effects every single loved one in the addicts life. Thus, our highly trained addiction specialists in Fort Lauderdale work closely with the client and their loved ones in order to support the healing process. Furthermore, we believe that care for mental health and addiction should be individualized. There is no one size fits all approach to treating addiction and mental health disorders. Therefore, our treatment facility in Fort Lauderdale provides personalized treatment plans to every individual who walks through our doors. Collectively, our team of addiction specialists takes pride in providing compassionate, evidence based treatment to each and every one of our clients.

Matthew Cutrupi

Director of Operations

Opree Joyner

Clinical Director

Tamara Lockhart

ARNP

Jordan Augustin

ARNP

Kyla Andrews

Nursing Supervisor

Gina Arnold

Primary Therapist

Alisa Gracheva

Primary Therapist

Jac Strickler

Business Development

Shawn Malloy

Group Facilitator

Sage Simons

Case Manager

We’re a team of passionate addiction specialists in Fort Lauderdale with one goal:

Help people live again. 

Because a life of struggling with addiction and mental health disorders is not a life.

Reach out to our admissions team today in order to start living the life you deserve.

Matthew Cutrupi

Director of Operations

Matthew Cutrupi was born and raised in northern NJ. After experiencing his own struggles with drugs and alcohol Matthew relocated to south Florida to seek help. After a few failed attempts Matthew was willing and able to do what it took to get sober. Once in the world of recovery Matthew knew that he needed to give back to others who struggled in the same fashion he did, that when he decided to pursue a career in the field of treatment. Matthew began working as a behavioral health technician in 2013. After growing with a few companies and trying out a few other positions in the field Matthew landed his current title of Director of Operations. Since Matthew has obtained his title at The Healing Center, Matthew has dedicated his working time to ensure the facility is operating smoothly daily. Matthew also works hands on daily to ensure that every client is safe and that all their needs are met. Matthew is honored to be a part of The Healing Center’s team and excited to see where this journey will continue to lead him.

Opree Joyner

Clinical Director

Opree Octavian Joyner also known as Mr. O. earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, a Master of Social Work degree with a clinical focus, and a Master of Arts in Adult Education while being a Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern (ISW 4166) enroute to becoming a Licensed Clinical Social
Worker (SW 16379). Mr. Joyner has over 15 years of clinical experience working to empower persons with co-occurring disorders and their families. Mr. Joyner has effectively utilized social and community resources in inpatient, outpatient, residential, forensic, and psychosocial rehab settings, utilizing individual and group modalities that promote substance abuse and mental health recovery.

Mr. Joyner provides proven clinical ability applying motivational interviewing, dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavior therapy and solution focused therapy. Mr. Joyner provides his compassionate skills to ensure meaningful behavioral outcomes by empowering restorative initiatives dedicated to recovery and helping individuals reclaim their lives. Mr. Joyner maintains dedicated commitment of service satisfaction to the disenfranchised as Clinical Director at The Healing Center of Fort Lauderdale.

Tamara Lockhart

ARNP

Tamara is the medical ARNP at The Healing Center of Fort Lauderdale and she is a servant to her community. She has spent most of her career in the Emergency Department where she started out as a RN over 15 years ago. She then decided to further her education and got her Master’s in nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Her career as a nurse practitioner started out in quick care clinics, primary care, and urgent care. She then ventured into the substance abuse rehabilitation industry and has gained experiences in areas such as minor care complaints, family medicine, primary care, and
substance abuse treatment with MAT. Driven by a true passion for helping others, she takes pride in providing the best medical care services possible. As a Family ARNP her goals include providing convenient, holistic, affordable, and comprehensive health care services to the community she services.

While taking care of others is her primary job function by day, Tamara also enjoys spending time with her family and assisting in the community wherever possible. Tamara is committed to her patients and has also been recognized for her strides in the medical community.

Jordan Augustin

ARNP

A native Haitian, Nurse Practitioner Augustin received his Associate of Arts degree in Nursing from Keiser University in Miami Lakes Florida, graduating top of his class. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Nursing Miami Dade Medical College, where he graduated with honors. He went on to pursue his Master of Science in Primary Care from South University in Savannah Georgia. He continued his education and received his Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Sciences board certification from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He is extremely passionate about helping those with substance abuse issues and Mental health. NP Augustin practices as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner as well as serves as adjunct preceptor for undergraduate and graduate nursing students teaching psychiatric-mental nursing concepts and clinical practice. His goal is to provide current evidenced-based holistic care/service to patient/family using a culturally sensitive; relationship-based, interdisciplinary, and collaborative approach.

