Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy in Connecticut

CT Addiction Medicine specializes in providing expert-level one to one individual counselling and psychotherapy based on your unique level of need, experience, and current situation, as well as who you really are as an individual.

We have a philosophy that focuses on compassion, professionalism, and a true connection between the clinician and the client.

Our patients will receive all the care that meets their custom needs in the “whole human-being” sense, therefore there will be no two clients with the same needs receiving the same type of treatment.

What Is Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy?

Individual counselling and psychotherapy are a 1-on-1 process that occurs between a trained therapist & client.

It is purposefully created to allow the client to safely, confidentially & within a structured space, explore their thoughts, feelings, behaviours & life experiences; without fear of judgment or being misunderstood.

Counselling is typically more focused/solution orientated and is primarily used for the purpose of addressing a specific issue such as grief, stress, work issues, or life transitions.

Psychotherapy, because it dives deeper into the psychological & emotional roots of one's behaviour, relationships, and mental state, tends to be longer term.

Who Can Benefit from Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy?

You may benefit if you are experiencing:

Addiction and Substance Use

People who have issues with the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, medications often find that Individual counselling and psychotherapy is key to their successful recovery.

Therapy provides a path forward for you to identify why you use, to establish better ways of coping, and to help you to develop/re-create your life in a positive way, with clarity and confidence.

Anxiety and Panic

Some of the most common symptoms associated with anxiety and or panic are as follows:

You just can't stop worrying, having thoughts that race through your head, feeling tightness in your body (tension), and having panic attacks.

When you use therapy to identify what is causing your anxiety, provide you with ways to challenge your thoughts, and develop tools and strategies for how to manage your symptoms.

Depression and Low Mood

Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, lack of motivation, fatigue and withdrawal from life, may be signs that you require assistance beyond your day-to-day existence. If you seek Individual counselling and psychotherapy, you will be provided with the emotional and practical supports to help alleviate the fog you are experiencing and obtain the motivation and meaning you wish to rediscover in your life.

Trauma and PTSD

Traumatic events such as childhood abuse, relational trauma, traumatic accident and/or other traumatic events can leave lasting impressions on your mind and body.

Through therapy, you will have the opportunity to gradually process the trauma that you experienced, lessen the impact of the disassociated symptoms and build up a sense of safety.

Grief and Loss

Grieving can be a painful experience that can change your life forever. When a person, relationship, job or any type of situation passes away you have to go through a grieving process to be able to reconcile what happened, and gradually build yourself back up again.

Individual counselling and psychotherapy provides a safe, caring environment to process your grief and understand your loss.

Low Self-Esteem and Identity Issues

Experiencing low self-worth can have an impact on every aspect of your life. Focusing on where these feelings are coming from can help you develop a more secure, confident, and compassionate sense of self through therapy.

Stress and Burnout

Financial pressures, workplace stress, caring for others, and having constant demands put on you can all contribute to your overall wellbeing deteriorating over time.

Looking at your feelings in therapy can provide not only relief from your stress but also give you the tools to regain your equilibrium before you reach the point of burnout.

Life Transitions

When life changes, such as moving to another country, beginning or ending a relationship, changing careers, becoming a parent, or preparing for retirement, often result in emotional turmoil that is both unexpected and difficult.

Working through your concerns in Individual counselling and psychotherapy can aid you in being more aware of your situation and provide you with the resilience needed to navigate your way through these changes.

Our Therapeutic Approach at CT Addiction Medicine

Different people need different approaches!

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT aims to help you identify and challenge distorted or unhelpful thoughts so that you can gain a more balanced view of the world and cope better. It also has been found to be helpful for people with anxiety or depression and OCD, phobias, and addictively-based thought patterns.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

MI is an important tool for working with those addicted to substances; it's a way of encouraging your client to make positive changes. Through a collaborative, goal-oriented style of conversation, MI helps clients explore and resolve their ambivalence about making changes to their lives. Instead of telling your client what they need to do, MI helps create the context that allows your client to find their own motivation and values.

