For nearly two decades, Amy Gokey has dedicated her career to strengthening mental health and substance use services in the communities Lakeview Center serves. Today, as director of the Friary Pensacola, Amy oversees a comprehensive set of counseling programs designed to support adults at some of life’s most critical moments.

“The Friary Pensacola is an umbrella of three different counseling programs,” Amy explains. “We serve all adults, and each program is designed to meet people where they are.” Those services include adult outpatient counseling, which provides individual and group therapy; an intensive outpatient program serving adults with substance use disorders; and the Home Base program that Amy helped build from the ground up.

Home Base has become a vital resource in the community. “It’s just really taken off and grown a lot,” says Jeff Fletcher, Amy’s supervisor. “We really have a big veteran population (in Northwest Florida), and the work that Amy’s done to mold her team into one that can support veterans, people with PTSD and others in need has a very large impact on our community.”

Amy’s path to leadership began 18 years ago when she joined Lakeview Center as a behavior technician. She then returned to school to earn her master’s degree and transitioned into a therapist position in adult outpatient counseling—the same program she now leads. “Sixteen years later, I’m now the director of it,” she says. “It’s a cool full-circle moment.”

As director, no two days look the same. Amy jokes that her role often feels like “looking for leaks in a ship and trying to plug them,” but behind the humor is a deep commitment to problem-solving and growth. “In reality, that looks like trying to figure out problems and create solutions in real time.”

What Amy enjoys most, however, isn’t the logistics—it’s the people. She works closely with master’s-level and licensed clinicians and takes pride in building a team that is both skilled and passionate. “I really love taking people that are eager to learn and creating a team that just really loves the work and loves to be there.”

Amy’s long tenure at Lakeview Center reflects her belief in the organization’s mission and people. “I’ve chosen to stay because of the people and the people we serve,” she explains. Over the years, Lakeview has allowed her to expand her expertise across diverse settings, from trauma care to detox and residential services.

Above all, Amy remains driven by impact—whether it’s mentoring clinicians or hearing from former clients years later. “They’re the ones that did the work,” she says, “but it’s meaningful when I hear they’re still doing well.”

Jeff emphasizes that her leadership rises above the rest: “For us to choose someone that’s a senior leader as Team Member of the Year, they really have to stand out and be above and beyond—and Amy has exemplified that. She leads major initiatives, improves outcomes month after month and sets the standard for quality care.”

For Amy Gokey, leadership at Lakeview Center’s Friary Pensacola is about never settling—and always striving to be the best for the community she proudly serves.

To work with compassionate team members like Amy, visit our Careers site.

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