Kyla Andrews

Nursing Supervisor

Kyla Andrews is The Healing Center’s nursing supervisor.  She was born and raised in the Bahamas and was always concerned about the health and well-being of those around her. She began her career in healthcare in 2011 after earning a Medical Assisting degree.  She decided that she wanted to do more to help others and moved to the United States to further her education in healthcare.  After successfully completing nursing school in 2017, she immediately began working at the bedside.  Since then, she has shifted her focus to substance abuse rehabilitation, where she enjoys interacting with our clients, attending to their medical needs, and providing support where possible. Kyla is dedicated to meeting the needs of our clients in a secure and welcoming environment.

Gina Arnold

Primary Therapist

Counselor Gina Arnold brings 10 years in recovery, 8 years of experience as a group facilitator and 2 years of experience as a primary therapist to The Healing Center. Beginning her career as a BHT in 2013, she has worked her way through to Addiction Counselor, holding an MCAP, and a Master ‘s degree in Mental Health from Union University in 2020.  Gina is now in her second year of the Ph.D. program for counseling education and supervision at Capella University. Along with her work at The Healing Center, she is also a Group Facilitator at other treatment facilities.

Alisa Gracheva

Primary therapist

There is an incredible power that a human being can uncover when finding ways to reconnect with one’s Higher Self. I strongly believe in combining spirituality with mental health to achieve the ultimate state of fulfillment and peace. I’ve been in the Mental Health field since 2012, earned a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and worked with people in crisis, mental health disorders, and substance use. I spent years studying and practicing alternative healing modalities, including sacred plant medicine work, integration, sound healing therapy, light therapy, energy work, and spiritual guidance. 

My specialties include General Mental Health, Trauma, Grief and Loss, Life Transitions, Personal Growth, Existential Crisis, Spiritual Guidance.

Jac Strickler

Business Development

Jac Strickler was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. In 2014 Jac came to south Florida seeking help from his addictions and struggles with mental health. After changing his life and finding the world of recovery Jac decided to dedicate his life to helping others who struggle as he did. In 2017 Jac began his career in the treatment industry. While Jac was working as a behavioral health technician he made the decision that he wanted to grow more in the field and reach out to help even more people, this is when Jac began taking on management roles and doing some business development. Jac works hands on daily to ensure that every client is taken care of and safe. I guess you could call him a “Jac” of all trades. Jac is honored to be a part of this amazing company and plans to continue to grow with The Healing Center as the years progress.

Shawn Malloy

Group Facilitator

Shawn Malloy was born and raised in Northeast Pennsylvania.  Shawn first came down to Florida for treatment in 2016 and completed his treatment. After completing treatment, he began working as a BHT while working the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. He also obtained an undergraduate with a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University. His favorite part of his position as a group facilitator is being given the opportunity to motivate clients to challenge themselves to become healthier versions of themselves and want more for their lives. He believes people can build a healthier lifestyle through basic techniques of concentration, listening, visualization, relaxation, and spirituality. Shawn is passionate about helping clients realize their potential by enhancing communication skills and elevating self-esteem. He believes people can build a healthier lifestyle through basic techniques of concentration, listening, visualization, relaxation, and spirituality.

Sage Simons

Case Manager

Sage Simons was born and raised in wester Pennsylvania. In 2017 Sage decided to come to treatment in south Florida due to her struggles with drugs and alcohol. Sage was dedicated to put in the work and change her life and fortunate enough to come out of treatment a success. In 2018 Sage took her first position as a behavioral health technician in the treatment industry. While working as a BHT Sage had the desire to learn more and began asking how she could grow in the field. This is when Sage began learning the role of Case Manager. Currently Sage works daily hands on helping each and every client who comes into The Healing Center. Sage spends majority of her days ensuring that each client has every one of their needs met. Sage looks forward to spending her future growing with The Healing
Center of Fort Lauderdale.