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. Emily Farrell Office Administrator & Clinic Coordinator and Advanced Clinical Intern Emily holds dual roles at Positive Directions including Office Administrator & Clinic Coordinator and Advanced Clinical Intern. Emily is currently completing a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Sacred Heart University. Emily has experience working with adolescents, families, and adults. She is passionate about creating a strong therapeutic alliance with her clients by utilizing a person-centered approach. Emily's therapeutic style draw's primarily from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and strengths-based approaches. Emily is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy and is a Certified Anger Management Specialist. Emily utilizes Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Solution-Focused Techniques to help clients improve emotional regulation, develop healthier thought patterns, and cultivate positive change in their lives. By utilizing Play Therapy techniques, Emily often incorporates therapeutic activities in session to make the experience interactive, engaging, and impactful for adolescent clients. She cultivates a safe space for all clients by leading with empathy and compassion. In her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and mini dachshund! Emily can be contacted via email at efarrell@positivedirections.org or by phone at 203-227-7644. Emily Farrell: Team Members

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. Clarice Grens, APRN Clarice received her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Western Connecticut State University and my Master’s Degree from Fairfield University. She spent her career working in mental health and oncology. She has been a nurse practitioner for many years in local hospitals and at the West Haven VA. Clarice prides herself on being a patience, empathic and introspective practitioner who views clients in a holistic manner. Her work is a team effort where she engages together to find optimal solutions to mental health issues and come up with a treatment plan that embraces all facets of a client's life. She is a prudent and meticulous prescriber of medication when clinically indicated and feels medication can provide a useful purpose in delivering relief to clients. She feels both medication and therapy are most effective. Clarice provides medication management for symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, antepartum and postpartum, body acceptance, self-esteem issues, and mood disorders. She also provides genetic testing, EMDR, CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and NADA ear acupuncture. She can help you to build on your gifts and talents to energize you to achieve your goals. Her goal is to help create a therapeutic balance for every individual with respect, compassion, and professionalism.

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. Mood Disorders Mood disorders, also known as affective disorders, consist of general emotional states that intervene with a person’s normal functioning on a daily basis. Feelings of extreme sadness or depression, coupled with a fluctuation to extreme happiness (mania or hypomania) may occur. Examples of mood disorders include: Major depressive disorder Bipolar disorder (Bipolar I and Bipolar II) Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) Dysthymia Symptoms Having a mood disorder may affect daily life activities. Due to the various types of mood disorders, each may involve different symptoms. Some major symptoms of mood disorders are: Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed Loss of appetite or overeating Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much Fatigue Crying Anxiety Low levels of energy or unusually heightened levels of activity Impulsivity Feeling hopeless or worthless Difficulty concentrating Difficulty with decision-making Feelings of guilt Irritability Thoughts of dying or suicide Positive Directions’ Approach to Mood Disorders: At Positive Directions, we understand that Mood Disorders can interrupt and negatively impact a person’s daily activities including work, school, and personal relationships. Our approach in working with clients to address their symptoms is collaborative and client-driven, and we work to meet the client where they are at to tailor treatment to their individual circumstances. Upon admission, a comprehensive intake evaluation is completed to gather a history of the client and learn more about the symptoms they have been experiencing. This helps us to gather a comprehensive picture of the impact the clients’ symptoms have had on their lives and allows us to tailor our approach to the client’s needs. Starting with this information, we then develop an individualized treatment plan for each client that is tailored to their needs and goals. The treatment plan is the guide-post for the work we do in session, and progress toward treatment goals is evaluated and measured during each counseling session. Additionally, we periodically review this plan with our clients to ensure that we are consistently working toward and updating goals and objectives as appropriate. Based upon the treatment plan, services are provided to address individual needs and teach clients the skills and tools necessary to gain insight and understanding, work to decrease negative or undesirable symptoms, and improve their overall quality of life. Our counselors also work closely with family members as appropriate, educating them about mental health, and supporting their involvement in their loved one’s treatment. When providing these services, a variety of clinical techniques are utilized such as cognitive behavioral, motivational interviewing, solution-focused and dialectical behavioral tools. Our clinicians are trained in a variety of effective treatment modalities, and treatment is tailored to specific individual and family needs. Furthermore, our clinicians connect with outside providers as necessary, and are able to make appropriate referrals to additional providers should the need arise in order to collaborate and provide comprehensive treatment. Our approach is designed to assist people in improving the quality of their lives. Mood Disorders: Service

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. Margaret Watt, MPH, MA Prevention Director, TurningPointCT Project Director Margaret joined Positive Directions in July 2020 as Director of Prevention after serving as a regional leader in behavioral health for almost eight years, as Executive Director of the Southwest Regional Mental Health Board and Co-Director of The Hub. In those roles she worked with a wide variety of stakeholders on initiatives to support the integration of mental health and substance use; to improve prevention, treatment and recovery; and to promote peer support. In 2017 she won the Policy Leadership Award from the Keep The Promise Coalition in recognition of her advocacy work. In 2021 she was honored to join the board of NAMI CT. Prior to her career in behavioral health, Margaret worked for 12 years in global health and eight years in education. She also has experience as a grants and publication editor. Margaret received her MPH from UNC/Chapel Hill, her MA in Education from Columbia University, and her BA from Harvard. She is fluent in Spanish and French. You can reach Margaret at: mwatt@positivedirections.org or by phone at 203-227-7644 ext. 827 Margaret Watt, MPH, MA: Team Members

