On May 13, 2026, we hosted Sean McGowan, VP–Continuing Care for High Watch Recovery Centers, for a Pathway Session on Aftercare Planning to promote recovery. In his storytelling style, Sean talked about his own journey from addiction and recovery, and how important his aftercare program for long-term recovery success. Sean started off with his own story, which is a story

On April 15, 2026, we hosted Tracey Masella, LCSW, for a Pathway Session on setting healthy boundaries. Per her style, Tracey encouraged the participants to ask questions throughout, which made for an informative and relevant session indeed. Tracey started off with a review of the brain, which has two key opposing parts: the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. The amygdala

On March 24, 2026, NCPSG hosted a Pathway Session on how nutrition can be a pathway to recovery. KC Cannon, ND, and Annie Harrington, MSN, both of Wellness Insights of Darien, were the speakers. I am grateful that they agreed to participate. KC and Annie started off, in layman’s terms, explaining the rationale behind good nutrition, and how it helps

The feedback was positive after our February 18, 2026 Pathway Session on Self-Compassion with Zoe Leary, DSW. The session included a few practice exercises, one on identifying the inner critic and another on self-kindness. Zoe Leary, Staff Clinician at the Center for Motivation & Change, started off by defining both Compassion and Self-Compassion. In simple terms Self-Compassion is the practice

On January 14, 2026, Mark D’Agostino, MD, gave a fascinating talk on kratom and the kratom derivatives Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), which are sold in CT Smoke Shops for pain relief, increased energy, or aid with opioid addiction recovery addiction. Similar to cannabis, kratom has many varients from the traditional leaf (consumed as a powder with 2-5% alkaloid content), to

On December 10, 2025, NCPSG hosted a Pathway Session on Setting Boundaries to Promote Recovery. Jacqueline Barbaro, LPC, a Westport-based therapist, was the speaker. She has a long track record working with families and their loved ones struggling with addiction. Jacqui started off with her thoughts on how to set boundaries, They included: Given the likelihood of pushback, Jacqueline gave

On November 5, 2025, NCPSG hosted a Pathway Session on Recovery from Technology Addiction with two clinicians, Michael Shelby, LPC, and John Markette, LPC, both based in the West Hartford area. While I was originally looking for a speaker to address ADD and ADHD, I was convinced by the speakers to focus on an emerging addiction in our digital world.

On October 8, 2025, NCPSG hosted a Pathway Session on Recovery from THC Addiction with Amy Swift, MD, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Silver Hill Hospital. Most of the session, in both Amy’s prepared remarks and in the Q&A session, covered the intersection between use of high-potency THC and mental health. While Amy stopped short of making a direct causal

On September 17, 2025, NCPSG hosted a Pathway Session on Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) to promote recovery from addiction and substance use. The speaker was Charlotte Bareiss, LCSW, founder/owner of Connected Therapy Group, based in Greenwich and NYC. Charlotte started out her presentation labeling ACT as part of a “third wave” of CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, that allows

Laura Stack more than met my lofty expectations when she presented to parents and concerned citizens at NCPSG’s May 7, 2025 Zoom Pathway Session. The session intermingled her son Johnny’s story of cannabis use in Colorado with the latest findings on the impact of THC on the brain and body. Her son Johnny, who died at age 19 by taking