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. The CT Support Group Project Created by & for young people in CT Our CT Support Group project is Connecticut's online, peer-developed resource for young people seeking safe spaces to connect with others, build community, share and vent together, and access peer supports when they may be struggling with mental health, substance use, or other challenges. The CT Support Group platforms include a new (as of January 2025) Discord platform where teens and young adults can connect with others, as well as a website with a Q&A guide, media room, map, and blog posts related to mental wellness, and of course a variety of social platforms. All of it is created by and for young people in Connecticut! We encourage young people to join the Discord to meet and connect with others and build community. Our CT Support Group Project Manager, Quinn Jannetty (they/them), is a trained Recovery Support Specialist who is also available to offer free one-on-one peer support to teens or young adults throughout the state, both through regular Discord hours and on demand. Email Quinn at qjannetty@positivedirections.org for more info. Download/Share Project Flier Visit website Peer Support Flier

Ryan McGough, MA, LPCA < Back Ryan McGough, MA, LPCA Lic. Professional Counselor Assoc. Ryan is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate who graduated from Fairfield University with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Ryan has worked with individuals from all walks of life - including people struggling with addiction in a correctional setting, young adults experiencing depression and anxiety, individuals looking for ways to cope with grief and loss, and those who are unclear about what they are looking for in therapy. Ryan’s therapeutic approach centers around the idea that no matter what you are going through, there is always hope. He uses a variety of therapeutic interventions, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness techniques, and Gestalt strategies to ensure that you are always learning new ways to look at yourself and improve your mental well-being. Ryan lives in Wilton with his girlfriend and four dogs. In his free time he likes to read, go hiking, play piano, and contemplate the meaning of life (while his four dogs are tackling him). Ryan can be reached by phone at 203-227-7644.

Stephen Osika < Back Stephen Osika, MA, LPCA Lic. Professional Counselor Assoc. Stephen joined Positive Directions as a clinical intern and graduated from Fairfield University with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and an advanced professional certification in Integration of Spirituality and Religion in Counseling. He is currently receiving postgraduate training in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy at the Western New England Institute for Psychoanalysis. Psychodynamic therapy, Stephen’s preferred approach, focuses on helping the client to work with symptoms practically as they pursue a rich understanding of their internal and relational worlds through exploration of unconscious material. Stephen is passionate about helping others to cultivate life-meaning, self-knowledge, and resilience. He believes that each individual is striving toward wholeness in their own way and tailors his approach to meet the specific needs of clients wherever they may be on that journey. In his free time, Stephen enjoys hiking with his dogs, writing, cooking, and playing stringed instruments.

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 Surveys Over the years, Positive Directions has worked with the Local Prevention Councils (LPCs) in Fairfield, Norwalk, Weston, Westport, and Wilton to conduct surveys of youth, college students, and/or community members. This information allows our community coalitions to identify needs and develop plans that address local conditions and target high risk groups. Survey data also assists in seeking grants. Our survey work has allowed both Norwalk and Fairfield to be awarded the federal Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. See recent data presentations below or contact us for additional data. Data Presentations 2021 Fairfield Youth Survey results: presentation to Board of Education Download Mental Health and Substance Use in Norwalk in 2021: presentation of community and youth survey findings to Common Council Download 2021 Norwalk Youth Survey results: combined presentation to Board of Education and The Norwalk Partnership Download 2021 Westport Youth Survey results: presentation to Board of Education and Westport Prevention Coalition Download

Francesca Guerrier, MPH < Back Francesca Guerrier, MPH Manager, Mid-Fairfield Cannabis Project Francesca Guerrier joins us as Project Manager for our regional Cannabis Prevention project, working with 5 towns. She is a Public Health professional who has been working in the field of prevention for over 10 years. Most recently, Francesca worked in health prevention at Sacred Heart University (SHU). She provided educational awareness in harm reduction and risk reduction to students, faculty and staff across the SHU community. Prior to that, Francesca worked at the Greater Bridgeport Area Prevention Program (GBAPP) Inc., for seven years. She worked on a number of community-based grants that focused on prevention and education, including overdose prevention, alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) misuse prevention , and other harm reduction services. Francesca also sat on the Bridgeport United Coalition (BUC) , a program funded by Drug Free Communities to reduce drug use among youth. Francesca earned her BS with a concentration in Public Health from Southern Connecticut State University and went on to receive her Masters of Public Health (MPH) from her alma mater. Francesca is inspired daily by her husband and three wonderful children.

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. One-on-One Peer Support For people in their teens & 20s Our Peer Support Specialist, Ally Kernan , is recognized statewide as an advocate for recovery, a motivational speaker, and a young adult who uses her lived experience with mental illness and substance use to provide support and guidance to others. Ally is trained as a Recovery Support Specialist (mental health), Recovery Coach (substance use), and SMART Recovery facilitator, and a Drug & Alcohol Recovery Counselor. She is available two mornings a week on a first-come, first-served basis for free individual peer support. Text her at 203-227-7644 x842 to schedule. Download flyer

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. Counseling Outpatient counseling for adolescent and adult mental health and substance use If you are in immediate crisis, please dial 2-1-1 for mobile crisis or 911 for your local first responders. Be sure to add the Crisis Text Line (741741) and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255) in your and your family members' phones. For immediate help in accessing detox, call CT's Substance Use Access Line: 800-563-4086. Teletherapy Login Positive Directions is a leading non-profit behavioral health facility located in Westport, CT, serving both adolescents and adults. Our outpatient clinic is licensed by the CT Department of Public Health and the CT Department of Children and Families for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. Our outstanding reputation reflects 50 years of experience in meeting the needs of the communities we serve. We provide individual outpatient counseling to adolescents and adults, and can work with families as an adjunct to individual counseling. We also offer free recovery groups to our clients and their supporters, as well as short-term one-on-one peer support for youth and young adults . We see clients in person at our private and serene setting in downtown Westport, as well as online, where we serve clients throughout the state. Our clients benefit from an outstanding team of dedicated licensed clinicians who are empathetic, knowledgeable, and experienced in working with a variety of behavioral health challenges. Areas of Expertise Payment Options Areas of Expertise Anxiety Addiction Depression Grief Mood Disorders Problem Gambling Counseling: What We Do Payment Options We work hard to help people in need access behavioral healthcare regardless of their ability to pay Counseling: List Commercial Insurance Positive Directions accepts most forms of commercial insurance, including: Aetna Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Cigna Golden Rule Harvard Pilgrim Oxford Health Plans UMR United Healthcare If your insurance company isn't listed, we can help you determine whether your insurance plan offers out-of-network behavioral health benefits. Give us a call and we will help you determine your out-of-network eligibility. Public Insurance We proudly accept both: HUSKY Health/Medicaid Medicare Other Options We offer a sliding-fee scale for those in need. We are grateful to our donors who have enabled us to create a Treatment Fund to support eligible clients. If you have the means to contribute to the Treatment Fund, please know that your donations are gratefully accepted and enable people to receive or continue treatment at a difficult time in their lives! We accept private pay.

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. Nina Chanana Survey Evaluator Nina Chanana, MPA, is principal of Chanana Consulting in Fairfield, CT. She enjoys helping clients understand the value of evaluation for documenting and demonstrating program value and building organizational capacity for internal monitoring and assessment. She loves working with committed, avid colleagues and clients who create exciting experiences for youth and their families. Most importantly, Nina is committed to being part of teams that work to improve the communities in which they work and live. Since 2007, Nina has been providing evaluation services to a diverse group of clients at her time as a consultant for duBay Horton Associates, a community-based public health consulting firm located in Bridgeport, CT, and currently as principal of Chanana Consulting in Fairfield, CT. Over her career, Nina has worked with a wide range of clients including schools, non-profits, neighborhood organizations, foundations, and city and state agencies. She has conducted evaluations in formal and informal settings, and has experience with evaluation planning, needs assessments, resource inventory, data management, strategic planning, and program design. Nina Chanana: Team Members

