ABOUT US

At our core, The Bougainvilla House Family Therapy Center provides teens and young adults the counseling, therapy and support they and their families need for substance use and behavioral health issues. We are the only program in Broward County, Florida to offer these types of services to teens, and our innovative approach to working with families has been successful in helping our clients reach their dreams and aspirations.

More importantly, we are part of this community and we offer our services in a safe, homelike setting. Here, you will find a comfortable atmosphere—nestled in a quiet, inviting neighborhood and staffed by professionals who have dedicated their lives to helping teens and their families.

GET STARTED NOW

954-764-7337

OUR MISSION

The Bougainvilla House Family Therapy Center provides the highest quality intervention and therapeutic services for adolescents and their families who are dealing with substance use or behavioral health issues. We render our services without regard to race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity or national origin.

We will preserve and respect the dignity of the people we serve and those with whom we work.

Our goal is to have our clients learn skills that will facilitate their success.

STAFF & BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cici Kelly
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ARISE® INTERVENTION INTERN

Ms. Kelly is responsible for the overall operations of the company. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southwestern State University. Ms. Kelly is a senior-level business development and sales executive with a diverse background that includes strategy, new business development, finance and sales leadership, with a proven track record in generating revenue.

Ms. Kelly has worked for several Fortune 500 companies during her career and is very involved in her community. She has served on numerous non-profit boards in the community, holding leadership positions and helping them raise much-needed funds.

Ms. Kelly served on the Board of The Bougainvilla House Family Therapy Center prior to assuming the role of CEO.

Cici Kelly
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ARISE® INTERVENTION INTERN
Kacey Benson
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

Mr. Benson is responsible for the daily operation of The Bougainvilla House, including accounting, finance and administrative compliance. He works closely with the CEO and Clinical Director to strategically plan for the organization’s future, ensuring that The Bougainvilla House is able to provide a valuable service to the community.

Mr. Benson received both his bachelor’s degree in management and his Master of Business Administration from Florida State University. He has extensive experience in nonprofit financial management.

Kacey Benson
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Chrissy Guerrieri
OFFICE MANAGER

Ms. Guerrieri was born and raised in South Florida. She attended American Heritage High School and recently graduated from Florida Technical College with a degree in Billing Specialist.

Ms. Guerrieri has extensive knowledge and experience in the medical field for the past 16 years, bringing a wealth of expertise in all areas of the front office. She strives to help each and every patient to the greatest of her abilities and also strives to go the extra mile.

Chrissy Guerrieri
OFFICE MANAGER

Hara Wachholder, LMHC
CLINICAL DIRECTOR

Hara Wachholder is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with the State of Florida and received her Master’s degree in Counseling from Nova Southeastern University in 2014. Hara is passionate about helping others and enjoys being at the forefront of community mental health, where she can inspire others to be the change that they would like to see in the world. Hara focuses on individualized treatment that suits the mind, body and spirit and utilizes the personal strengths of each client.

Hara’s holistic approach combines mainstream theories such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy with alternative approaches including: mindfulness, relaxation techniques, creative writing, music and art therapy.

Hara Wachholder, LMHC
CLINICAL DIRECTOR
Dr. Alexander Pushka
MEDICAL DIRECTOR PSYCHIATRIST

Dr. Pushka is a board certified psychiatrist. He attended medical school in the Ukraine and did his Psychiatry Residency Training and fellowship in adolescent psychiatry at Drexel University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He graduated in 2004. Dr. Pushka is affiliated with Memorial Regional Hospital, Joe De Maggio Hospital and Larkin Hospital and is the Medical Director for the Bougainvilla House Family Therapy Center.

Dr. Alexander Pushka
MEDICAL DIRECTOR PSYCHIATRIST
Lauren Behr
LCSW THERAPIST

Lauren Behr is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). She has helped people overcome many obstacles and or mental health issues in their lives. Lauren uses therapeutic techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, motivational interviewing and solution focused interventions. These work to encourage the person to come to their own solution by educating and being empathetic, but also exploring what may not be functioning in the person's life.

Lauren has knowledge in anxiety, depression, substance abuse, anger, grief, PTSD, OCD, etc. Lauren has specialized with working with first responders and addiction which included family therapy. Her goal is to help each person have a better quality of life through building a working relationship.

Lauren Behr
LCSW THERAPIST
Simone Alicia
SELF-ESTEEM COACH

Simone Alicia, The Self Esteem Doctor, is a motivational speaker, personal coach and wellness consultant. Simone coaches every type of person “through the hard times” using the power of higher self-esteem.

