You don’t have to quit drinking to get help with alcohol use.
Private treatment for executives and professionals who want to change their relationship with alcohol
—Telehealth services available in NY, NJ, PA and 40+ PSYPACT states across US—
Private treatment for executives and professionals who want to change their relationship with alcohol
—Telehealth services available in NY, NJ, PA and 40+ PSYPACT states across US—
Our approach
Many executives and professionals function at a high level while privately struggling with alcohol, and have tried to cut back on their own without lasting success. You do not need to label yourself an "alcoholic" to seek help.
Not everyone needs to quit entirely. Dr. Washton is a leading expert in developing moderation-based treatment for professionals who are not ready for complete abstinence. Whether you want to cut back or stop completely, treatment options can be used separately or in combination, based on an assessment of what is most likely to work best for you.
We do not believe in one size fits all, which is the standard way alcohol and drug problems are usually treated.
Over 90% of treatment programs in this country are abstinence-only. This practice is one of the few that treats drinking less as a legitimate clinical goal.
Does this sound like you?
“I don’t think I’m an alcoholic. I don’t drink every day and I’m not physically addicted. But now and again I go off the rails and drink far more than I intended to.”
“My business involves drinking and hosting clients. What worries me is not withdrawal, it’s that quitting means walking away from the rooms where my work gets done.”
“Drinking is how I take the edge off. It’s how I handle the pressure, and how I reward myself at the end of a hard day.”
“I need help, but not at the cost of the privacy and professional reputation I have spent a lifetime building.”
Cocaine, opioids and other drugs
Alcohol is the most commonly misused drug, but many high-functioning people also struggle with cocaine or prescription opioids. Alcohol and other drug use, especially cocaine use, may be tightly linked, or may occur separately.
A few drinks can trigger a search for cocaine, turning a planned evening into an all-night binge. The next day brings regret and promises to stop, until the pattern repeats days or weeks later. You may not use cocaine every day or be physically dependent, yet still find the cycle increasingly difficult to break.
Cocaine cravings can become strongly linked to certain people, places, occasions, or moods, and override your best intentions. You do not need daily use or opioid-like withdrawal for the problem to be real. If limiting or stopping has become harder over time, your control has diminished.
Opioids can be powerfully appealing not only because they cause physical dependence, but because they relieve both physical and emotional pain. Early on, they may seem to improve mood, confidence, and performance, to make you feel like a "better version" of yourself. For high-functioning professionals and executives, that apparent benefit can conceal a growing dependence.
Medication-assisted treatment is available where it is appropriate.
What is the program?
We are a boutique private practice, not a pre-formulated addiction treatment program. Everyone who comes here is treated individually. What you do, and for how long, is built around your situation and the goal you set.
Treatment can consist of individual sessions, group sessions, and medication where appropriate, used separately or in combination.
Two steps
A short, confidential call with Dr. Arnold or Dr. Lori Washton. We answer your questions and describe what we do, so that you can decide whether this is a good fit for you.
If you decide to go ahead, a full assessment of your situation by Zoom, and a treatment plan built from it. Available throughout NY, NJ, CT, PA, and most other PSYPACT states.
Schedule your brief introductory call. No charge, no obligation.
Self-pay only. All services are private and confidential. Out-of-network statements provided. All major credit cards accepted.
The practice
Addiction Psychologist, Author, Researcher
An internationally-known addiction psychologist, researcher, author of both popular and professional books, and frequent lecturer at medical schools and universities, Dr. Washton has spent decades developing individualized approaches to treating high-functioning men and women including corporate executives, attorneys, physicians, and entrepreneurs. He has served as Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine, advisor to the U.S. FDA, and consultant to major corporations and professional sports teams.
Clinical Psychologist & Specialist in Co-Occurring Disorders Across the Life Span
Dr. Lori Washton brings decades of specialized experience to the treatment of adolescents, young adults, and women. She provides expert care for those struggling with substance use in combination with complex emotional or family challenges, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and trauma history. Her approach is rooted in the belief that effective recovery must address the whole person and their unique life circumstances.
Request a brief phone consultation
Call us directly or use the form to request a brief phone consultation with Dr. Arnold or Dr. Lori Washton. No obligation, no pressure. We typically respond within one business day.
Schedule Brief Telephone ConsultClinical writing
The distinction most people get wrong, and why the category question is the wrong one to be asking.
When success, stress, and social ritual collide: the off-switch pattern that puts senior leaders at career risk.
Who moderation tends to work for, who it does not, and how to tell which one you are.
Featured In · Faculty · Advisor
No. We meet you where you are and decide on goals together.
Absolutely. As a private, self-pay practice, your records stay with us. No insurance databases, no public exposure.
Yes. Where appropriate, we support the use of prescribed medications as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. We are psychologists and do not prescribe; medication is arranged in collaboration with a prescribing physician. Learn about our medication options →
Research shows that the overwhelming majority of heavy drinkers in the U.S. are not "alcoholic." With proper help, some can moderate their drinking, some cannot, and others simply do not know yet. Often, the best way to find out is with a professionally-guided attempt at moderate drinking using research-proven strategies.
Clinical writing from Dr. Arnold and Dr. Lori Washton on the patterns we treat most often.
Executives & Professionals
When success, stress, and social ritual collide, the off-switch pattern that puts senior leaders at career risk.
Women & Alcohol
A clinical breakdown of the co-occurring pattern that's harder to break than either condition alone.
Women & Alcohol
Why women's drinking develops, escalates, and is treated differently than men's, with implications for what works.
Women's Issues
What that specialty actually covers clinically, and what to look for when evaluating clinicians.
Teens & Young Adults
When telehealth therapy is the right fit for adolescents, and when it isn't.
Browse our full library, alcohol, drug use, moderation, family, women's health, and clinical reference material.
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