Are you considering counseling but not sure if it’s the right step for you? Schedule a clinical consultation with Positive Directions and let our experienced team help guide you. We’ll take the time to understand your unique needs and recommend the best course of action for your mental health journey. Don’t wait any longer, take the first step towards a happier and healthier life today.

In This Blog: New SMART Teens group starts TONIGHT! Teen Nights Out Panel discussion on the impact of cannabis legalization - April 1st CT Save a Life Day: 3 Free Narcan Trainings - April 8th Positive Directions fundraiser: Sign up to ride for Mental Health! - May 3rd Accepting New Clients! Just for Teens New! SMART Teens Group – Free Group Tuesdays Starting Tonight! High schoolers - looking for a safe space to get support and develop skills to work through challenges related to substance use or mental health? Check out our new virtual SMART Teens group! You'll learn to: build motivation cope with unhealthy urges manage your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors live a balanced life Starting March 24, 2026, the group will meet every Tuesday from 6–7 PM on Zoom. Get link at positivedirections.org/groups Please download & share the flyer! Teen Nights Out in Norwalk & Westport Our prevention coalitions in Norwalk and Westport are organizing free, fun, sober social activities for high school students. Check out the flyers below and get more info & RSVP for the Norwalk Creative Hangout here or head to the Westport Roll, Roast & Relax night next month. Community Events Panel Discussion: "2.5 Years Later: How has legal weed affected our community?" To kick off Cannabis Awareness Month, join members of The Norwalk Partnership for a panel discussion sharing community perspectives on the impact of cannabis legalization. This virtual event is the 4th in a Regional Speaker Series organized by the Mid-Fairfield Youth Cannabis Prevention Project, run by Positive Directions. The project brings Norwalk, New Canaan, Weston, Westport and Wilton together to address underage cannabis use. The event will take place on April 1, 2026, from 7:00–8:00 PM.   Register here  for the link. Please download & share flyer below.  Free Overdose Awareness & Narcan trainings On April 8, communities throughout the state will observe "CT Save a Life Day" by providing free overdose awareness & Narcan trainings through collabaorations between local health departments and prevention coalitions. Positive Directions looks forward to providing 3 opportunities that day -- please choose your location and language and RSVP here to secure your spot because supplies are limited! Support us at our 2nd annual "Ride for Mental Health" Spinathon! Come out to support Positive Directions at our 2026 Fundraiser event, "Ride for Mental Health," at the Westport YMCA on May 3rd from 12-2 PM. Whether you are hoping to ride for our cause, contribute financially, or support family and friends as they ride for us, all are welcome! We hope to see you there! Learn more & sign up for a bike here . Clinic News Positive Directions is happy to share that we have immediate availability to offer! Those with either Husky and Cigna insurance or no insurance have no wait time. Intakes are scheduled within 48 hours. If you or someone you know is looking to start counseling, call us today at 203-227-7644. We are here to help!

As we observe Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2026 under the theme “Every BODY Belongs,” I am finding it more important than ever to confront the new and shifting reality in today’s culture . Buzzwords like “fitness” and “wellness” are normalizing harmful behaviors and masking serious illness. In a year marked by radical changes in government nutrition policy and a booming “fitspiration” culture online and in the media, the line is blurring between health and obsession, and the fallout can be deadly.  New Governmental Guidelines  In January 2026, the federal government released the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines which replaced the MyPlate model we have been following since 2011. MyPlate was developed by the USDA and offered a color coded, visual guide of what a meal should look like. This model was effective, simple to understand for the average American, and gave a clear visual representation of an ideal plate.  The new food pyramid--developed by a committee where six out of eleven members have financial ties to the meat, dairy, or egg industries--prioritizes red meat, full-fat dairy, eggs, and "whole foods," while advising Americans to completely avoid "highly processed foods" and added sugars. (1) People have asked me, “Why are you opposed to this new food pyramid? It says to eat meat, fruit, and veggies. That’s healthy. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be healthy.” And here’s what I say to those people: The new dietary guidelines are inherently confusing and hard to understand. The pyramid encourages eating “healthy fats” right at the top, but simultaneously tells users to keep their consumption of saturated fats under 10 percent.  Protein is the biggest focus in the new food pyramid, yet a staggering 95% of Americans do not get enough fiber in their diets. Americans aren't dying from lack of protein; they are dying from colon cancer, which can be significantly reduced with proper fiber intake. (2) Note that the majority of fiber-rich foods (oats, grains, fibrous fruits) are now at the bottom of the pyramid. Another issue the new food pyramid raises is something eating disorder providers have been fighting against for years. It uses all or nothing language. By labeling convenient and accessible foods as “dangerous,” the guidelines validate the moralization of food, which is one of the core components of many eating disorders.  The new food pyramid’s tagline is: “Eat real food.” So the language we are getting from the administration is that anything we eat outside of their pyramid isn’t “real.” Talk about a guilt trip if you grab a frozen pizza! And let’s not forget that they are urging everyone to “eat clean.” Not only is the term “clean eating” extremely hard to define, it’s polarizing. The tagline essentially sends the message that if you aren’t doing exactly what they say, your food choices are then “dirty.”  Orthorexia: Taking “wellness” too far All of this aside, I think that perhaps the biggest concern to come out of these new guidelines is what this means in the broader culture of “wellness.” When you log online or turn on the TV, you will be bombarded with advertisements for GLP-1s, protein powders, and Creatine gummies (to name a few) all under the umbrella of “wellness culture.” In 2025, #thinspiration content on TikTok alone was viewed over 5.4 billion times. And of course, the more we interact with this content, the more they will create. This results in people exercising harder, fueling their bodies less with nutrients from their diet, and consuming large amounts of unregulated supplements. This is a problem because Orthorexia, an eating disorder categorized by the obsession with clean/healthy eating and excessive exercise, is the most rapidly growing eating disorder pattern of 2026. Orthorexia is extremely dangerous because of how often it “flies under the radar.” Friends and family often miss signs of severe pathology because their loved one is “just being healthy!” Heck, they are probably encouraging them. The problem is, this becomes all-consuming. If you have watched a “What I Eat in A Day” video from a fitness influencer, you know that the message is: “If you don’t eat like I do, and work out like I do, your body will never look like mine.” 74% of users who follow fitness influencers report feeling dissatisfied with their bodies.  So, why does this all matter? Eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness behind opiate addiction. Eating disorders are a growing public health threat to which no one is immune. They affect people of every gender, race, age, sexuality, and socioeconomic status. Additionally, the suicide rate for eating disorder patients is 23 percent higher than the general population.   With this information, my hope is that we can identify and provide support to those who are struggling because intervention saves lives. This Eating Disorder Awareness Week, I challenge you to commit to the idea that Every BODY Belongs. Help for Disordered Eating If you or someone you love is struggling with obsessive dieting, influencer culture, or showing signs of an eating disorder, there is help available.  National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) helpline call or text (800)931-2237  Crisis Text Line: Text NEDS or HOME to 741741 (Available for free 24/7 confidential crisis support.)  The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness: (866)662-1235 (referrals to specialized therapists and support groups) FindEDhelp.com  A searchable database for eating disorder treatment providers at all levels of care  Melanie DeLapp, the Clinical Director at Positive Directions-the Center for Prevention & Counseling, is an LMFT who has specialized in working with those who struggle with eating disorders and body image concerns for the past seven years. She is passionate about educating others on the risks of dieting, fitness influencer culture, and body positivity. Melanie is a HAES-aligned provider and is currently working on obtaining her CEDS. If you have a question or would like to connect over coffee or lunch, reach out to her at: mdelapp@positivedirections.org   Additional Reading: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030: Progress on added sugar, protein hype, saturated fat contradictions • The Nutrition Source Unpacking the new dietary guidelines | Yale News Dietary fiber intake and risk of colorectal cancer and incident and recurrent adenoma in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial - PMC References:   New Dietary Guidelines Were Written by Authors With Strong Ties to the Food Industry, Doctors Report Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. from Colorectal cancer alliance. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Colorectal Cancer Alliance | Prevention, Support & Research for Colorectal Cancer Elevated total dietary fiber intake was associated with a significantly reduced risk of incident distal colorectal adenoma (OR highest   vs.   lowest tertile of intake : 0.76; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.91;  P -trend = 0.003) but not recurrent adenoma ( P -trend = 0.67). Although the association was not statistically significant for colorectal cancer overall (HR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.70, 1.03;  P -trend = 0.10), a reduced risk of distal colon cancer was observed with increased total fiber intake (HR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.94;  P -trend = 0.03). Protective associations were most notable for fiber originating from cereals or fruit. (National Library of Medicine)