Quinn Jannetty, RSS < Back Quinn Jannetty, RSS Manager, CT Support Group Project Quinn Jannetty (they/them) is a queer, trans non-binary researcher with a background in psychological science and criminology. Before coming to the CT Support Group project, Quinn worked as a direct care provider in the mental health and addiction field during which they earned their certification in Crisis Prevention and Intervention. Quinn also spent two semesters interning for CT’s Judicial Branch in CSSD’s Multicultural Affairs Division. It was in these roles that they deepened their desire to educate folks about mental health, addiction, trauma stewardship, cultural responsiveness, identity, and marginalization. In 2020, Quinn began serving as the Advocacy Director for The Reflection Zone in Watertown, CT. They wrote and facilitated workshops about LGBTQ+ identities and collaborated with the team to plan family friendly events for their community to enjoy. Quinn is passionate about creating and holding space for the narratives of marginalized people and facilitating conversations with folks about identity, bias, power, and community care. They are an ardent believer in challenging systems rooted in oppression through education, sharing resources, and creating environments conducive to social change. In their spare time, Quinn enjoys furthering their studies of astrology (they’re a Leo sun, Gemini moon, and Scorpio rising) and doing card readings for friends and family. Most weekends, you can find Quinn out hiking and searching for new plants and fungi with their partner. When they’re not on the trails, Quinn is usually improvising on the piano, curled up with a book, or in the kitchen measuring spices with their heart and, of course, waiting on the potatoes.

Jessica Dassori < Back Jessica Dassori, MA, NCC, LPC Lic. Professional Counselor Jessica is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate who began as an intern at Positive Directions. She has clinical experience working with adolescents and adults, including years on-site with elementary, middle, and high school students. Jessica’s therapeutic approach is unique to each individual. She draws on her training and experience to collaborate with her clients and shape an optimal counseling program for their specific wants and needs. She has worked extensively with clients dealing with anxiety and depression, as well as the effects of trauma, transitions, and loss. She also has training in substance misuse and group counseling. Jessica utilizes components of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Interventions, and Solution-Focused Techniques in addition to many other modalities in her practice. Regardless of the distinct dynamics of each relationship, Jessica brings compassion, flexibility, and empathy to every interaction she has. Jessica lives in Westport with her husband and two young children and graduated from Hamilton College and Fairfield University. Jessica can be contacted via email at jdassori@positivedirections.org or by phone at 203-227-7644 ext. 835.

Sarafina Ndzi < Back Sarafina Ndzi, MA, LPCA Lic. Professional Counselor Assoc. Sarafina Ndzi (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate. She works with adults navigating anxiety, depression, major life transitions, and relational stress. Her therapeutic approach is grounded in person-centered care and wellness. She integrates a variety of strategies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychodynamic techniques, mindfulness practices, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Motivational Interviewing. Sarafina tailors her approach to meet the unique needs of each client, while also considering the social and cultural factors that shape their experiences. Sarafina earned a Master of Arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University and a Master of Arts in Community Psychology from the University of New Haven. She completed her clinical counseling training here at Positive Directions, and also serves as a Program Evaluator for mental health initiatives outside of therapy. Sarafina lives in Fairfield County with her husband and young child. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, dancing, attending live music events, and spending quality time with family and friends. Sarafina can be contacted via email at sndzi@positivedirections.org or by phone at 203-227-7644.

NYC Marathon charity page Support Team Positive Directions! Positive Directions is proud to be an official charity partner of New York Road Runners, which organizes the famed TCS New York City Marathon each year. Through this partnership, Positive Direction provides a limited number of runners with guaranteed entry. 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 1) support individuals and families in need and 2) creating a healthy, positive, and inspiring environment that fosters 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 $3,000 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!