Treatment Staff

Dr. Laurie Deckard

Executive Director

Dr. Deckard is passionate about creating evidence-based programming that allows patients to heal and flourish during treatment. She enjoys building and managing professional teams and seeing the growth from the first day people come to the facility until the day they leave. Her specialties include trauma, EMDR, psychological testing and forensics.

In almost 20 years as a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Deckard has served as executive director of a Hilton Head treatment center, a psychologist for the U.S. Department of Defense, a nursing home administrator, in private practice working with TBI and dementia, and creating programming for the severely mentally ill. She received her Doctorate of Psychology from Argosy University-Tampa campus, where she had a focus on clinical psychology and forensics. Outside of work, Dr. Deckard loves to travel and exercise her creative muscles through painting and writing. She also enjoys a good game of darts and spending time with her family.

Levi Kahane, MD

Medical Director

Dr. Kahane has been a physician for two decades. He is devoted to helping those who are suffering with mental illness and addiction. He is board certified in psychiatry and is a licensed provider for medication-assisted therapy for opioid addiction. He is glad to work closely with a multidisciplinary team that is devoted to helping people reclaim their lives.

Dr. Kahane received a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania. He received his medical degree from the Sackler School of Medicine, New York State/American Program of Tel Aviv University. He served his residency in New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital. His prior positions include working in mental health and recovery treatment centers and private practice. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and basketball.

David Heise, MD

Medical Director

Dr. Heise has been a family practitioner, critical care physician, and emergency room doctor for 17 years. He has also worked in a psychiatric ER and a hospital psychiatric department. He received his training at the University of Texas at Southwestern and had a diverse residency experience. Board certified in family practice, he loves helping people and making a difference. He brings a caring attitude to his work as medical director and treats his patients as if they are family. Married for 34 years, Dr. Heise has two children who are in the medical field. In his free time, you’ll find him scuba diving, working out, or volunteering in his community.

Wendy Pesek, BSN, RN

Director of Nursing

Wendy has a deep compassion for those she treats and is passionate about treating the whole person, not just the problem or the wound. She has an Associate of Science in Nursing from Florida State Community College and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of North Florida. Wendy’s career began as a brain injury nurse, where she was responsible for the safety of patients with different levels of cognitive functioning. Also, she worked as a home health behavioral nurse performing safety checks and home visits for patients with a variety of medical diagnoses. On her days off, she spends time with her family and goes antique shopping and flea market wondering. She also enjoys camping, boating, hunting and four-wheeling.

Ronda Jarvis, LCSW

Clinical Provider

Ronda is a licensed clinical social worker in Florida. She earned her Master’s of Social Work degree at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and a Bachelors of Science in Psychology. Additionally, she is a qualified supervisor able to provide clinical supervision for social work interns seeking licensure.

Ronda’s passion is translating the latest neuroscience discoveries about the brain and body to educate and treat patient’s with complex trauma and to develop strategies to navigate a path toward wellness from mental health disorders, substance use disorders, as well as physical health disparities.

Using the latest in empirically researched modalities to inform her work in psychotherapy, Ronda’s therapeutic framework includes: Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT); Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT); Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT); Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP); Body-oriented or Somatic psychotherapy interventions including Breathwork, Relaxation Therapies, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, Body Awareness Group Therapy, Body-oriented Group Psychotherapy.

Ronda is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
(EMDR). EMDR is a form of therapy that helps people heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences. EMDR therapy has been extensively researched and has demonstrated effectiveness for trauma. She is a member of the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA).