The David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health offers a full continuum of care that empowers individuals and families to improve their quality of life and strengthen community health.
This article examines how these services help and the importance of access to mental health support.
Another useful choice is BetterHelp, which offers special humanitarian therapy for individuals, couples, LGBTQ and faith-based people to meet a few personal needs.
About David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health

David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC), a nonprofit provider of behavioral health and substance use services, has served Southwest Florida for more than 50 years.
They offer inpatient, outpatient, residential and community-based programming to children, teens and adults.
DLC provides evidentiary-based person-centered, holistic care in six areas. These programs include a mix of education, prevention, intervention and treatment tailored to the specific needs of the individual and to improve their quality of life.
At the same time, as a not-for-profit regional health service, their purpose is to save and change lives so that every person has access to the care they need–care partners.
History of DLC
David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC) has been giving hope and healing to Collier County individuals and families plagued by mental health and substance use issues for more than 30 years.
At its origin back in 1968, it was a small clinic founded by worried residents to serve a community that did not have access to mental health care. For 8 years from its initial release, DLC was extended through community support, donations, and grants.
In the ’80s, the center was rebranded in the name of David Lawrence Bathey, and a new campus was built, along with new programs for children and grown-ups — including crisis care and residential treatment.
DLC began to expand in the 1990s — adding new housing and mental health services for children and families, reaching more people in need.
Services began in the 2000s, including detox programs, children’s crisis units and community diversion programs, such as Mental Health Court.
By the 2010s, DLC was offering more than 50,000 people a year pioneering services like telehealth, holistic therapies including art and music, and programs for children and families.
Today, DLC is expanding under a plan focused on the best models of care for children, whole care persons, innovation, collaboration and access to care. Their mission remains to offer hope, healing and assistance to anyone in need.
DLC Mental Health Services
1. For Adults
The David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health(DLC)offers assistance to adults facing mental health concerns.
They treat patients in the outpatient realm as well as in inpatient care, and they have telemedicine through their Virtual Care Center for those who cannot see them in person.
DLC also provides a 24/7AdultCrisis Stabilization Unit for individuals in immediate need. This is for those experiencing acute mental health events such as suicidal ideations, extreme depression or anxiety, or a break with reality.
Under their circumstances, individuals are immediately treated — either voluntarily or involuntarily.
Inpatient services can also be useful, and that can be followed by outpatient services. Where you can get short-term therapy as an individual, a couple or a whole family can help you overcome emotional or mental health problems.
They can guide the people to manage their situation and provide alternatives to problems.
DLC also provides complementary therapies including art therapy, music therapy, equine therapy (being with horses) and pet therapy — which are all fashioned to help traditional therapies and encourage holistic wellness.
There’s group therapy as well, with things like wellness groups for those with severe mental health issues, and anger management for people looking to learn better ways of expressing themselves.
They also provide affordable housing to people with a mental health diagnosis to enable them to cope independently.
2. Services for Veterans
The David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC) serves veterans coping with many types of mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and substance use, all of these can be common when veterans return home from deployment.
Such examples are considered as stepping stones towards making class that helps veterans and their families improve their day-to-day life at home, in jobs, at school and in societies through physical therapy or yoga for veterans and building good relations.
DLC collaborates with organizations like Home Base Florida and Wounded Warriors of Collier County to provide these services.
Get through case managers — who are also veterans — and find access to vital services like mental health care, medical assistance and shelter.
Provides outpatient treatment to veterans and their families, for problems including PTSD, depression, anxiety and grief. The types of therapies that have been found to help (such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) used to help treat PTSD.
Veterans can also make use of the Veterans’ Treatment Court, which offers treatment and rehabilitation instead of going to jail.
The program shows veterans how to live their lives without drugs, comply with legal obligations and repair healthy relationships with families and communities.
3. Programs for kids and Teens
The center offers various programs to help children and teens with mental health and behavioral issues receive the support they need to thrive.
Its Adolescent Day Program provides therapy, family support and life skills training for teens struggling with anxiety or depression; there are no overnight stays.
DLC also offers 24/7 crisis support for people in crisis, outpatient therapy for younger children and medication management for psychiatric disorders. They provide arts and equine and pet therapy and substance use programs.
