Families First of Florida – Lakeland

I am Juvenile Probation Officer; Families First, they are very professional with a great knowledge. I referral my clients to Families First very often and the results are amazing, I get my updates weekly, If I have any… concerns, and call Tina, she never disappointed me, if she doesn’t know the answer at the moment because she needs input from the therapists, she gets back to me as soon she has the answer. Tina and the staff at Families First have been incredible with all the follow up appointments, they are down to earth people, they do care about the teens that we send for all the evaluations and counseling, they always go out of the way for our child. I definitely recommended the families First Services.

I am a case manager with a diversion program and often send referrals to families first, on behalf of my families needs. I cannot speak on the services personally, but I can speak on the encounters I have experienced… professionally. I have spoken with Tina and several therapists over the last few years, at families first. They are always extremely helpful and provide quick responses anytime I have questions about the progress of my families! They offer a variety of services and provide options of in person, virtual, etc., to help meet the needs of flexibility the families may need.

Excellent service, they answered all my questions and offered me an appointment quickly.

I work alongside Families First and refer many families to them. They are always my first choice! They are very professional and I get quick responses each time I reach out. I have had great success with each client… sent over there and they always seem to really enjoy the counseling they receive. They are hard working and do all that can be done to help these families, above what is even required of them!

Families First of Florida does just that. They put our family first helping us by either virtual or in-office setting. Guiding individuals and families in learning effective coping skills.

I love working with Tina Eicholtz at the Lakeland Families First. She responds very quickly and is extremely helpful with any question I have.

The fact that it's for 6 month stints and that I've not been talking to people that can't write an ESA letter (what mental health professionals are able to do) because it's not in their scope of practice gives me red… flags. They are not what I need and I was informed that the people I've been talking to are not psychôlogists??? This was said in an email. Nothing on the website indicates any of this. No one explained this when setting me up appointments. Not to mention the first "therapist" (is this not fraud, some call themselves doctor but they can't write an ESA letter?...something fishy there.) Who was Sara was extremely rude to me. I had issues with my phone and she acted like I was inconveniencing her. I asked for someone else immediately. This place is weird. I'm a mom and I tell them I have all this guîlt and they got excited and were really interested to find out why. It was such a weird feeling like they wanted to find anything they could to call CPS. It's mom guilty of not doing enough, not having all the money, can't do vacations, etc.....this place just feels weird.

I have been having my boys go through Families First on and off for the past 5-6 years. They have had different therapists and each time there has been some growth within them and also in myself. Our current Therapist… is Ms. Darla, she has been working hard with my boys, their father and myself. She is an amazing human being, honest and just over all down to earth. More than Thankful to have her in our lives. 💜

Very kind very helpful!

Please do your self a favor a don’t go here talking to the doctors is like having to talk to a toddler. I went through a whole entire assessment with miss SARAH and she completely jumbled up everything I said to her… when I received my report I called her to try to explain I that I think she misunderstood me she just dismissed what I was saying and called me a lier .. real professional unless you feel like explaining you’re problems to a 2 year old don’t even bother with them. If I could give a 1 star I would not to mention this lady had to google a diagnosis to see if I had any symptoms she was literally reading them off to me 🤣 what a joke

We love Kesha! We have been accomodated so many times, very sweet, profesional and empathetic with the child. Always finding fun ways to get the child to open up with whats on their mind.

Please don't go to this place...and throw the WHOLE company away. Also, the counselor there is a joke too..smh. They need to be shut down.

Alicia Gomes was the worst socail worker and person I have met. She is entitled and ignorant. She loves to play the race card and thinks everyone needs to cater to her. Wake up!

Tina and the staff at Families First have been incredible. Their knowledge and genuine care has helped keep my daughter alive and healthy. If your family or friend is battling mental health or caring for a teen who is… battling addiction, suicide, self harm, or depression and anxiety, this is the best resource to help!! They are warm and responsive. Tina has been the driving force in getting my daughter the care team she needed! Love it here!

My Daughter needs services and was recommended here. The office was clean and the staff was friendly, they listened to my Daughter. They except Medicaid and other health insurance. They provide several counciling… services including substance abuse and anger management (they don't provide parenting classes, yet!) There also court approved through Juvenile probation. You'll have allot of papers to fill out, arrive early.

