Substance Use Therapists in Rochester, NY

As a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in New York City, I specialize in providing compassionate and evidence-based support for college students, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent individuals. My approach integrates the principles of positive psychology with mindfulness and self-compassion techniques to help clients build resilience, foster self-acceptance, and navigate life’s challenges with greater ease. With a focus on the LGBTQ+ community, I understand the unique experiences and challenges faced by individuals in this community.

It takes a tremendous amount of courage to seek help when you are feeling stuck. I'm glad that you took the first step in seeking a therapist to help with how you're feeling. You may be experiencing moments of sadness, anxiety, need help navigating relationships, or maybe something bad has happened to you that you feel is now holding you back from enjoying life again. Working with a therapist like myself, we can work together to identify areas of concern and set obtainable goals to work toward and improve your mental and emotional wellbeing to get you “unstuck”. With 7+ years of experience, I'm happy to help you reach these goals.

Complex trauma can have a lasting impact on our daily lives. It effects our mood, health, relationships, functioning, thinking, behavior and decision making. Trauma can rob us of joy, connection and convince us that we are undeserving or unworthy of love, care and compassion. In our work together, we will unlock your innate ability to heal, grow and transcend beyond the experiences that have burdened you. You deserve to feel safe, heard, seen and supported. Therapy is an opportunity to come home to yourself, recover and reclaim your life. It would be an honor to walk along side you on that journey.

I have always been passionate about the field of psychology, and more specifically understanding why and how people come to be the way that they are. In my opinion, no problem is too big or too small to warrant counseling. We have all been affected by our life circumstances and experiences, regardless of how different they may be to others. I aim to ensure that my clients feel safe and supported in sessions together, rather than embarrassed or shameful. I take a very empathetic approach, however, am also quite straightforward which I believe fosters a trusting and honest relationship with one another.

I offer a warm, non-confrontational space to work on substance abuse, family dynamics, relationship issues, life transitions, grief and loss, and mood disorders. I utilize many evidence-based therapy interventions and provide empathy and compassion, combined with feedback and skill-building, to help people regain hope and feel better. I utilize a customized therapy experience that consists of person-centered, evidence-based therapy modalities.

Does change make you feel uncomfortable? are you anxious about the future? worried about the past? or having a difficult time being present in the moment? life can be overwhelming sometimes, but the good news is you don't have to figure it out on your own. As your therapist, I will help you navigate through difficult transitions in life, assist you with reaching your desired goals and provide you with the necessary resources that you may need in order to have a healthy relationship with yourself and others.

Do you want to learn to carry grief with grace? Do you feel despair or shame from eating emotionally? Does it seem impossible to accept your body? Have you lost a loved one to Cancer or COVID? Grief and eating disorder recovery are my specialties. I can help you recover from disordered eating/body image hatred, and not pass it on to your daughter. I work with women on body acceptance, and a non-diet approach to recovery. I can assist you in learning love your life, even after loss. I can help guide you in learning to carry grief with grace.

Therapy can be a supportive way to navigate life changes and find hope in moving forward. I can certainly assist you in identifying and managing the symptoms that might be causing you some stress (ex: racing thoughts, not feeling like yourself, sadness, guilt, fear, or worry).

Therapy is most meaningful when you have a clear understanding of the work being done, and can see how a specific approach aligns with your values and goals. Since there are no one-size-fits-all solutions, we'll try and track approaches tailored to your individual needs, keep the ones that help, and avoid painful repetition of strategies that don't help. Together, we will aim to build a process that works, and move at a mutually agreed upon pace and direction toward clarity, understanding, and change.

Understanding ourselves allows us to make choices that otherwise might be out of our reach. Acknowledging how we feel opens the way to understanding. When we repress our feelings we can shut down not only how we experience ourselves but how we connect to others. Ignoring our feelings often leads to depression and anxiety and interferes with our ability to know ourselves and trust ourselves. We may feel at times that others are in control and that we are helpless. We are the ones responsible for the choices we make and recognizing this is empowering and builds self-esteem.

Over the past 30 years, I have worked with people struggling with a variety of distressing issues ranging from grief, substance abuse, family members impacted by substance abuse, struggles with mood disorders, men's issues and trauma. These issues are pages of our life story. Many times people feel isolated; the idea of sharing their story with a "stranger" feels too daunting, too personal. I find most clients, in the end, desire to feel more comfortable in their own skin. Identifying behavior patterns and ways we think and feel about ourselves is a huge first step toward making meaningful change.

Welcome! Seeking help when a life issue is bringing you pain is a courageous first step in your healing process. I look forward to supporting you in order to further your healing process. I provide therapy services for couples, families and individuals, primarily age 18 and older. I am of the belief that healing and change are a process that is nurtured through a therapeutic relationship that is respectful, mindful and supportive, which is what I will provide to my clients. My style is warm and nurturing while providing empathetic challenges and openness to help facilitate your goals.

If you are reading this right now, then that's good news, it means you are thinking about creating a healthier you! Whether you're working through a difficult time or simply feel like you've been stuck in a rut, therapy can be a great help! I’m grateful for the opportunity to support others and my approach to therapy is based in empathy, humor, acceptance, and transparency. I know how hard it can be to find a therapist that “clicks," so I would greatly appreciate the chance to hear your story and offer a fresh perspective! I have a wealth of experience in treating adolescents and adults.

We all can face personal struggles that are so powerful, we begin to feel as though they will never end. It’s common that many people continue to live with these struggles because the thought of reaching out for help can be the hardest step. In my practice, I hope to work alongside my clients to become a person of deep understanding and support within their lives.

I hold the opinion that most challenges to our health come from things that have happened to us in the past. Sometimes people need help processing what has happened to them and understanding how it impacts their life today. I believe that people are generally good and are always striving to live their best life. I like to come alongside someone, in an accepting and curious manner, to help them figure out how to move forward in the most healthful way possible.

I welcome you to my practice where you will find a nonjudgmental, accepting environment to explore what you are facing and build emotional strength...at your pace. I primarily see individuals who have experienced some form of trauma (including long term trauma and neglect), gender dysphoria, depression/anxiety, career and/or disability issues. Individuals who are questioning or developing their personal, unique sense of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression will have the opportunity to feel safe and understood. Evaluations offered for gender affirming surgery support letters.

I provide a warm, safe, nonjudgmental space for clients to feel at ease talking about their distress. As a result, they gain more insights into their thoughts, feelings and behaviors allowing them to see their situation from a different perspective and make necessary changes. While I do not interfere with the process of self-discovery, I believe in challenging problematic thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that contribute to distress and help find healthier more productive ones.

Many of us were never helped to identify and experience our full range of emotions. When emotions are not understood and put into words they get discharged through action, usually in ways which are detrimental to our wellbeing. Depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and addiction are some of the harmful ways these emotions get enacted. My goal is to create a relationship with the client in which these emotions can be explored and integrated, which results in greater freedom to meet life's challenges and enjoy life's gifts.