Trauma-Informed Therapy

Therapists working with clients in traumatic situations use lessons learned from previous training. They work with people who have had trauma before, helping them deal with the emotional and mental impact through understanding how trauma occurred, how it is retained, and the effects on the body, mind, and behaviours related to it. They focus on developing safety for clients by helping them create safety while doing therapy using different ways.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Using a psychodynamic approach to therapy allows processing by verbalizing past activities. It helps the therapist understand the client and what behaviours occur as a result of past events.

Person-Centred Therapy

This approach emphasises developing trust by showing the client that you care about them through compassion and being non-judgemental. It allows the client space and provides emotional support through empathy. It also works on developing the client’s sense of their own identity. A trusting relationship creates a safe environment for any form of therapeutic intervention.

Mindfulness-Based Approaches

By practicing mindfulness, people can create an awareness of their thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations without becoming defensive towards them. Mindfulness practices are incorporated into various therapeutic modalities for increased emotional regulation, decreased stress, and being able to be present with heightened levels of anxiety or cravings.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Skills

DBT skills training are excellent resources for clients who experience high levels of emotional intensity, impulsivity and/or behaviours that may be harmful to themselves. DBT provides clients with tools for developing distress tolerance, regulating their emotions, improving interpersonal functioning and being mindful.

What to Expect in Your Sessions

At CT Addiction Medicine, we go to considerable lengths to ensure your experience is welcoming, respectful, and genuinely useful from the very first session.

The First Session

This is a session in which you and your therapist get to know one another. During this meeting, your therapist will learn about your personal and professional background, reasons for coming to therapy, goals for therapy, and any concerns you may have. Your first session is your own space.

Subsequent Sessions

Sessions typically last from 50 to 60 minutes and occur on a regular basis, generally either weekly or every second week, depending on the individual needs and situation of each person. Therapy is a collaborative process in which you and your therapist are working together to accomplish your goals.

Confidentiality

The information that you share during your sessions is highly confidential. Your therapist will explain the limited situations (legal mandates) in which he/she would be required to breach confidentiality, such as when there is a serious risk of harm to yourself and/or others. All practitioners take your privacy very seriously.

Duration of Therapy

There is no set number of therapy sessions that you should expect. Some clients benefit from a limited number (i.e., 6-12) of focused sessions, while others may require longer-term therapy (i.e., months or years) to deal with issues. Your therapist will evaluate your progress to help you make informed decisions about your ongoing therapeutic care.

Why Choose CT Addiction Medicine for Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy?

When selecting a counsellor or psychotherapist, it is critical to choose a provider you can trust. Here's what makes CT Addiction Medicine stand out from the rest:

Specialized in Addiction and Mental Health

CT Addiction Medicine is uniquely qualified to treat individuals struggling simultaneously with addiction and mental health challenges, called dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders.

Integrated Medical and Psychological Services

CT Addiction Medicine is a full-service practice, which delivers psychological therapy and any needed medical services (eg. medication-assisted treatment, psychiatric assessments, physical health) at the same time.

Experienced, Qualified Clinicians

CT Addiction Medicine only utilizes fully trained and accredited therapists who are committed to ongoing professional development. Our therapists possess both academic qualifications, cultural competency, and personal experiences necessary to effectively assist individuals in their recovery and healing journeys.

Non-Judgmental, Inclusive Care

We accept clients from every background, culture, identity and situation. You will be treated with dignity and have your privacy respected.

Flexible Appointment Availability

We offer flexible appointment times including evenings and online sessions to ensure you never have to worry about travel distance or other things getting in the way of receiving the help you require.

Book Your Appointment Today

It isn’t always easy to reach out for help….

It’s often scary and requires lots of bravery even just to admit you’re going through tough times and to ask for help.

If you are reading this, there is already a part of you changing and progressing toward recovery, and this is also very important to recognize.

CT Addiction Medicine – compassionate, knowledgeable professionals who specialize solely on helping those who are addicted to alcohol or drugs (substance use disorder) or suffering from any mental health issue.

Contact us now! One phone call could change everything about your future.