Individuals, schools, nonprofits, small businesses and large corporations all choose Simone because she uses her magnetic personality and beloved sense of humor to solve problems, transform negative or stagnating mindsets and provide relief during some of the most challenging and confusing times of life.

Simone is a certified neuro-linguistic programming practitioner with an honorary doctorate degree in divinity. Alongside her master’s in business management and bachelor’s in education from the University of Florida, she is also an active member of the Association for Integrative Psychology.

Whether easing the pain of negative memories, sadness and bullying or guiding you step by step through how to manage stress, achieve goals and empower your inner being, Simone helps you to shift your mindset and finally get the results you’ve been searching for.

The Self Esteem Doctor will embrace you warmly, inspire you confidently and successfully coach you through the challenges of life.

Simone Alicia
SELF-ESTEEM COACH
Christopher Garcia, LMFT
THERAPIST

Christopher is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the State of Florida and received his Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in 2014. After graduation, he focused his studies on Trauma and completed a 24 week Certified Expert Trauma Professional curriculum with the International Association of Trauma Professionals.

Chris’s expertise lies in understanding and enhancing relationships and the interactional cycles within these relationships as they affect clients own unique lives and journeys. Chris is passionate in the study of trauma; as it relates to therapy, treatment and recovery for individuals, couples, families and communities who have experienced traumatic events, to help them facilitate the process of healing. Chris believes trauma is an important and often under looked aspect of addiction and recovery and has a unique view of trauma, believing it to play an adaptive role in people’s lives. Chris tries to empower clients into learning how to utilize their trauma and lived experiences to overcome addiction and as a means of personal transformation, rather than a diagnosis of symptoms and heartache. For Chris, Addiction is all about gaining control of who you are, multidimensionally; to treat ourselves physically, psychologically, spiritually, mentally and biologically. Addiction is about how you survived, but Recovery is about how you thrive; by focusing on overcoming how you have adapted based on your lived experiences and learning to reintegrate this new version of you…to become the best version of you.

Chris has presented in Cambodia, China and most recently Iceland where he mixes his love for teaching and educating other’s in trauma with his passion for travel, exploration and experiencing new cultures.

Chris has worked with individuals and families in the addiction and mental health field for over 3 years and appreciates each person’s unique story and path in life. He combines a holistic approach with therapeutic models to help clients facilitate change for themselves.

Christopher Garcia, LMFT
THERAPIST
Alexandra Antunes, LMHC
THERAPIST

Alexandra Antunes is a licensed mental health counselor with the State of Florida and received her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. By utilizing an approach that combines different techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Reality Therapy and with experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in both group and individual settings she is able to help a wide variety of clients.

Alexandra Antunes, LMHC
THERAPIST
Claire Loucka, LMFT
THERAPIST

Claire has been working in the addiction field since 2015. Originally from Georgia, she has her master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Mercer University in Atlanta and is currently working on her Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. As a published author in the Journal of Systemic Therapies, Claire has also presented her ideas on addiction and recovery at a peer reviewed conference. As a marriage and family therapist, Claire works from a systemic approach to therapy when engaging with individuals, couples, and families. She believes that healing occurs when relationships are mended.

Claire Loucka, LMFT
THERAPIST
Frank Kotey, LMHC
THERAPIST

Frank is a Registered Mental Health Counseling Clinician with the State of Florida. He received his Master of Science degree in Counselor Education with a specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Florida International University in 2015.

He received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Child Psychology from the University of North Florida in 2010. He has worked with children and adolescents for over 15 years in many different facets including summer camps, preschools, autistic learning centers, swim instruction, and after school programs. His practicum work included narrative trauma work with clients suffering from PTSD

Frank Kotey, LMHC
THERAPIST

Tom Moody
CHAIRMAN

Tom Moody grew up outside of Atlanta Georgia, but has called Fort Lauderdale his home since 1985. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and has owned and operated local area businesses since 1991. He is the founder and President of Moody Insurance Group which has been doing business for over 20 years in downtown Hollywood.

Tom has had a parallel career since 2000 as a real estate developer and has developed, owned and operated multiple Self Storage facilities in Florida and Georgia under the USA Self Storage brand.

He has been active with the youth of our community through the Holiday Park soccer league and the Fort Lauderdale Indian Guides program. Tom currently serves as a board member of the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport Aviation Advisory Committee for the city of Fort Lauderdale. Tom is a private pilot who enjoys boating, diving, fishing and snow skiing. Tom met Lory, his wife of 39 years, in the insurance industry and together they live in downtown Ft. Lauderdale with their son.