DLC’s community-based services include the Wrap-Around Collier Program and the Community Action Team, programs that assist youth with coping skills and stress management and to excel in their communities.
4. Addiction Recovery & Rehab
DLC is holistic — it addresses the physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of addiction by offering a full continuum of services.
They offer treatment for multiple types of addiction, including to alcohol or opioids, as well as co-occurring mental health disorders.
In DLC, short for drug and alcohol intensive inpatient, then Crossroads — a residential treatment program that extends education about addiction, therapy and helping residents develop balanced lives.
If you want more flexible options, DLC also has outpatient services such as its Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) that allow people to focus on their daily lives while getting continued care.
DLC offers various therapy services including support for wellness and art therapy, equine-assisted therapy, and medication-assisted treatment.
Recognize that recovery is a lifelong process and provide aftercare services to support long-term sobriety.
Their Alumni Association also offers peer support, as well as ways to stay involved in recovery through events and volunteer work.
Want to know more about mental health services, check these out:
- Top Healthcare Services at Clarinda Regional Health Center
- Hope and Recovery at Delray Center for Healing
- Compassionate Care at Central Kansas Mental Health Center
Team Members of DLC

David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC) is supported by a diverse team of highly respected professionals. Below are some of the key team members contributing to the organization’s mission:
1. Leadership Team
1.1 Scott Burgess
Scott Burgess, chief executive officer, David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC). Scott Burgess, the CEO of DLC since 2014.
He oversees children’s, adolescent and adult mental health and substance use services.
Scott has more than 20 years of deep experience and passion for transforming care and has been engaged in numerous large-scale initiatives affecting mental health policy and in the community.
1.2 Nancy Dauphinais
Nancy DauphinaisChief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President David Lawrence CentersNancy Dauphinais directs operations, medical services, quality improvement and program support.
She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has been providing clinical and therapy services since joining DLC in 2005.
1.3 Mary Ann Guerra
Mary Ann Guerra Chief Clinical Officer David Lawrence Centers 35+ years of psychiatric nursing and behavioral health experience
She joined in 1993 and has served in many leadership positions and is currently responsible for the direction of clinical services including acute care addiction recovery, and out and community programs.
1.4 Rob Wilkinson
This is Rob Wilkinson, Chief Financial Officer of David Lawrence Centers who now implements financial strategies paying attention to the organization’s goal of delivering behavioral health programs.
2. Medical Team
- Maxim Chasano, MD
- Paul Baldizzi,MD
- Edwin Gomez,MD
- 2Marta Pieczalska,MD
3. Clinical Team
3.1 Ashley Swan
Ashley Swan, Licensed Mental Health Counselor at David Lawrence Center, provides behavioral health care for individuals in the Full Service Outpatient Program (IOP).
She assists clients in developing self-awareness, better decision-making and skills that support them in coping and staying in recovery.
3.2 Erin Lyristakis
Erin Lyristakis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the program director of the Crossroads and Intensive Outpatient Programs at David Lawrence Centers.
She has spent the past 18 years working with both adolescents and adults grappling with addiction and mental health, providing therapy and helping clients build recovery — with an emphasis on living well and healing from trauma.
4. Program Directors
4.1 Maggie Baldwin
Maggie Baldwin Director of Crossroads Continuum Services, guides addiction recovery programs that advance students through the continuum of care from the early recovery stages to full residential engagement in the big issues surrounding substance positiveness.
4.2 Beverly Belli
Beverly Belli, Director of Adult Community Services Throughout the CommunityBeverly Belli directs adult community services that serve persons with mental health and substance use challenges throughout the community.
4.3 Karen Buckner
Karen Buckner Director, Children’s Community Services Oversees programs for children and teens in need of support for mental health, behavioral issues and substance use disorders.
4.4 Angela Lopez
Angela LopezDirector of Access and Outpatient ServicesAngela Lopez supervises services that help people proactively gain entry into mental health and substance use services while living in the community.
Contact Information and Address
The address information of David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health is 6075 Bathey Lane Naples, FL 34116.
contact them at (239)455-8500 and Visit the official website for more information.
