Positive Directions is excited to announce the addition of several new staff members and clinical interns to our team! To set up an initial appointment with any of our clinicians, please call the office and speak with Emily at 203-227-7644 or email info@positivedirections.org. Learn more about our new clinicians in their full bios HERE. Jessica Dassori, MS, LPCA, NCC Jessica recently completed a clinical internship at Positive Directions and is now a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate. Jessica has joined our team as a permanent staff member working part-time with adolescents, adults, and families. She also received her Master’s degree in School Counseling from Fairfield University and has years of experience working with elementary through high school students. Jacalyn Clark, LPCA Jacalyn also recently completed a clinical internship at Positive Directions this summer and graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with her master’s degree in clinical mental health. As a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, she will be providing individual counseling and group support to adults and couples at Positive Directions part-time. Sarafina Robinson, Clinical Intern Sarafina Robinson has joined Positive Directions as a clinical intern. She received her Master’s degree in Community Psychology and is currently completing a second Master’s degree in Counseling for Mental Health and wellness at New York University. She has years of experience working as a program evaluator in the nonprofit sector. Stephen Osika, Clinical Intern Stephen Osika joins Positive Directions as a clinical intern. He is currently completing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with advanced training in Integration of Spirituality & Religion in Therapy at Fairfield University. Stephen is passionate about helping others to cultivate life meaning, self-knowledge, and resilience. Ashley Fusella, Clinical Intern Ashley Fusella joins Positive Directions as our Fall Intern. She is currently a Senior at Sacred Heart University with the intent of graduating this Spring 2024 with a B.S. in Psychology and continuing her education post-graduation in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or Speech-Language Pathology in a Master's program. She has a wide variety of experience in working with nonprofit organizations and clinics and enjoys the responsibility of serving others.

“This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs.” The infamous 1980s anti-drug ad is often laughed about, but it was intended to raise awareness of the fact that drug use during adolescence can damage the developing brain. To help parents educate their children effectively, the Westport Prevention Coalition (WPC) is offering free streaming access to a 52-minute documentary, “Don’t Wait,” throughout October. The Westport PTA Health & Wellness Committee is helping spread the word, recognizing that today’s youth are exposed to substances in different ways from in the past, and the substances themselves have changed. For example, cannabis concentrates can deliver 96% pure THC with no CBD or plant matter. Delivery mechanisms such as vapes and pouches are another recent development. “This film will update parents’ knowledge and prepare them to answer tough questions from their kids,” said Kevin Godburn, director of Westport Youth Services and WPC co-chair. “We know that parents are one of the most important influences on whether youth will use substances or not.” Nationally, underage substance use has been declining for decades, as the risks of early substance use have become better recognized and legal ages have changed to better reflect those risks. “The three most important factors that prevent kids from using alcohol or other drugs are their awareness of the risks, their belief that their parents disapprove, and their belief that their peers disapprove,” notes Margaret Watt, prevention director at Positive Directions and WPC co-chair. “That’s why we want to make sure parents are informed, talking frequently with their kids, and communicating clearly in ways that counteract the messages that are so prevalent in the media.” Parents and guardians can RSVP here to get a pre-paid promocode allowing them to stream the film at their convenience anytime during October. As follow-up, WPC is also offering two drop-in zoom sessions for parents who want to ask questions or learn more. Click to sign up for the October 24 session or the October 26 session, both at 7pm. These events will be facilitated by WPC members, including the PTA Health & Wellness chairs. Pleas help spread the word to parents! Download "Don't Wait" flyer below to share out: About WPC: The Westport Prevention Coalition works to prevent substance misuse in Westport through educational programs, environmental efforts, and advocacy. We encourage interested community members and organizations to join us! Meetings are held online on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 3pm. Visit westporttogether.org/prevention-coalition for more information.