Happy holidays! During this holiday season, we'd like to thank our staff for their talent and dedication, our community partners for so many amazing collaborations, and our donors for their support. Below we're showcasing just a couple of the great things we've all accomplished together during the past couple of months -- check out some photos and videos below ! We also recognize that the holidays can be a tough time for many of us. We encourage everybody to practice self-care! Use your coping skills, touch base with your therapist, and/or attend a support group. Please note that Positive Directions will be seeing clients virtually  throughout the holidays , except on Christmas Day and New Year's Day when the office will be closed. Our SMART Recovery and Alternatives to Suicide support groups will be running, but our SMART Family & Friends group is canceled for 12/31 and 1/1. With wishes for health, happiness, and a wonderful year ahead, from the PD staff Shoutout to our Peer Support Project for 2 Awards! Excellence in Advocacy Award Congratulations to Quinn Jannetty , manager of our CT Support Group project, who received Advocacy Unlimited's Dr. Karen Kangas Award for Excellence in Advocacy! In their acceptance speech (download below), Quinn said, "this work is hardly ever easy. It asks a lot of us... of our hearts, our minds, our time. But it’s also full of moments that remind me why I keep showing up, why I continue to dream of what’s possible, and why I believe so deeply that while we are all that each other has, we are also all that we’ll ever need." Quinn gives their acceptance speech at AU's annual award ceremony. for the Dr. Karen Kangas Award for Excellence in Advocacy. Health & Wellness Design award from Graphic Design USA More congratulations to our CT Support Group project--and to our graphic designers over at Habby Design Co .! The project launched our revamped website back in February. Visit it to find out about peer support options for young people statewide. Shoutout to our Youth & Prevention Coalitions for Training Hundreds! New Regional Youth Prevention Team Our Mid-Fairfield Youth Cannabis Prevention Project has created a new Regional Youth Prevention Team with  13 high school students from New Canaan, Norwalk, Weston, Westport and Wilton . We've trained the teens in the Johnny's Ambassadors cannabis prevention curriculum, and they are available to educate peers as well as to participate in our data collection and advocacy efforts. Andres & Yubleiska (pictured here with staff members Margaret and Francesca) have already trained 3 high school classes in Norwalk! Thanks to the youth and to our project manager, Francesca Guerrier ! Professional Development for Teachers Our Prevention Department recently organized QPR trainings for almost 600 middle and high school faculty at Norwalk Public Schools, building their capacity to recognize and respond to possible suicidal ideation in their students. Thanks to our partners at NPS, Catalyst CT | The Hub, Kids in Crisis, Liberation Programs, Norwalk Health Department, and TPAUD for helping us provide 19 trainings in 3 days! Meanwhile, in collaboration with Westport Youth Services , we also continued to provide QPR training to students at Staples High School, which takes place each quarter in the junior health classes. Through our Mid-Fairfield Youth Cannabis Prevention Project, we also recently brought together some 75 health teachers, PE teachers, and school counselors from 5 school districts ( New Canaan, Norwalk, Weston, Westport, and Wilton ) for a 3-hour Professional Development training on cannabis, hosted at Staples High School. It included a live expert speaker ( Dr Feuerstein ), a curriculum presenter from Stanford University , and collaboration time. Almost half the teachers said they were previously unaware of the information presented. Regional Webinar Series on Cannabis Our regional speaker series has kicked off, organized through our Mid Fairfield Youth Cannabis Prevention Project to raise parent awareness in the region and hear different stakeholder perspectives. Dr. Joe Feuerstein , president of the Fairfield County Medical Association and a Weston resident, launched the virtual series. His expertise and engaging manner were very well received. Click the image to watch the video -- and check out his Cannabinoid Cookbook on how to activate your body's natural endocannabinoid system! The second speaker in our webinar series, Jordan Davidson , is a former Weston/Westport resident, young adult in recovery, and legislative program manager for a national nonprofit. Jordan provided insights into his journey through teen addiction to recovery, as well as sharing up-to-date issues and impactful information on the national status of cannabis. We're sharing his story not only to parents and community members but also teens. Click to watch the recording. Red Ribbon Week Recap Shoutout to our TNP Teens clubs in Norwalk, who engaged youth and parents in an awareness activity at Norwalk Public Library during Red Ribbon Week! RRW is an annual reminder to parents & elementary school staff to talk early, talk often with young children. With increasing calls to poison control and emergency hospital visits by kids who have accidentally ingested edibles, early education is critical. In Westport, young children picked up our RRW awareness activity sheets at two costume parades and five local restaurants: Angelina’s Trattoria; Bar Taco; Little Barn; Old Mill Grocery & Deli; and