Online Sessions Available Across New York
THERAPY for SUBSTANCE USE IN GARDEN CITY, NY
Feel more in control of your choices, your habits, and the life you want to build.
IT’S always SEEMED HARMLESS.
Another drink, another hit, another ‘something’...it’s just part of the fun, right? And on top of the buzz—or the way it helps you unwind at the end of a long day—you also get to tune out of the world for a bit. But lately, it doesn’t feel quite as harmless anymore. You’re more tired, less productive, and maybe skipping things you normally care about.
You might tell yourself you’ll cut back and then not follow through the way you planned (again). Maybe it’s not totally out of control, but it’s also not feeling as casual as it used to.
Or maybe you already know this has become something bigger—something that’s starting to take up more space in your life than you want it to. You want to understand why you keep reaching for these things so often, and some part of you knows it might help to stop trying to figure it all out on your own. That doesn’t mean you’re weak or incapable—it means you’re human.
SUBSTANCE USE LOOKS different FOR EVERYONE.
For a lot of people, it can look like this:
Having an extra glass of wine at night after the kids go to bed to relax—and then not feeling great about it the next day
Using alcohol, pot, or something else to take the edge off your stress—and not really knowing what else to do instead
Planning to have just one or two drinks on your night out…and it inevitably turns into a whole bottle and a bag of cocaine by the end of the night
Feeling more comfortable socially when you’re drinking or high—and then feeling frustrated that it’s the only way you can relax or be yourself around people
Noticing your habits affecting work—like calling in sick because you’re consistently hungover
Feeling stuck, unmotivated, or “off” in your life—and using substances to avoid it or push it aside
Your partner or loved ones expressing concern or distaste with your use, causing you to downplay it or hide it altogether
Becoming a bit obsessed or dependent on the rush and wondering if it’s something you should get ahead of
MY APPROACH
Sometimes the goal isn’t “never again.” It’s understanding why the pattern exists in the first place—and deciding what you want your relationship with substances to look like moving forward.
Just by being here, you probably have some sense that something isn’t working the way you want it to. Some people come in knowing exactly what they want to change, while others are still figuring that out—and both are okay. The hard part isn’t knowing—it’s following through in the moment—after a long day at work, once the kids are finally asleep, when you’re lying in bed, and your mind won’t shut off, or when you’re out with people, and it feels like the easiest way to unwind.
My role isn’t to tell you what you should be doing, decide what’s right for you, or pass judgment or criticism. It’s to help you feel more in control of your choices again. Because substance use looks different for everyone, therapy should too. For some people, moderation is possible. And for others, knowing their limits and pursuing a sober lifestyle may be the key.
My job is to help you better understand your relationship with substances—what they’re helping with, what they’re getting in the way of, and what you want to be different. A lot of our work is slowing things down enough to really look at what’s happening before, during, and after you drink or use, so the patterns start to make more sense.
When you start to understand the function of “why” you’re doing this, it becomes a lot clearer what needs to change—and what you can do to replace the habits that aren’t working anymore.
THIS WORK CAN help YOU…
Realize you don’t have to criticize or shame yourself to make a change
Understand you don’t need to turn to alcohol, pot, or other drugs to relax, unwind, or handle life
Feel comfortable being around people without always needing to take the edge off
See that sober experiences—socializing, relaxing, or getting through a hard day are possible, even if that’s not where you’re starting
Feel more confident in your ability to make different choices in the moment
Understand the function of your use, what need it meets, and how to meet that need in more effective ways
YOU DON’T HAVE TO HIT ROCK BOTTOM TO WANT SOMETHING TO change.
Questions?
FAQs
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Not everyone I work with is looking to stop completely. And that’s okay. For some people, the goal is moderation—figuring out what feels manageable and sustainable for them. For others, being honest about their patterns leads them to a different decision over time. My role isn’t to tell you what you “should” do, but to help you understand your relationship with substances so you can make choices that align with who you want to be.
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You don’t have to have that answer to start. The fact that you’re wondering whether something needs to change is already significant. A lot of the people I work with aren’t sure how they’d label it—and that’s okay. What usually matters more is how it’s affecting you.
Are you using more than you want to?
Is it harder to stop once you start?
Are there parts of your life being impacted—your energy, your work, your relationships, how you feel about yourself?
Some people I work with are just starting to question their habits. Others feel like their use has gotten harder to manage or is increasingly affecting more areas of their life. We can figure that out together. And if additional support would be helpful, I’ll help you think through what that could look like.
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Harm reduction is an approach that focuses on reducing the negative impact of substance use, rather than requiring complete abstinence. That might mean cutting back, setting limits, or finding other ways to cope so you’re not relying on substances in the same way. It’s a flexible, non-judgmental way of approaching change—meeting you where you are, while still helping you move toward something that feels better and more sustainable.
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I’ve worked with people navigating many different relationships with substances—from those just starting to question their habits to those trying to make more significant changes in their lives.
My approach is non-judgmental, but also honest and direct. We focus on understanding the function of your use—what it’s doing for you, what it’s helping you cope with, and why it’s been hard to change. From there, we look at what needs to shift and how to actually follow through on it in real life—not just in theory.
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No. A lot of people I work with are functioning in their day-to-day lives. They’re working, taking care of responsibilities, showing up for others—and still noticing that something about their use doesn’t feel right. Wherever you are, I will meet you there (including if you are, in fact, at ‘rock bottom’).
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No. My goal is to understand what’s going on, not to shame or minimize it. You don’t have to filter what you say or try to present it a certain way. The more honest you can be, the more useful the work becomes.
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It can. A lot of the people I work with aren’t drinking or using every day, and from the outside, things might look “fine.” But they still don’t feel great about their relationship with substances.
Maybe it’s how much you’re thinking about it, how hard it is to stop once you start, or how it’s impacting certain parts of your life. It doesn’t have to be constant or an ‘addiction’ to be worth paying attention to.