Recovery is possible, and you don't have to start perfect.
Counseling for alcohol and substance use, relapse, and dual diagnosis, in person in Hartford or by telehealth across Connecticut. Private and discreet, with no insurance records.
Does this sound familiar?
- "I keep telling myself I'll cut back, and then I don't."
- "I've been through treatment before, and I ended up right back here."
- "My drinking or using is starting to cost me: my relationships, my work, my health."
- "I use to cope with anxiety, stress, or things from my past."
- "I'm not sure I have a problem, but I'm worried."
If any of these feel true, you're not alone, and you're not beyond help.
Who I help
- Adults at any stage, from "curious about cutting back" to long-term recovery
- People who have relapsed, even many times
- People with dual diagnosis, where substance use shows up alongside anxiety, depression or trauma
- Partners and family members affected by a loved one's use
- Veterans and first responders, including police, fire and EMS
- Professionals who need discretion, including medical, legal, and insurance and finance professionals
- LGBTQ+ clients
Your goals lead
There's no one right way to recover. Some people want to quit completely. Others want to cut back, or aren't sure yet. We start from what you want, not from a rule, and we adjust as you go.
We also look at the "why" underneath. For many people, substance use began as a way to cope with trauma: something that happened that still hurts. Healing that pain, often with Accelerated Resolution Therapy, can take away much of what drives the cravings. Trauma & ART
Experience across every level of care
Since 2009, I've worked in inpatient hospitals, long-term residential substance use programs, and intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs, as well as wilderness and yoga settings and private practice. If you ever need more support than weekly therapy, I can help you find it.
How we'll work
- Motivational Interviewing: exploring your own reasons for change, without pressure or lectures
- CBT: spotting the thoughts and patterns that lead to using, and practicing new responses
- DBT skills: riding out cravings and intense emotions without acting on them, using the evidence-based skills from my DBT training
- Relapse prevention planning: a concrete plan for your triggers and high-risk situations
- ACT, mindfulness and movement: building a life around what matters to you, with body-based tools like breathwork, grounding and yoga-informed movement to calm cravings and stress
- ART and EMDR: when past trauma is fueling the use (Trauma & ART)
What working together looks like
I'm glad to coordinate with your doctor, psychiatrist or medication-assisted treatment provider, and I support whatever recovery community fits you, whether that's AA, NA, SMART Recovery, or none.
For families and loved ones
Loving someone who is struggling with addiction is exhausting. I help partners and family members set healthy boundaries, step out of codependent patterns, and take care of themselves. I can also help you plan how to talk with your loved one about getting help.
Common questions
Is this confidential? Will my employer or licensing board find out?
Not from me. I won't share that you're in therapy, or anything you tell me, without your written permission, outside a few legal and safety exceptions I'll explain at our first session. Because I don't bill insurance, there's no claim or diagnosis on file with an insurer or an employer's health plan, unless you choose to submit a superbill yourself.
Do I have to stop using before I start?
No. You can start wherever you are.
Do I have to commit to total abstinence?
No. Your goals lead, and we set them together.
What if I've relapsed before, or treatment didn't work?
That's common, and it's not a reason to give up. We'll look at what got in the way last time.
Do you prescribe medication?
No. As a counselor I don't prescribe, but I'm happy to coordinate with your prescriber.
If you're in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911. For free, confidential substance use help any time, call the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-4357.