Elite DNA Therapy Services expands statewide to meet growing demand for mental health services

Elite DNA Therapy Services is opening three new offices this month and another one in April to help address the growing need for mental health services in Florida. With nearly 20 offices and virtual services, Elite DNA has expanded to provide mental health care across the state.  

The new offices will be in Bradenton, Sarasota and Westchase. An office in Wesley Chapel opens in April. 

Elite DNA Therapy Services first opened in 2013 in Fort Myers after Founder and CEO Elizabeth Dosoretz saw a need for timely access to high quality mental health care. Services soon expanded to other Fort Myers offices, Cape Coral and Naples before expanding regionally then statewide. 

“Bringing much needed services to new areas and introducing mental health services as a right, not a privilege, has been our compass, our mission and our guiding light,” Dosoretz said. “People need to know they aren’t alone, and they have a right to behavioral services. It should not be a cumbersome, complicated or fragmented system that is impossible for them to navigate.” 

The need for mental health care services in the U.S. had been steadily increasing but the pandemic caused anxiety and depression issues to double. Adults reporting mental health issues in 2020 was 40 percent compared to 20 percent in 2019, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. 

In Florida, 37% of adults in 2020 reported suffering from depression or anxiety, according to a Census Bureau survey. However, Florida ranks 48th in the nation for access to mental health care, according to Mental Health America.  

Elite DNA Therapy Services hopes by expanding, they can make mental health services more readily available to anyone who needs it. They provide psychiatry and psychotherapy services as well as Applied Behavior Analysis, Occupational Therapy and Speech & Language Therapy. They also provide Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation treatment for severe depression.  

Currently, Elite DNA sees about 800 clients a day and the Connection Center answers an average of 1,300 phone calls a day. 

“We aren’t just talking about access to high quality services, we’re creating it,” said Philip Cirrone, Chief Operating Officer. 

In addition to opening new offices, Elite DNA is expanding its virtual care services. They have invested in the technology and resources needed to make appointments more convenient for clients. They can be anywhere for their appointment. It takes them less time and overcomes any transportation obstacles. 

“COVID-19 is an unfortunate circumstance that demanded we innovate,” Dosoretz said. “It challenged our organization to move quickly, without sacrificing continuity or quality of care. The thought of not connecting with our clients was never an option so we relied on our teams to move quickly and provide appropriate services, reassuring the clients that they are our priority.” 

During much of 2020, Elite DNA made virtual appointments available immediately. People could go to their website and enter a waiting room to see someone right away. 

Seeing clients on a timely basis is important to Elite DNA, especially new clients who may be experiencing mental health issues for the first time and need to see someone soon. “If people are struggling, they can’t just put their anxiety, depression, or their life on hold while they wait for an appointment scheduled weeks away,” Dosoretz said.