As we celebrate our 34th anniversary, all of us at Turning Point of Tampa proudly continue our mission to provide high-quality, 12-step based recovery programs that are affordable and effective for the treatment of addiction, eating disorders, and dual diagnosis.
It is humbling to reflect on the thousands of people who have entrusted us to guide their recovery journey. We strive to instill in each client the promise of hope for a better life and the knowledge that long-term recovery is achievable.
This year and every year, we work together to help our clients reach the turning point in their lives through an environment of appreciation, respect, and teamwork.
Turning Point–Then and Now
Founded in 1987, Turning Point’s original goal was to help individuals transition from a structured primary rehabilitation program back into their daily lives. To better equip our clients to succeed in life outside primary treatment, our early program focused on strengthening the life skills they needed to succeed.
When we first began operations, we rented housing for our clients and office space for therapy and support meetings. Over time, we built our own therapeutic community, which we call the Village, which includes our residential office building, intensive outpatient center, and recreation center.
Over the years, our focus expanded to include primary treatment programs for substance use disorders, eating disorders, and dual diagnosis. Our continuum of care now incorporates licensed primary residential treatment, extended care treatment, day treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, and an aftercare group.
Group therapy and individual therapy, coupled with the principles of 12-step recovery, remain the foundation of our programs. We believe that combining the best evidence-based therapeutic approaches and 12-step philosophy with creative self-expression and practices that promote mind-body healing offers the best outcomes for long-term recovery.
We updated our campus in 2020, remodeling bathrooms and kitchens, installing new doors, new floors and a new roof on all residences. We are thrilled with our updated look and so proud of what our facilities offer our clients.
Credentials Matters
Turning Point of Tampa is licensed and accredited by the most reputable organizations overseeing addiction treatment. Our credentials validate our commitment to the highest standards of care.
- We are licensed by the Department of Children and Families (DCF). In Florida, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) ensures substance use and mental health facilities meet specific standards of care, access to care, respect, confidentiality practices, and safety of clients and families. DCF also conducts facility inspections and background checks on staff members.
- We are accredited by the Joint Commission, the “gold standard” for healthcare facilities. To achieve accreditation, the organization must meet specific standards of patient care, safety, and overall quality.
- The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) recently certified Turning Point of Tampa as a level 3.5 residential treatment facility. This certification process provides an independent assessment of the quality of our treatment programs and our ability to deliver services that meet ASAM criteria.
- We are a member of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), a professional society dedicated to improving the quality of and access to addiction treatment.
- We participate with the Veterans Administration’s Community Care Network (CCN), which enables us to offer treatment to more veterans.
Our Team
The credentials, background, and commitment of our staff is what enables us to deliver the highest standards of patient care, safety, and program quality. We are grateful their commitment has never wavered, even during the past challenging year.
- Hardeep Singh, MD, FASAM, has served as our Medical Director since 2016. Named by Tampa Magazine as a “Top Doctor” in both addiction medicine and psychiatry, Dr. Singh has received the Top Doctor recognition from his peers in 2017, 2019, and 2020.
- Ryan Estevez, MD, Ph.D., MPH, our Director of Psychiatric Services, also received the distinction of “Top Doctor” in Tampa Magazine’s Top Doctors 2017.
- Robin Piper-Lutz is the CEO and Clinical Director of Turning Point of Tampa. Robin is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, a master’s Certified Addiction Professional, and a National Certified Counselor.
Our compassionate, highly trained treatment team also includes registered nurses, master’s-level therapists, licensed mental health counselors, a registered dietician, social workers, and certified addiction professionals.
Our COVID-19 Response
COVID-19 has made the past year difficult for people worldwide. We have worked hard to keep our clients, their families, and our staff as safe as possible while continuing to deliver needed services.
We have moved all outpatient services, family support services, and aftercare groups online and are administering COVID tests on campus with results available within an hour.
Because face-to-face 12-step meetings in the community have not been possible during COVID, many of our alumni have stepped up to offer encouragement and sponsorship to our current clients. We are grateful to our alumni for their invaluable support.
For more information and resources, see our Response to COVID-19.
A Message From Our CEO
Turning Point of Tampa CEO Robin Piper-Lutz is grateful for the support and dedication from the people and organizations that allowed Turning Point to continue changing lives during the pandemic while maintaining a full census. Robin delivers a heartfelt message, saying,
“Having survived 2020 and the year of the pandemic, hoping that 2021 brings more normalcy, we are humbled and grateful for the dedication and loyalty of our staff… fortunate enough to have the support of many community members like Tampa General Hospital and the Veterans Hospital to help us navigate the difficult times. For their support and cooperation, we will be forever grateful.
As we move into 2021, we will continue to expect the best from ourselves and provide the highest quality of clinical care available in the Tampa Bay area… we will continue to be the voice of quality and ethical treatment in the addiction industry.”
Informational and Wellness Resources
- Recovery Bytes. A blog for and about people coping with addiction and recovery from addiction.
- The Point is Recovery Podcast. Started during the pandemic in response to the rise in depression, anxiety, overdose and suicide, our podcast guests seek to expand education and awareness efforts about addiction, eating disorders, and mental health.
- Turning Points of View. Weekly blog on topics related to substance use and mental health disorders and recovery.
- Wellness Resources. Free mind-body practices, including a 5-minute meditation, 6-minute yoga stretch, and 50-minute yoga class.