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. Events Please see our upcoming events listed below. If you are interested in one of our support groups, please click the button below to see our current listings! Support Groups Youth Mental Health First Aid - Free Certification Training Thu, Jul 23 Burroughs Community Center More info RSVP Multiple Dates Free QPR Suicide Prevention Training Fri, Jul 31 Positive Directions More info RSVP

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. Depression Depression is a serious mental illness that affects children and adults emotionally, mentally and physically. It is characterized by feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, and loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. Depression can also affect the way you think, feel, and act, and can lead to problems in everyday life. Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include: Feeling extreme sadness Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much Isolation or decreased socialization Loss of energy or increased fatigue Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., hand-wringing or pacing) or slowed movements and speech (actions observable by others) Feeling worthless or guilty Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions Thoughts of death or suicide The first step to receiving the right treatment involves seeking a health care provider and mental health professional . Health care providers can provide exams to rule out other existing conditions and advise to seek counseling if diagnosed. Mental health counselors can help treat depression through psychotherapy, medications, or a combination of the two. Positive Directions Approach to Depression: At Positive Directions, we understand that Depression can feel debilitating. Our approach in working with clients to address their depressive symptoms is collaborative and client-driven, and we work to meet the client where they are at to tailor treatment to their individual circumstances. Upon admission, a comprehensive intake evaluation is completed to gather a history of the client and learn more about the symptoms they have been experiencing. This helps us to gather a comprehensive picture of the impact the clients’ symptoms have had on their lives and allows us to tailor our approach to the client’s needs. Starting with this information, we then develop an individualized treatment plan for each client that is tailored to their needs and goals. The treatment plan is the guide-post for the work we do in session, and progress toward treatment goals is evaluated and measured during each counseling session. Additionally, we periodically review this plan with our clients to ensure that we are consistently working toward and updating goals and objectives as appropriate. Based upon the treatment plan, services are provided to address individual needs and teach clients the skills and tools necessary to gain insight and understanding, work to decrease depressive symptoms, and improve their overall quality of life. Our counselors also work closely with family members as appropriate, educating them about depression and mental health, and supporting their involvement in their loved one’s treatment. When providing these services, a variety of clinical techniques are utilized such as cognitive behavioral, motivational interviewing, solution-focused and dialectical behavioral tools. Our clinicians are trained in a variety of effective treatment modalities, and treatment is tailored to specific individual and family needs. Furthermore, our clinicians connect with outside providers as necessary, and are able to make appropriate referrals to additional providers should the need arise in order to collaborate and provide comprehensive treatment. Our approach is designed to assist people in improving the quality of their lives. Resources: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression Depression: Service

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. Community Prevention Because an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure... Our Prevention Division works with local communities to prevent substance misuse and foster mental wellbeing, with a primary focus on youth. How does community prevention work? Learn more Info & resources on substance misuse Learn more Info & resources on suicide Learn more Community coalitions Learn more Training Workshops Learn more Community Surveys Learn more Games Learn more

Nicole Merlo-White < Back Nicole Merlo-White, MA, LMFT Lic. Marriage & Family Therapist Nice to meet you! I am a licensed marriage and family therapist with over twenty years of experience in the field. I work with all age groups, from children to adults. My clinical approach is nonjudgmental, integrative, and 'you' focused. I offer a safe place to share, explore, heal, and to support moving forward. Within my own journey, I allow myself to feel the feelings and thoughtfully respond in a healthy and productive way. I believe in self-care which usually includes spending time outdoors, whether it be hiking, running, or sitting on a bench and reading a book.

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. Kimberly Falconer Billing Specialist

NYC Marathon charity page Support Team Positive Directions! For over 50 years, Positive Directions has provided Fairfield County mental health and substance misuse services through community prevention, counseling, and recovery support. Our purpose is to support individuals and families in need and to de-stigmatize and foster mental well being. Positive Directions will NEVER refuse treatment based on an individual’s ability to pay. 100% of event proceeds will go to supporting Positive Directions' ongoing support of mental health services and substance use prevention. Run Strong, Think Positive Click below to apply for Team Positive Directions. Apply Here! MARATHON TEAM MEMBER BENEFITS Guaranteed entry into the TCS New York City Marathon Assistance setting up a personalized fundraising page Form letter for potential supporters Team t-shirt MARATHON TEAM MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES Commitment to raise at least $3,500 for Positive Directions Responsible for the registration fee paid to New York Road Runners ($255 entry fee for NYRR members, $315 for non-members) Required to provide credit card information as a personal guarantee Not a runner, but want to support Positive Directions? Click below to make a charitable donation. Donate Here!

Rylie Peterson < Back Rylie Peterson Intern, The Norwalk Partnership Rylie Peterson is a junior at P-TECH Norwalk. She works as a Prevention Intern for Positive Directions, and runs the TNP Teens club at Norwalk High. As an avid volunteer for many mental health, cancer, and community organizations for the last 4 years, she is devoted to raising awareness for mental health and being a young advocate for the teens in Norwalk. She enjoys participating in many forms of the arts such as painting, writing, and acting, as well as staying active by walking and working out. Rylie feels strongly that she can positively contribute to her community and teens who are struggling through not only the work she is doing but what she learned when she was struggling as well.

Therell Mayes < Back Therell Mayes Social Media Lead, CT Support Group Therell joined TurningPointCT as their Social Media Assistant in September 2021. He is a young adult who wants to help other young adults who are struggling with mental health like he has. Therell is a student at Norwalk Community College, majoring in Liberal Arts & Science. His experience with social media began as a hobby in middle school. Since then, he has learned how to use various social media platforms to promote his photography, music, and YouTube videos. Therell loves to write screenplays, poetry, and lyrics as well as record music, photograph nature, and exercise.