Tom Moody
CHAIRMAN
David Ray
VICE CHAIRMAN

David is a South Florida native and an attorney with his primary practice area in Commercial and Bankruptcy litigation. A proud honors alumnus of St. Thomas High School with a family history of devotion to the practice of law, David pursued a Bachelors and Masters degree from Florida State University before receiving his law degree.

David Ray
VICE CHAIRMAN
James Maus
FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR

James is a true native of Florida, having been a resident of Fort Lauderdale his entire life. He attended Stonehill College in Easton, MA, graduating with a B.S. in Business Administration. James began his career in the financial industry in 1987 at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for Northern Futures, a subsidiary of Northern Trust Bank. He then became a member of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and traded in currency and financial futures. He returned to Florida in 1992 as a Financial Advisor with Morgan Keegan and joined Morgan Stanley in 2004. James is NASD Series 7, 67, 31, and Insurance licensed and holds the designation of Vice President.

James Maus
FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Maggie McIntyre
FINANCE COMMITTEE

In 1996 Maggie graduated from University of California, Magna Cum Laude, with a Degree in Economics.

Maggie began her career with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network developing the college marketing and recruiting strategy and executive recruiting for the South Florida Group from 1996-2005. She was a national leader within this organization in recruiting and retention. She was appointed the Managing Director of their Miami firm in Coral Gables, one of their largest offices, from 2005-2010. She is a financial advisor.

In 1999, she established resumes2you, inc, a consulting firm specializing in training and development for C level executives, managers, and recruiting teams in the financial industry working with organizations in the areas of recruiting, leadership, and new financial representative/ advisor development. Maggie speaks nationally to leadership teams in workshops centered around developing recruiting goals and financial representative/ advisor productivity for aggressive growth, accountability models for leadership teams, effective prospecting, referral lead generation, community development and marketing, streamlining the recruiting and selection process, effective language and skill development, interviewing processes, creating a powerful college marketing plan, brand marketing, recruiting using the internet and social media, team building and expectations and financial representative/advisor development.

Her consulting team works with organizations, small and large, understanding goals and visions; establishing metrics and goals for recruiting and selection team, developing top recruiters, leaders and sales managers and weekly/monthly/quarterly coaching to assist organizations in achieving these goals.

Maggie McIntyre
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Colonel Franklin C. Adderley
BOARD MEMBER

Colonel Franklin C. Adderley is a native of Fort Lauderdale and the youngest son of Bahamian immigrants, the late George and Frankielee Adderley. He was raised in the Fort Lauderdale’s Northwest Community, attended Broward County Public Schools and is a 1979 graduate of Stranahan High School. He began his police career at the City of Fort Lauderdale Police Department in October 1980 and was the youngest cadet in the 81st graduating class of the Broward County Police Academy.

During his tenure with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Colonel Adderley worked in the Patrol Division, the Community Support Division, the Special Investigations Division, the Office of Internal Affairs and was appointed Chief of Police on June 1, 2008.

Colonel Adderley received his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Florida Gulf Coast University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Florida International University. He is a graduate of the 206 Session of the FBI National Academy, Graduate of the 52nd Session of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Commanders Course, Criminal Justice Executive Leadership Program at Florida Atlantic University and a graduate of the 33rd Session of the FBI’s National Executive Institute. Colonel Adderley was the 2007 Sistrunk Historical Festival’s Outstanding Achievement Honoree, recipient of the 2013 Dorsey Riverbend Civic Association’s President Award, was inducted into the Broward College’s Hall of Distinction in 2014 and an adjunct professor of criminal justice studies.

Colonel Adderley is Past President of the Broward Chiefs Association, he serves on the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s Dangerous Narcotics and Drug Committee and a former member of the Florida Commission on the Status of Black Men and Boys. He is a member of First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale, Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Sigma Alpha Chapter in Miami Gardens. His hobbies include golf, tennis and distance running.

Colonel Franklin C. Adderley
BOARD MEMBER
Marlene Aguero
BOARD MEMBER

Marlene Aguero, a native Californian, has resided in Fort Lauderdale for 28 years. After finishing school and moving to Florida she began a career in real estate and met her husband in 1989. In 1991 she left real estate to join efforts with her husband in his medical supply business.

During her 14-year career beside her husband she wore many hats: managing operations, customer service, marketing and human resources. In 2006 Marlene and her husband began a family with boy/girl twins. Today, she's dedicated to raising her children and volunteering in their classrooms at Nova University School. In her spare time, her passion is her service work with women in various fellowships and social networks. Being a woman in recovery for 9 years, she is especially committed to service work in 12-step programs. Being a stay-at-home mom affords her the flexibility and the time to carry the message of hope to others who struggle with addiction.

