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. Anxiety The feeling of anxiety is a normal occurrence in life, perhaps before taking an exam or waiting to hear back test results from the doctor; however, anxiety that is consistently present and continues to worsen over time is known as an anxiety disorder. The symptoms can interfere in daily activities such as during work, school, or in personal relationships. Understanding the types of anxiety disorders is important for knowing how it should be treated. Types of Anxiety Generalized Anxiety Disorder Characterized by consistent worry and ongoing tension that involve job or family responsibilities, health, finances, or minor matters such as appointments. This type of anxiety may cause symptoms such as: Restlessness Feeling on edge Muscle tension Difficulty sleeping Panic Disorder The main symptom of panic disorder is recurrent panic attacks that involve physical and psychological distress. This type of anxiety may cause the following symptoms: Palpitations, pounding heart or rapid heart rate Sweating Trembling or shaking Feeling of shortness of breath or smothering sensations Chest pain Feeling dizzy, light-headed or faint Feeling of choking Numbness or tingling Chills or hot flashes Nausea or abdominal pains Feeling detached Fear of losing control Fear of dying Due to the severity of such symptoms, it may cause someone to think they are having a heart attack or another life-threatening illness, requiring them to go to the hospital emergency room. Phobia-related Disorders This type of anxiety is focused on specific and excessive fears about objects, situations, or activities which the person experiencing it feels they cannot overcome. Some examples include fear of heights or spiders. Social Anxiety Disorder This type of disorder is characterized by a person who experiences anxiety in social interactions, in which they fear being humiliated, embarrassed, or looked down upon by other people. Someone experiencing social anxiety will generally avoid such interactions. Common examples include the extreme fear of public speaking, not wanting to eat or drink in public, and meeting new people. Separation Anxiety Disorder A person with separation anxiety disorder fears being separated from someone they are significantly attached to. They may feel reluctant to sleep away or be apart from whomever they are attached to for long periods of time. Symptoms generally begin during childhood and can continue on throughout adulthood. Anxiety: What We Do

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. Training Workshops We seek to raise awareness and provide education to parents and community members, and to support schools in delivering the best curriculum. We can provide trainings directly, develop and deliver presentations based on local issues and data, and/or coordinate and identify speakers on a variety of topics. National & State Trainings Our staff offer the following programs: Mental Health First Aid Question-Persuade-Refer (suicide prevention skills training), in English or Spanish Talk Saves Lives (suicide awareness presentation) Opioid education and Narcan administration (including providing a Narcan kit), in English or Spanish Hidden in Plain Sight, a parent exploration of a teen bedroom to identify signs of drug use and discuss how to respond For Youth & Young Adults Our TurningPointCT project staff often serve as motivational speakers and offer workshops to youth and young adults: Personal story of journey to recovery from mental illness and/or addiction "Sensory Cafe" activity (coping skills) "How to Cope When Things Get Tough" workshop (distress tolerance) Other Presentations Upon request, our clinical and/or prevention staff can speak at events and provide presentations for community coalitions and other groups. We also partner with groups such as MADD, NAMI, The Hub, and others to provide education that meets the community's needs. Download The Hub's regional list of behavioral health training programs and trainers in Southwest CT.

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

Leadership Team Jessica Branson Interim Executive Director Read More Melanie DeLapp, LMFT Clinical Director Read More Margaret Watt, MPH, MA Prevention Director Read More Clinical Team Jacalyn Clark, MS, LPCA Lic. Professional Counselor Assoc. Read More Leslie Corrigan Clinical Intern Read More Jessica Dassori, MA, NCC, LPCA Lic. Professional Counselor Assoc. Read More Deidre Ekholdt, LCSW Lic. Clinical Social Worker Read More Mohamed Elsamra, MD Medical Director Read More Emily Farrell, MA, LPCA Lic. Professional Counselor Assoc. Read More Karen Krupnik, MS, LPC Lic. Professional Counselor Read More Lori Lang, APRN Lic. Advanced Practice Reg. Nurse Read More Nicole Merlo-White, MA, LMFT Lic. Marriage & Family Therapist Read More Nikoletta Moschidi Clinical Intern Read More Sarafina Ndzi, MA, LPCA Lic. Prof'l Counselor Assoc. Read More Stephen Osika, MA, LPCA Lic. Professional Counselor Assoc. Read More Destiny Sammut, LMSW Lic. Master Social Worker Read More Bob Vietro, MS, LADC, ICGCII Lic. Alcohol & Drug Counselor Read More Ethan Wattley, MA, LPC Lic. Professional Counselor Read More Prevention and Peer Support Team Vivian Balazs Intern, The Norwalk Partnership Read More Teraya Broaden SMART Recovery Groups Facilitator Read More Marsha Elbourne The Norwalk Partnership Coalition Coordinator Read More Francesca Guerrier, MPH Manager, Mid-Fairfield Cannabis Project Read More Quinn Jannetty Manager, CT Support Group Project Read More Jen Lord Recovery Coach & Alt2Su Facilitator Read More Therell Mayes Social Media Lead, CT Support Group Read More Rylie Peterson Intern, The Norwalk Partnership Read More Administrative Team Kimberly Falconer Billing Specialist Read More Ashley Gonçalves Office Administrator & Clinic Coordinator Read More Board of Directors Officers Members Robin Chung Tiffany Loomer Adam Murphy Kathleen Sweeney Mercedes Escala, President Jessica Branson , Vice President Tom Green, Treasurer Suzanne Hermus , Secretary Wendy Bentivegna, Former President

< 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.