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

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. Problem Gambling Compulsive gambling may begin the first time someone places a bet, or it can gradually turn into an addiction over time. This problem can be very detrimental to mental health as the consequences may lead to stress, anxiety, worry, and depression. Signs of a gambling problem may include: Spending excessive amounts of money when gambling Developing issues with personal relationships Gambling interfering with work Spending too much time gambling Stealing or committing fraud to support gambling Asking for loans to cover gambling debt It’s important to be able to recognize when someone is beginning to show signs of having a gambling problem. Struggling with any form of addiction can arise as a way to escape feelings of hopelessness, guilt, or depression. Problem Gambling: Service

Jessica Branson < Back Jessica Branson Interim Executive Director Jess joins Positive Directions as Interim Executive Director having lived in Westport, Norwalk and Fairfield County for over 30 years. Her upbringing in a family of empathetic healers and devoted community leaders instilled in her the importance of listening, nurturing, and empowering others. These values have guided her 25+ years of experience in business, media and marketing strategy for fortune 100 companies and her own growth consultancy. A compassionate and determined leader, she’s helped hundreds of brands and organizations raise awareness, build resilience, and create meaningful change by blending a for profit mindset with a nonprofit heart. As a people person, Jess’ superpower is building connections. She leverages the talents and resources of individuals and organizations to inspire action, promote mental health awareness, and strengthen communities. “Making connections lights me up, and as a lifelong competitor, delivering results fills my cup.” No stranger to adversity, Jess’s determined spirit was tested after contracting Guillan Barre Syndrome (GBS), a neurological nerve disease that paralyzed her for over 10 months. After a year in a wheelchair and years in therapy and rehab, her tenacity, grit and faith have helped her persevere. She has deep empathy for those battling mental and physical health challenges. Jess’ experience changed her profoundly and inspired her mission to build healthier, more connected communities, perfectly synergistic with Positive Directions' vision “to strengthen the mental wellbeing of individuals and communities.” Her husband (Bill), family and friends were vital parts of her healing and life re-entry. She is forever thankful for the support of her caretakers, nurses, doctors, and therapists. She knows first-hand it takes a village, and she is honored to be a part of Positive Directions’. Jess can be reached by email at jbranson@positivedirections.org and by phone at 203-227-7644.

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. Games We’re on a mission to help kids, teens, and families learn more about substance use and how to stay safe through fun and interactive games! Pick the ones that match your age and see how much you already know. You’ll discover cool facts, test your smarts, and explore smart ways to make healthy choices. Let’s level up your knowledge and power up your future! Click below to play some games! Kids Substance Misuse Prevention Coping with Stress Youth Take care of your body Coping with Stress Teens National Drug & Alcohol IQ Challenge Coping with Stress This curriculum, material, and/or resource was developed by the Stanford REACH Lab, a Stanford research lab focused on promoting adolescent and young adult health through collaborative research, education, and advocacy. Questions Kids Ask! Check out these videos of kids talking to experts at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) What is Addiction? Why are drugs so hard to quit? What is the worst drug? Parents, if you want to find out about more resources that can support your kids, check these out: Talk. They Hear You (free app from SAMHSA) OperationParent.org DrugFree.org

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< Back Therell Mayes (he/him) TurningPointCT Social Media Lead 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. Therell can be contact via email at tmayes@positivedirections.org

< Back Quinn Jannetty (they/them) TurningPointCT Peer Support Specialist Quinn is a queer, trans non-binary researcher with a background in psychological science and criminology. Before coming to TurningPointCT, 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.