Marlene is a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, The Humane Society, The Heart Gallery, Broward Children's Center and the Museum of Discovery and Science. She looks forward to meeting the board members and contributing to the Bouganvilla House in a meaningful way.

Marlene Aguero
BOARD MEMBER
Tom Plachter
BOARD MEMBER

Tom has been a resident of Ft. Lauderdale for over 35 years. He was born in Philadelphia and is a graduate of the University of Miami. Tom served in the U.S. Army after which he became the youngest Cadillac dealer in the country. After moving to Ft. Lauderdale, he became involved in the marine industry and has held a number of management and ownership positions in the industry. Presently, he is employed by National Liquidators, a yacht recovery and remarketing company. He has served on the Board of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida for four years and on the Board of Hospice Care of South Florida for two years. In addition, he is active in the Seafarers House and the Ft. Lauderdale Mariners Club.

Tom Plachter
BOARD MEMBER
Ned Skiff
BOARD MEMBER

Ned Skiff is a landscape designer and contractor and a lifelong resident of Ft. Lauderdale. He is a graduate of Stetson University in De Land, Florida. Over the years, he has served on the boards of several organizations including Hospice Care of Southeast Florida, Outreach Broward, Twig House and 2nd Century Broward.

Ned Skiff
BOARD MEMBER
Debbie Banks- Snyder
BOARD MEMBER

Debbie Banks- Snyder was born at Broward General Hospital. She attended Pine Crest School and St. Thomas Aquinas and then went on to graduate from University of Florida in 1988 earning a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences with a major in Psychology. As soon as Debbie completed her degree she obtained her real estate license and took several classes at Nova University for Hospitality Management which prepared her to enter her family’s business at Lago Mar Resort. Debbie started as Concierge and worked her way into the Sales Department where she served as Vice President, Sales & Marketing for 13 years until the night before she gave birth to her first child, Demi.

After giving birth to Demi in 2001, Debbie entered one of the most challenging but rewarding time periods of her life which was giving birth to 4 children in 7 years and being a “stay at home mom” for 10 years in total. During this time, she did not always stay home but chaired many events. Now that all 4 children are attending Pine Crest, Debbie has gone back to Lago Mar as Owner/ Vice President and loves working with her dad every day. She is mainly devoted to her four children and the family’s resort but still treasures her community involvement, which is currently Tiffany Circle for the Red Cross and Board Member of the Bougainvilla House.

Debbie Banks- Snyder
BOARD MEMBER
Cady Watson
BOARD MEMBER

Cady Watson has lived and worked in Fort Lauderdale, Florida most of her life. She is a third-generation South Floridian as well as a third-generation graduate of the University of Florida.

Following college, Ms. Watson moved to Atlanta, GA to launch her career in the Apparel Industry and moved back to South Florida in 1999. She is now owner and president of All Told Clothing Company, Inc., an apparel company based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The ever-expanding company launched a successful children’s line in 2009 and has since grown to include women’s clothing, with plans to launch boy’s and men’s in 2013. In addition to running her own apparel company, Ms. Watson is also an award-winning exhibiting artist. Artwork by Cady Watson graces private collections worldwide.

Ms. Watson’s charitable involvement includes The Bougainvilla House, Jack & Jill Children’s Center, Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center, HospiceCare of Southeast Florida and Broward Schools.

Cady Watson
BOARD MEMBER
Judge Melanie G. May
EMERITUS

Judge May graduated from Broward Community College in 1971, and Florida Atlantic University in 1973. She received her Juris Doctor Degree in 1981 from Nova Law Center and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2009. She clerked for the Honorable Peter T. Fay, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals from 1981-82. She served as a Circuit Court Judge on the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit from April 15, 1991, until her appointment to the Fourth District Court of Appeal by Governor Jeb Bush on October 31, 2001.

Judge May currently serves as Chair Elect of the Florida Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges. She has chaired and served on the Education Committee of the Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges, and currently serves on the Annual Conference and Executive Committees of the Council of Chief Judges of State Courts of Appeal. She chaired the Department of Children and Family Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Advisory Board, and serves on the Florida Supreme Court’s Task Force on Substance Abuse and Mental Health.

She was a member of the Department of Corrections Reentry Advisory Council. She also serves as Chair of the Shepard Broad Law Center’s Board of Governors, and is an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees of Nova Southeastern University.

Judge Melanie G. May
EMERITUS

EVENTS WITH THE BOUGAINVILLA HOUSE

Open House May 2016

Holiday Lunch 2016

School Administration Event 2017

Cardinal Gibbons School Presentation

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Call 954-764-7337 or email info@tbhcares.org

Our counseling office is open every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Our business office is open M-F, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.