Rizzuto’s . Thanks to Westport Human Services, The Westport Library , and the participating restaurants for their support, and to our clinical intern, Nikoletta Moschidi , for supporting this project & much more! Shoutout to Local Marathon Runners -- and donors like YOU! Three local runners recently ran the 2025 NYC Marathon as a fundraiser for Positive Directions, and we are so grateful for their support of our mission. Congratulations to each of them for this incredible achievement! Read about the runners here . We also thank all those who supported the runners' efforts by contributing to this fundraiser. As a nonprofit, our agency depends on fundraising to supplement our grant and contractual funding. We pride ourselves on being innovative community leaders in the areas of mental health, substance prevention, and peer support-- but much of that work is not funded! If YOU would like to support our work, please click here to make a year-end donation! You can direct your donation toward our treatment fund (ensuring no one is turned away from counseling for inability to pay), our free support groups , our young adult peer project , our community prevention work, or to the area of greatest need. Thank you for your support! Other News    Positive Directions Office Renovation In order to comfortably accommodate our clients and staff, we have been renovating our space. New closets, floors, paint and a rearrangement of our space are mostly completed. Thanks to our staff who've had to work through the construction and to our clients who have found their way to the new waiting area! We're Hiring! We're looking for a Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor -- preferably bilingual -- so please spread the word to your colleagues in the field!

Positive Directions is a non-profit behavioral health organization providing prevention, counseling, medication management, and support groups to adolescents and adults struggling with mental health or substance use disorders. Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities We seek dedicated, skilled applicants to work in our collaborative, inclusive environment. We actively work to foster belonging and empowerment in our staff. Executive Director Positive Directions—The Center for Prevention and Counseling is seeking a dynamic, strategic, and hands-on Executive Director who brings both vision and execution—someone who can inspire others, strengthen operations, deepen community relationships, and drive long-term sustainability. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director serves as the organization’s chief leader—guiding strategy, operations, fundraising, and external engagement in service of our mission, staff, clients, and community. Get Job Description Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Positive Directions–The Center for Prevention and Counseling is seeking a compassionate nurse practitioner to provide medication management to adults and adolescents (ages 12+) as a contractor. The position involves psychoeducation of clients and families about psychotropic medication, prescribing medication, and medication management. Maintaining appointments and being responsive to colleagues and clients outside of work hours is a must. Get Job Description Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) Positive Directions—The Center for Prevention and Counseling is seeking a LADC to provide a full range of counseling and support services to individuals and families affected by substance use disorders. Bilingual preferred. Contractual, part-time or full-time. Get Job Description The Norwalk Partnership Coalition Coordinator This part-time position is an opportunity for a dedicated community member to contribute to the health and wellbeing of Norwalk youth. The position provides support to The Norwalk Partnership (TNP), a community coalition to prevent substance misuse and promote mental wellness in youth and young adults in Norwalk, including working with the youth coalition ("TNP Teens"). It is funded through a federal grant held by Positive Directions–The Center for Prevention and Counseling. (Grant runs through end of September 2029.) Get Job Description BRYC Program Coordinator This full-time position is an opportunity for a dedicated community member to contribute to the health and wellbeing of Westport youth. The position coordinates the Building Resilient Youth & Communities with Prevention (BRYCWP) grant, a new 5-year grant which aims to prevent underage alcohol and cannabis use among Westport youth, including supervising a part-time Youth Peer Advocate. The position collaborates closely with the Westport Prevention Coalition (WPC) Leadership Team. It is funded through a state grant held by Positive Directions–The Center for Prevention and Counseling. Get Job Description BRYC Youth Peer Advocate This position is a part-time opportunity for a youth or young adult (aged 16-24) interested in supporting Westport youth in being mentally strong and substance-free through advocacy, training, and role modeling. The position is funded through the Building Resilient Youth & Communities With Prevention (BRYCWP) grant, a new 5-year grant that aims to prevent underage alcohol and cannabis use among Westport youth. The position will renew annually. CT Support Group Volunteer Our CT Support Group project is looking for volunteers ages 15-29 from Connecticut to contribute content and help us grow our online mental health and peer support community. As a volunteer, you will help shape how we connect with young people across Connecticut through personal storytelling, social media, outreach, resource research, and engagement across all of our platforms (website, Discord, social media). There are many ways to be involved! Get Volunteer Description Get Job Description

