About Positive Directions
Founded in 1971. An innovative community nonprofit providing leadership in mental health, substance prevention, and peer support. Based in Westport, Connecticut.
Need help finding the right place to start? Just ask – we’ll guide you.
We are an outpatient clinic operating during set business hours. If you need immediate mental health support, call or text 988 or dial 2-1-1, option 1. If you or someone is in immediate physical danger, call 911.
Our story.
Positive Directions began in 1971 as the Alcoholism Council, a volunteer organization founded by people in recovery from alcohol use disorder. Their goal was to bring substance misuse awareness into Westport schools and the broader community and to support recovery. Over the next five decades the organization evolved into a 501(c)(3) behavioral health nonprofit.
Today we treat people across the lifespan, ages 5 and up. We see clients in person at our Westport office and by telehealth in nine states: Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Texas, and Vermont. We lead and support coalitions that change the environments young people grow up in.
We believe mental wellbeing is a right for everyone. We never turn anyone away because of cost.
Meet the people behind the care.
You will work with a counselor who is committed to respectful, effective support. Our team brings real clinical training and the willingness to listen.
What we do.
Prevention
Coalition building, capacity development, surveys, trainings, policy work, and youth initiatives to lead communities in creating positive environments for youth.
Learn about Prevention
Counseling
Outpatient counseling and medication management. In person in Westport and by telehealth across CT, FL, IL, MA, ME, NH, NY, TX, and VT.
Learn about Counseling
Peer Support
Free, peer-led support groups for suicide prevention, recovery, caregivers, and young people.
Learn about Peer Support
Our prevention leadership
Leading Community Coalitions
We lead community-wide prevention coalitions to improve youth mental health and reduce youth substance use across Mid-Fairfield County. Our successes have been recognized through statewide awards and multiple new grant awards.
Using our compelling, action-oriented Youth Surveys and Environmental Scan data, we raise awareness, build coalition capacity, and lead communities in developing educational, environmental, and policy initiatives, such as Liquor Sticker campaigns, Teen Nights Out, Days of Training, Alternatives to Suspension policies, Regional Legislative Forums, Community-Wide Priority Planning, mental health fairs, and more. Youth are involved in all our work.
We share our survey data freely with our partner organizations across the region, supporting them in accessing grant funding and ensuring schools and nonprofits can target their programs to support young people at highest risk.
Caring staff. Skilled support. Positive change.
People come to Positive Directions as a trusted partner, whether for one-on one support or community-level change. We meet you with respect, skill, and support, and help build the approaches and tools that make things better.
I’ve had 6 students come to me with concerns about a peer or friend that they became aware of after your QPR training. All these students brought forward valid and concerning situations and shared that the training helped them feel more confident addressing concerns and seeking help. Thank you again for the impact of this work—it’s clearly making a difference.
We are so fortunate to have Positive Directions serving Fairfield County- the team is compassionate, professional and extremely talented – I highly recommend them for young people and their families in need of their services.
Positive Directions is tremendous resource for our communities. The work done by this agency in all aspects of mental health and well-being is exceptional!
Positive Directions’ leadership of The Norwalk Partnership coalition gives us tools and resources that as partnering organizations and individuals we likely wouldn’t have otherwise. For example, the data from the youth surveys, where queer and marginalized youth have consistently shown up as highest risk, has created momentum and opportunities for Triangle Community Center to push on initiatives and programs specifically supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.
It was great being in your [training] session today. I learned a ton!
What a great addition Jennifer was to our school community. She connected with many students who seek her out, and she made an impact on their decision making and coping skills.
Trusted in the community.
Donors, sponsors, and community partners help make this work possible.
years since founding in 1971
Partner Organizations in 2026
Local teachers trained in 2026
satisfied with service care
satisfied with responsiveness
Get in touch
Reach out for counseling, peer support, prevention work, trainings, or to talk about partnership.