How Social Work Graduate Daniela Sauceda Supports Recovery at The Haven Detox Florida

For Daniela Sauceda, a Florida Atlantic University Master of Social Work graduate and now a clinical intern and therapist at The Haven Detox Florida, providing social services fulfills a long-held desire to help others. Every day, she draws on both her professional training and personal experiences to support individuals during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

In many ways, Sauceda’s journey exemplifies the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice’s commitment to preparing graduates who are ready to make an immediate impact on their professions and communities. Through her work supporting individuals on their recovery journey, she is helping build healthier communities while demonstrating the transformative power of a Florida Atlantic University education.

In her role, she has learned that social work in a detox setting begins by meeting people where they are, often when they are struggling physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Sauceda shared the importance of therapeutic alliance as she described her role in supporting patients from the very beginning. “They are physically sick. It’s a lot of normalizing and validation of what they are experiencing and building that rapport with them and unconditional positive regard, looking at their strengths.”

Finding Purpose Close to Home

Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Sauceda chose Florida Atlantic University to stay close to home to help her mother and brother as she pursued her education. While earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology, she discovered social work through coursework on human trafficking.

What began as an academic interest soon became a calling. The more she learned about the profession’s ability to connect people with resources, advocate for vulnerable populations, and create meaningful change, the more she saw social work as a path that aligned with her own experiences and values.

Founding Dean Dr. Naelys Luna said Daniela’s journey reflects the mission of the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice.

“Daniela’s journey powerfully illustrates the impact social workers can have in the lives of those they serve and in their communities. At Florida Atlantic University’s College of Social Work and Criminal Justice, we are committed to preparing compassionate, skilled professionals who bring empathy, resilience, and hope to their work each day. Daniela embodies the heart of our mission, and we are incredibly proud to see her using her education and personal experience to create positive change for individuals and families in need,” she said. “Her success also reflects our college’s commitment to preparing graduates who are equipped with the essential skills, real-world experiences, and sense of purpose needed to address society’s most pressing challenges. Through her work, Daniela is helping create healthier communities and demonstrating the meaningful impact a Florida Atlantic education can have throughout South Florida and beyond.”

Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Sauceda chose Florida Atlantic University to stay close to home to help her mother and brother as she pursued her education. While earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology, she discovered social work through coursework on human trafficking.

What began as an academic interest soon became a calling. The more she learned about the profession’s ability to connect people with resources, advocate for vulnerable populations, and create meaningful change, the more she saw social work as a path that aligned with her own experiences and values.

Founding Dean Dr. Naelys Luna said Daniela’s journey reflects the mission of the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice.

“Daniela’s journey powerfully illustrates the impact social workers can have in the lives of those they serve and in their communities. At Florida Atlantic University’s College of Social Work and Criminal Justice, we are committed to preparing compassionate, skilled professionals who bring empathy, resilience, and hope to their work each day. Daniela embodies the heart of our mission, and we are incredibly proud to see her using her education and personal experience to create positive change for individuals and families in need,” she said. “Her success also reflects our college’s commitment to preparing graduates who are equipped with the essential skills, real-world experiences, and sense of purpose needed to address society’s most pressing challenges. Through her work, Daniela is helping create healthier communities and demonstrating the meaningful impact a Florida Atlantic education can have throughout South Florida and beyond.”

Personal Experience Fuels Professional Passion

Sauceda’s connection to social work is deeply personal. As a child, she and her family experienced hardship and relied on social services for support. She remembers receiving therapy at an early age and recognizing the impact that compassionate professionals could have during challenging times.

Years later, those early experiences would help shape her career path. At Florida Atlantic University’s Sandler School of Social Work, she realized social work would offer a way to give back to the same community support system that had helped her family. Today, she finds herself in a position like that of the professionals who once helped her, creating safe spaces for others as they navigate their own challenges.

Sauceda said the lessons she learned in Dr. Laurie Suttenberg’s Advanced Social Work Practice with Adults and Dr. David Landsman-Wohlsifer’s Psychopathology courses provided strong foundational knowledge, as she participates in daily care team meetings focused on clients’ progress and treatment.

The curriculum helped her develop many of the skills that are essential to effective social work practice, including critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, collaboration, adaptability, and professional judgment. Today, those skills guide her work with individuals facing addiction, trauma, and mental health challenges.

Dr. Landsman-Wohlsifer, who educates students preparing for careers in social work, shared that witnessing the impact his students make in the field is especially rewarding. 

“Seeing our graduates apply what they’ve learned to help clients make real progress is incredibly fulfilling,” he said. “Knowing that I’ve played a part in preparing compassionate, skilled professionals who go on to change lives is what makes teaching so meaningful. We are so proud of Daniela, and know she will continue to serve many,” he said. 

Michelle Vacarino, Clinical Director at The Haven Detox Florida, agrees. 

“FAU students come to us eager to learn,” she said. “They are empathetic and resilient, and they treat patients with dignity. Those are exactly the qualities we look for in a therapist.”

 

The Critical Role of Social Work in Recovery

The synergy between the field of social work and addiction and mental health treatment facilities like The Haven Detox is invaluable, as comprehensive detoxification programs also depend on therapists who build trust through empathy and connection. That is where social workers play a critical role.

This work reflects the growing need for professionals who can address complex behavioral health challenges and help create healthier, safer communities. Social workers play a vital role in that effort, providing support, advocacy, and evidence-informed care that strengthens both individual well-being and community health.

As clients go through withdrawal, they may experience fear, shame, trauma, or mental health challenges. Social workers are trained to see the whole person and help address those needs. That connection is the foundation of treatment. Social workers provide validation, emotional support, and therapeutic intervention during a difficult stage of recovery.

For Sauceda, the work can be emotionally demanding, but it is also deeply meaningful because she understands how powerful it can be to feel heard and supported.

“Just knowing that I created the space for someone to share something with me or just making them feel safe is really rewarding,” she said. 

Why Connection Matters

Empathy is a recurring theme throughout Sauceda’s journey. The support she once received, the education she gained at Florida Atlantic University, and the relationships she now builds with clients all reinforce her belief that human connection is one of the most important tools in social work.

“I think we’re lacking a lot of connection,” she said. “I think we can bridge that gap as social workers and therapists. We can wear a lot of hats. We’re not just therapists; we can do policy work and work for different organizations. When things feel gloomy, we can pull from what we’ve learned about being empathetic and just,” she said.

Advice for Future Social Workers

For students considering social work, Sauceda encourages them to stay open to the field’s many possibilities and the opportunities it offers to help people of all ages. 

Her own path serves as an example of that advice. What began as a desire to help others, shaped by personal experiences and strengthened through her education at Florida Atlantic University, led her to a field she had never originally envisioned for herself. Today, she is helping individuals take their first steps toward recovery while continuing the cycle of care that once helped her family.

The Haven Detox Florida has also built a strong relationship with Florida Atlantic University's College of Social Work and Criminal Justice, creating opportunities for students to gain meaningful experience in behavioral health and substance use treatment. 

For Sauceda, the journey has come full circle. The child who once benefited from social services is now the professional providing support, encouragement, and hope for others during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Her story is a powerful example of Florida Atlantic University’s vision of empowering students to discover their purpose, develop the skills needed to thrive, and create lasting impact in the communities they call home. Through social work, she has found a way not only to give back to her community but also to help others discover the same sense of connection, resilience, and possibility that helped shape her own future.