Tina Eichholtz has done amazing job helping us get thru a really tough time in our life. Its been extremely tough. But Tina has gone above and beyond to make all this easier on us. Thank you

I really appreciate the service the Families First of Florida provided for my son. The staff is amazing, and great atmosphere. I would recommend the Families First of Florida service.

Families has done a wonderful job working with my son and doing what is best for him. Tina found me a wonderful therapist for my son and listened to me and my fiancé when it came to finding the best me done for him when… the original one wasn’t working. Cody is a wonderful down to earth therapist and really takes the time to listen to not only me and my fiancé but listens to my son as well even on the weekends she goes out of way and that really means a lot to me and my family. Families First is the place to go if your really looking for a place to go for your child. You’ll never find a group of caring down to earth people who will go out of the way for your child.

Amy & Lisa are truly amazing. Very considerate of my work schedule and willing to work with me. I highly recommend Families First of Florida.

So far I'm having a good experience nice people to talk to Tina is just the sweetest good personality easy to talk to!!

Great counseling service! When you walk in Miss Tina always makes you feel welcome!

Tried to get a much needed appointment and can't even get a call back.... Was looped through automation and never spoke to a real person. If you need any kind of real help, much like I have been trying to get, don't… waste your time. You will not get any help here apparently.

They never answer the phones when you call them and hardly ever return calls. They do not call you to remind you of doctor appointments. I wouldn't recommend going here. I really wish I could give zero stars but thats… not an option.

Should be called families last bcuz i sent my teenage daughter there for counseling and it has been nothing but problems. Of the 4 times I went my daughters counseling just didnt show up and didnt have the courtesy to… call or text to let me know. My daughter was having a lot of problems at school and while i understand that its there job to call dcf i have no clue why they would send dcf to her school. The counselor suggested that since she was a senior and a good student with a 3.8 gpa that she finish the last month of school at home however when i arranged that and the school said that was ok Families First sent a police officer to our home bcuz she wasnt in school. These people did absolutely nothing to help my daughters self esteem or emotionally state all they did was talk about there purses and fake nails. And yes there was verbal arguing in the home. Only Verbal and insted of offering familly counseing for the whole family they have sent the copse to my house repeatedly and dcf repeatedly to no avail. My daughter is now going to Peace River and hopefully that will be better if not I will find a good place bcuz this place is a complete joke. Also I let them know right away that my daughter had been cutting and it took them a month to set up a first appt. These people arent for keeping families together. They took a bad situation and just made it 100 times worse. The cop that came today said this was a joke. They are the ones who suggested she take classes at home and then when we tell them that we dont want to use their counseling services anymore they send the cop. There is one week of school left. My daughter is a Senior. She has been out of school for 2 months bcuz of bullying and social anxiety. They havent cared for 2 months but when we cancel our service with them they call the cops. They also call my house everyday. What a crazy place

This place is a joke! Great example of whats wrong with the mental health of this country. Tried for months to find a psychiatrist because they are so few of them in the network. All of them booked solid, then finally… get set up at this place. Counselors kept changing. The only way you see an actual psychiatrist is on Skype for five minutes just to adjust meds. Then show for an appointment, wait over two hours and still do not get seen because had to pick up daughters. Then try for months to get another appointment but no one returned calls. Then when finally get a hold of someone, she gets snarky and said she receives all the messages and has not received any from me. Makes an appointment. Go to it, wait around for a half hour and then get told can not be seen because it has been too long since have been seen! No one could have told me this when I made the appointment? No one could have told me this when I arrived? It’s BS the way the incompetent staff operates this place and the way you see a psychiatrist for only 5 minutes on Skype. It needs to be shut down!

I honestly don’t know how they have a 5 star this has to be by far the worst center of help for children and families the counselor is great but for any other services it’s horrible and to get ahold of them even worse… I’ll call for weeks leave voicemails they won’t return my calls. If they do answer they just take my number and never call back it’s very frustrating and unprofessional. I will be cutting all ties to this location and finding somewhere else to take my child.