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Addiction therapists & psychiatrists in Westport, CT


Top addiction and substance use disorder therapists and psychiatrists in Westport, CT
Whether navigating withdrawal, managing cravings, or addressing dual diagnosis concerns, Westport residents can access compassionate addiction support through Headway's network of 560 providers. Talk therapy and medication management options help tackle substance misuse with proven modalities like DBT skills and acceptance-based approaches.
Emil Pauling has 16 years of experience treating adolescents, young adults, adults, and families with varied challenges. Emil takes a holistic, strength-based approach to empower clients to meet their goals. Emil also has 34 years of combined experience in teaching, crisis intervention, and facilitating therapeutic and music programs. Life has its challenges. Finding joy in exploring your interests like music and humor can create a nice balance.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 20 years experience helping people navigate life's challenges. As an empathetic and person-centered therapist, I work with adults living with anxiety, depression, substance use and trauma.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 12 years of experience working with young adults & adults in community settings. My work is informed by attachment theory and a systems perspective, emphasizing how early relational experiences influence emotional regulation, connection, and patterns that show up in adulthood. I strive to create a thoughtful, collaborative space that supports insight, growth, and movement toward a more meaningful and connected life.
I want you to know that when you come into therapy with me, you don’t have to pretend, minimize, or hold everything together. You get to show up exactly as you are — overwhelmed, hopeful, exhausted, confused, motivated, or anything in between. We take it from there together.
My favorite part of this work has always been sitting with people one‐on‐one. That’s where real connection and real healing happen. I genuinely enjoy getting to know who you are, what you’ve been carrying, and what you’re hoping might feel different.
My style is warm, steady, and honest. I listen closely, ask thoughtful questions, and help you understand the experiences and patterns that are shaping your life. I’m also practical — I like to offer tools and strategies you can actually use in your day‐to‐day life, not just in the therapy room.
I work with people dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, major transitions, and substance use concerns. But most importantly, I work with people who feel stuck or weighed down and aren’t sure how to move forward. Everyone deserves a space where they can breathe and be supported.
Something I tell clients often is this: I don’t want you to just feel better — I want you to be well. Feeling better can be temporary. Being well means building insight, healing, and lasting change.
My goal is simple: to help you feel safe, understood, and supported as you find your footing and move toward what’s healthier and more meaningful for you.
Taking the first step toward therapy can be difficult, but you don’t have to do it alone. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 16 years of experience providing therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. Throughout my career, I have worked in community mental health and held leadership roles overseeing outpatient mental health programs.
I specialize in helping individuals navigate trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, infertility, women’s issues, and life transitions. I believe that while our experiences shape us, they do not have to define us. I am trained EMDR and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and tailor treatment to each person’s unique needs and goals.
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to consider working with me. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and have been in the Mental Health and Substance Use field for 21 years. I have extensive experience working with a wide range of issues. I specialize in working with adolescents and adults who struggle with anxiety, substance use, Men's issues, and relationship stress. I hope that we can connect and work towards removing your barriers and achieving your goals.
Twenty-five years in this field — across inpatient units, outpatient programs, and private practice — means I've sat with people in virtually every kind of difficulty. That depth of experience shapes how I show up: grounded, unhurried, and genuinely confident that change is possible, even when it doesn't feel that way yet.
I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, ADD/ADHD, stress, and major life transitions. I bring both clinical rigor and real human warmth to the work — because neither alone is enough.
I trained at Hunter College School of Social Work and have built my practice around one belief: that insight without practical tools doesn't get people very far, and tools without insight don't stick. We'll work on both.
I am Stanley Okeyemi, the founder of Brighter Light Behavioral Health Services. I am currently licensed as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) in Texas, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Washington, North Carolina, Nebraska, Virginia and New York. I have been working in the mental health industry for 16 years, but licensed as a PMHNP for four years, with a vast amount of experience and affiliations with over 40 hospitals/clinics combined across the USA
I believe therapy should feel supportive, practical, and empowering. Clients often describe me as warm, direct, and easy to talk to. I work with adults who want to better understand their emotions, patterns, and relationships, and I focus on helping clients build skills they can actually use in daily life. You don’t have to have everything figured out to start—just a willingness to show up.
About our therapists who can help with addiction and substance use in Westport, CT



- 100%Substance use / addiction
- 98%Anxiety
- 97%Depression
- 88%Stress management
- 81%Trauma

- 98%Aetna
- 94%Cigna
- 88%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 49%Curative

- 98%English
- 7%Spanish
- 1%Haitian Creole
- 1%Portuguese
- 1%French

- 93%Online only
- 7%In-person or online

- 75%Woman
- 25%Man

- 44%Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 30%Licensed Professional Counselor
- 15%Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
- 6%Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist
- 3%Licensed Psychologist

- 99%Individual therapy
- 39%Family therapy
- 27%Couples therapy
- 12%Child or adolescent therapy
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