Positive Directions is a non-profit behavioral health organization providing prevention, counseling, medication management, and support groups to adolescents and adults struggling with mental health or substance use disorders. Positive Directions The Center for Prevention & Counseling Transforming Perspectives, Embracing Mental Wellbeing for All Founded over 50 years ago by people in recovery from alcohol use disorder, Positive Directions today is a non-profit behavioral health organization providing a continuum of prevention, counseling, and peer supports to individuals and families struggling with mental health or substance use disorders. We believe strongly that "prevention works, treatment is effective, and recovery is possible." Our staff is the best: talented, warm, caring, and effective. We recognize that our clients and communities put their trust in us, and we honor your trust by giving you our very best, from individual counseling to peer support to prevention education to community-wide initiatives that foster wellbeing. We work to remove financial barriers and to provide supports beyond clinical treatment to ensure that individuals can lead healthy, successful lives in supportive communities. Meet Our Team Home: Welcome What We Do Teletherapy Login Community Prevention Outpatient Counseling Peer/Recovery Support Coalition Work & Trainings Therapeutic Options Peer Support & Free Groups Community Prevention: As innovative community leaders, we build coalitions and guide our local and regional partners in creating healthier environments that support mental wellbeing and prevent risky behaviors. Our work includes conducting surveys to identify challenges and at-risk populations, providing prevention education, developing community-wide initiatives that respond to the needs, creating supports and alternatives, improving policies, and much more. Our focal communities are in the mid-Fairfield County area. Outpatient Treatment: Our clinical team provides in-person and virtual counseling to children, teens, adults, and families struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. Our clinicians help clients to develop coping skills and build resilience, while also providing additional connections to peer support and prevention education. We accept HUSKY and commercial insurances, and we never turn anyone away for inability to pay. Clients can be seen in-person at our Westport location or through virtual appointments. We also have counselors located at two local high schools. We have clinicians licensed to practice in Connecticut, New York and New Hampshire. Peer & Recovery Support: Recognizing the importance of peer-to-peer support, we offer several free online support groups, all of which are led by trained facilitators with lived experience: SMART Recovery, SMART Recovery Family & Friends, Alternatives to Suicide, and Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support. Our CT Support Group project is an online platform where youth and young adults can find connections, build community, learn about peer supports and groups around the state, and even access direct one-on-one peer support, either online or live, from our Recovery Support Specialist. Follow Us! Facebook Instagram Contact Us Positive Directions 90 Post Road West Westport, CT 06880 info@positivedirections.org Tel: 203-227-7644 Fax: 203-227-0037 Name Full Address Email Phone Best way to reach you Phone Email Subject Message Submit Thanks for submitting!

< Back Araceli Escamilla, MA, LPC Lic. Professional Counselor Araceli Escamilla is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 10 years of experience providing trauma-informed therapy to adolescents and adults. Her primary clinical focus is trauma recovery - including complex trauma, childhood wounds, and attachment injuries. She enjoys using evidence-based approaches including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and other trauma-focused interventions to help clients better understand themselves, process difficult experiences, and move toward healing. Araceli also works with clients navigating depression, identity exploration, shame and self-criticism, family wounds, and life transitions. She is a biracial therapist with intermediate Spanish language skills who values working with ALL populations including LGBTQ+ clients, veterans, and individuals exploring cultural identity, belonging, and lived experiences across cultures. Araceli approaches therapy as a collaborative and deeply human process. Clients often describe her as warm, calming, and genuine, and appreciate her ability to approach difficult patterns with curiosity, compassion, and care. She believes healing happens within safe and authentic relationships and strives to create a therapeutic space where clients feel emotionally supported while also encouraged toward growth and self-understanding. In addition to EMDR and IFS, her work integrates aspects of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-informed interventions, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). Araceli also enjoys the restorative qualities of nature, connection, and animals, and supporting clients in reconnecting with themselves.