We are pleased to have two free online support groups for high schoolers starting up. Please spread the word! (Flyers can be downloaded at the bottom of this post.) Queers & Peers Support Group Queers & Peers is an online peer support group for LGBTQ+ high schoolers in Connecticut hosted by Quinn (they/them), Peer Support Specialist on our TurningPointCT project. Participants will have the opportunity to talk about mental health, identity, stress, joy, community, and more with each other. Participation is free, voluntary, and confidential. The group will run on Fridays from 6:30pm-8pm starting October 6th. Sign up at bit.ly/Q_PSupport to receive an e-mail with the Zoom link! High School Stress Support Group A free, weekly support group for high school teens led by our clinician, Karlene Barnett. This group will serve as a safe place where teens can talk with other high schoolers about school, life, relationships and more! In this free support group, teens will learn how to identify stressors and learn coping skills, deal with family/peer pressure, explore anxieties, and develop strategies to balance their lives. All high school students are welcome! This group will run Tuesdays from 4pm-5pm starting September 26th. Click here to RSVP and receive the link. Download flyers below:

Teens, get a strong start to the school year by getting support to handle the stress! New virtual High School Stress Support Group starting Tuesday, Sept. 12. (Date subject to change based on enrollment) A free, weekly support group for high school teens led by our clinician, Karlene Barnett. This group will serve as a safe place where teens can talk with other high schoolers about school, life, relationships and more! In this free support group, teens will learn how to identify stressors and learn coping skills, deal with family/peer pressure, explore anxieties, and develop strategies to balance their lives. All CT high school students are welcome! To RSVP, fill out THIS google form - following your submission, our Clinic Coordinator will reach out to you with the virtual link.

Our amazing Prevention Corps member, Ben Fitzgerald, is heading back to college after spending his gap year with us, and we're looking for our next wonderful service member! In his three-minute video below, Ben shares the wide variety of community activities he was able to do over his 10 months working with our prevention coalitions in Norwalk and Westport. Ben started off with a bang, conducting an environmental scan at Westport smoke shops with concerning findings. The results led to statewide action by the CT Attorney General's office. We're so grateful for the positive energy Ben brought to all his work. He conducted Narcan and Hidden in Plain Sight trainings, spoke at legislative and school forums, coordinated and tabled at community events, created social media content, provided data support, and much more. If you know someone interested in making a difference in their community, this service learning experience is a wonderful way to gain community experience, build networks, develop professional skills, and build a resume. Prevention Corps is one of a number of different AmeriCorps programs funded by the federal government. Service members aren't paid, but they do receive a monthly living stipend and an educational award upon completion of service--not to mention lots of training and support. There are part-time and full-time positions, so it's possible to serve while attending college or working part-time. There are Prevention Corps sites throughout Connecticut, but of course we think serving at Positive Directions is the best! We offer the opportunity to serve in Westport and Norwalk and to gain exposure to work throughout the region. Prevention Corps applications for the coming year are now open. Click here for more information & to start the application process!

Positive Directions is excited to announce that Ethan Wattley, MA, LPC has joined the Positive Directions team as an Outpatient Therapist! Ethan approaches therapy from the perspective of wanting to understand what it would mean for his clients to have a meaningful life, and what is currently blocking that. Therapy is a collaborative process, to which Ethan brings training in different modalities (such as Internal Family Systems and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy) as well psychopathology and the therapeutic relationship. But he recognizes that clients also bring their own expertise and understanding of what it means to be them and what they want out of life. Together, he works with clients to discover the internal strength and healing they already hold inside, even if they do not know it yet. To set up an initial appointment with Ethan, please call the office at 203-227-7644 or email info@positivedirections.org. Learn more about Ethan in his full bio HERE.

