MY STORY
Throughout the history of man-kind, people have used psychoactive substances to alter their consciousness. For many individuals, this serves as a means of recreation and relaxation. For others, however (about 10% of the U.S. population), the recreational use becomes all-consuming and the relaxation transforms into chaos. For me, the latter rang true.
As an adolescent, substance use was my priority. At first, just like so many, using substances was a way to gain social acceptance and supplement happiness. However, by the age of seventeen it was no longer an additive, it was the ONLY thing that mattered. In great part to my use, towards the end of my junior year in high school, I had an accident that would forever change the trajectory of my life; I fell off of a forty-foot cliff, which left me paralyzed from the chest down.
What I thought was the end of my life turned out to be very different, here I was a junior in high school, confined to a wheelchair, with barely passing grades. With great help from professionals, my loved ones, and the community, I was able to forge a life abstaining from substance use. By no means was this easy, as I was forced to change my life perspective. This included shifts in social groups, hobbies, and career pursuits. Simultaneous to this, I began my public speaking career. I began sharing my story at local Connecticut high schools, with the sole purpose of helping others. I hoped that my peers would not only hear my story, but visually see the potential permanent consequences of substance abuse. Although I enjoyed public speaking, I soon realized that this was not the most effective or direct way to help individuals struggling with substance abuse. Thus, I devised a plan to become a counselor. I knew the traditional college route was unlikely, as the SAT’s had not been a priority and my grades were weak. As a result, I decided to enroll in Gateway Community College’s Drug and Alcohol Recovery Counselor Program (DARC). This was an invaluable experience. At first, I believed my life experience would make me a good clinician. I soon realized this was not the case. Although my experience helps me empathize on a deeper level, where I can fundamentally relate to an individual thoughts, feelings, and emotions, the DARC program taught me that clinical skills separate mediocre counselors from exceptional therapists. Therefore, I made it my mission to enhance my therapeutic skills. To do this, I knew it was imperative to further my education.
After completing the DARC program and receiving an award for the Most Outstanding Student, I was accepted into Southern Connecticut State University’s Social Work Program. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and then transitioned to Fordham University, where I earned a Master’s degree in Social Work and received the John G. Sullivan Award for my work in the area of substance abuse and homelessness.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
I began my professional career working as a methadone maintenance counselor. There, I developed clinical skills to help individuals struggling with opioid abuse. After working in medication-assisted treatment, I transitioned to an outpatient, substance abuse treatment center. I provided psychotherapy to adolescents and young adults who were suffering from substance abuse and other mental health disorders. Currently, I am a substance abuse counselor in two Connecticut high schools. I provide students with individual counseling to help them explore their substance use and the impact it has on their social functioning. I also work with the student’s families and provide parent coaching, as well as treatment placement. In addition, I received intensive training at the Substance Abuse Treatment Unit of Connecticut Mental Health Center, where I provided psychotherapy to individuals with substance abuse and other psychiatric disorders.