Positive Directions is seeking a part-time Outpatient Therapist and a part-time Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner to join our growing team! We are a non-profit behavioral health organization providing prevention, treatment, and recovery supports to mid-Fairfield County and beyond. Our outpatient treatment clinic is state licensed by the Department of Public Health and the Department of Children and Families. We provide counseling, medication management, and support groups to adults and adolescents age 12 and up, and partner with local towns and organizations to best meet the needs of our community. In order to make our services accessible to everyone, we accept all major forms of health insurance, offer sliding scale fees, and have an established treatment fund that helps individuals avoid a gap in treatment when there is an inability to pay. If you are looking for the right clinical practice to call home, Positive Directions can offer you a collaborative and trauma-informed environment. We have a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians with a variety of experience and training who all work together to support each other. We pride ourselves on our positive work culture and are always looking for new team members whose values align with ours. To read the full job descriptions, please click HERE. To apply, please submit a letter of interest, including a copy of your resume to Vanessa Wilson, Executive Director at vwilson@positivedirections.org. You are encouraged to include the following information in your cover letter: information about you – what makes you unique, your credentials, your clinical philosophy and why you want to work at Positive Directions – The Center for Prevention and Counseling. We look forward to meeting you!

Positive Directions is happy to welcome Kristen Glosserman to the board of directors, bringing the organization's number of board members to 14. "I embraced the opportunity to join the board of Positive Directions after moving to Westport because it was a perfect blend of my background as an Executive Life Coach and Parent Educator,” said Kristen. “I hope to help make a positive impact in the Connecticut community by offering support and guidance to the organization and local students and residents." Kristen is an executive, Certified Life Coach, Positive Discipline Parent Educator, and mother of 4. She is also the author of "If It's Not Right, Go Left: Practical and inspirational lessons to move you in a positive direction.” "We are thrilled to welcome Kristen to the Board of Positive Directions. Her background and broad range of skills are highly relevant to Positive Directions' goal of improving the lives and health of individuals and families through our extensive programming in the community," said Positive Directions’ Board Chair, Wendy Bentivegna. Chair of the Board Wendy Bentivegna has been appointed Positive Directions' Board Chair, replacing Gail Kelly, who served a two-year term. Wendy previously served as Vice Chair for the preceding two-year period and has been on the board of directors since 2017. Prior to her board involvement, Wendy spent four years as Positive Directions' Grant Director, managing two State grants to address underage drinking and other substance use in collaboration with neighboring town coalitions. Vice Chair of the Board Mercedes Escala has been appointed Vice Chair of the Board. Mercedes has served as a director on Positive Directions' board since 2019. Mercedes is a Human Resources executive, leading Talent & Learning in the Tech industry. She has led regional and global teams in Human Resources and Corporate Social Responsibility. She is Peruvian and loves living in Westport with her husband and daughter. About Positive Directions Positive Directions has been providing mental health and substance use counseling and prevention services to Westport for more than 50 years. Positive Directions has an established state-licensed outpatient treatment clinic that provides counseling and medication management to adults and adolescents and accepts all insurances. In addition to the outpatient treatment clinic, they have established partnerships with the towns of Westport, Weston and Wilton on a new Counseling Assistance Program, which provides barrier-free referrals to town residents. Positive Directions also partners with the CT Education Association to deliver confidential support groups to their member teachers. Positive Directions co-facilitates the Westport Prevention Coalition and The Norwalk Partnership prevention coalitions with the goal of preventing substance use among youth. Read about our new Teen Nights Out initiative that provides sober social activities to Norwalk teens here: https://www.thenorwalkpartnership.org/teennightsout Positive Directions’ vision is all individuals and families will have the skills, support, and resources they need to live a healthy life and contribute to a strong community. To that end, our mission is to provide leadership in the community with the aim of improving the lives and health of individuals and families through both comprehensive behavioral healthcare, including addictive behaviors, and prevention leadership.

Do you know how to help someone who has overdosed on opioids? Even in the last ten years, this question has become more and more important. 2019 marked the beginning of a "fourth wave" of the opioid crisis. Xylazine, Gabapentin, and other emerging substances are compounding the effects of opioid overdoses. Meanwhile, counterfeit medications mean that almost anyone can unknowingly take prescription drugs laced with fentanyl. It's more likely than ever that you'll come across somebody having a lethal opioid overdose. Come to our Overdose Awareness and Narcan Training to learn how to be a Good Samaritan! Stop by for a free one-hour presentation about current drug risks, recognizing a possible overdose, and how to administer Narcan(TM) to save a life. Educate yourself on prevention & treatment messages to protect yourselves and loved ones from the opioid crisis. Most importantly, attendees will receive a free Narcan kit! Date: May 12th, 4-5PM Place: Positive Directions, 90 Post Road West, Westport, CT Download & share the flyer:

Join us for an intimate afternoon with Martha Stewart at her former Turkey Hill home in Westport. Martha will share memories of her years at Turkey Hill, where she started her business and grew her media empire. Ms. Stewart will serve as a guide through the gardens and the afternoon will end with cocktails and light hors d'oeuvres on the patio. Wait, there's more! Be one of just a very few lucky guests that will stay for dinner with Martha following cocktails. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend time with an American icon. Event proceeds will benefit Positive Directions, a Westport behavioral health organization working on the frontlines of our country's mental health crisis. Event Details: Thursday, June 1st, 4-6 pm (Event will be rain or shine) *Entrance to property at 50 Turkey Hill Road, Westport, CT 06880 Pricing: $1,000 - Turkey Hill "where it all began" ticket - SOLD OUT $2,500 - Turkey Hill "where it all began" ticket PLUS an intimate dinner with Martha Stewart following the event- SOLD OUT Can't attend our event but would still like to make a donation to a worthy cause? Click https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=V2KN8KURXGPGC to select any amount. Positive Directions Staff and Board of Directors thank you for your generosity. We cannot do this important work without your support. All donations to Positive Directions are tax-deductible.

Positive Directions - The Center for Prevention and Counseling is so excited to be a part of Fairfield County's Giving Day! You can support our organization by clicking HERE and donating on February 23rd. Fairfield County Giving Day's Mission Are you ready to be a part of Fairfield County's Giving Day? It’s a day to celebrate all the good going on in our communities! For nine years, hundreds of nonprofits and thousands of community members have joined together in celebration of local philanthropy on Fairfield County’s Giving Day. Fairfield County’s Giving Day is an opportunity to unite the community around causes and help nonprofit organizations connect to the larger community. How You Can Make A Difference Positive Directions - The Center for Prevention and Counseling is participating in this year's Fairfield County Giving Day to raise funds to support our work. Our mission is to provide leadership in the community with the aim of improving the lives and health of individuals and families through both comprehensive behavioral healthcare, including addictive behaviors, and prevention leadership. We fulfill our mission by providing a continuum of Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery support to adults and adolescents in Connecticut with an emphasis on evidence-supported clinical treatment services and community-focused prevention programs. As a behavioral health provider on the frontlines of a mental health crisis, we could use your support. On the 23rd of February, please consider donating to one of our programs, such as community prevention and education; our Treatment Fund, established to help those struggling to afford their treatment; our free support groups; and/or our teen & young adult online resource: TurningPointCT.org. Any amount will make a difference. To donate, please visit fcgives.org.

How can families help teens who are dealing with loss? Many of our young people are still affected by the milestones they missed as a result of the pandemic: first relationships, school events like plays and concerts, prom, graduation... Others have lost friends or family members to illnesses, moves, or just moving on. On March 2nd, Positive Directions' grief & loss specialist, Malaika Boyer-Seme, will discuss "Helping Teens Navigate Loss After Covid," the third in our Lunch & Learn series co-sponsored by Positive Directions and the Westport Weston Family YMCA. The third discussion of our Lunch & Learn series: "Helping Teens Navigate Loss After Covid" will be held Thursday, March 2nd from 12-1:30PM at the YMCA. Please bring your own lunch! To RSVP to this event, CLICK HERE Click here to download the upcoming Lunch & Learn flyer: