Teen & Young Adult Addiction Treatment | Dr. Lori Washton

When Something Is Wrong

Maybe something bad has happened — a car accident, an arrest, a call from the school. Or maybe nothing dramatic has occurred, but you've noticed changes: your teenager seems different, more withdrawn, more irritable. Their grades have slipped. They're staying out later. Something feels off.

Whether it's marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, vaping, or other substances, by the time a young person comes to our attention, usually something has happened. But some parents simply don't like their child's level of use and want them to get help before it escalates.

Either way, how you respond — and the kind of treatment you choose — matters enormously.

What We Treat

Substance Use

Marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, opioids, vaping — treatment for all substances, addressing both the use and the underlying reasons for it.

Anxiety & Depression

Co-occurring mental health conditions are the rule, not the exception. We treat both simultaneously.

Academic Pressures

Achievement-oriented families often hide problems. We specialize in families where success is expected and problems are concealed.

ADHD

Undiagnosed or inadequately treated ADHD frequently underlies substance use in young people.

Trauma

Past trauma — whether recognized or not — often drives substance use as a coping mechanism.

Family Conflict

Family dynamics affect and are affected by the young person's substance use. We involve the whole family in the healing process.

A Different Kind of Treatment

No Abstinence Requirement to Start

Demanding that a teen stop using before treatment begins is like telling a depressed person to stop being depressed before they can see a therapist. We meet young people where they are and work from there.

Treat Both Problems Simultaneously

The emotional disorder and the substance use are treated at the same time — not one before the other. This means working with a psychiatrist when appropriate alongside addressing the substance use.

Careful Pacing

Too much pressure too fast will backfire. Young people don't yet have the coping skills to handle the emotions they've been suppressing. We pace treatment carefully, using clinical judgment to determine what each person is ready for.

Family as Essential Partners

Parents and family members are essential partners — not observers. We provide guidance on how to be supportive without enabling, how to communicate without shutting down dialogue, and how to manage your own anxiety.

Outpatient, Not Residential

For most adolescents, outpatient treatment keeps them in their real life — attending school, maintaining friendships, and developing coping skills in the actual environment where they'll use them.

For Parents

Even before your child is ready for treatment, we can help. Parent consultation is available for those who:

Are concerned about their child's substance use but unsure how to raise the topic
Want guidance on having productive conversations without shutting communication down
Need to understand the difference between normal experimentation and genuine cause for concern
Are looking for the right approach after a crisis — arrest, school discipline, or health scare

A simple approach: express concern without judgment, suggest an evaluation framed as "just getting information," and maintain an open, supportive relationship regardless of the outcome.

Young people walking up outdoor stairs together — recovery and moving forward

Dr. Lori Washton

Clinical Psychologist | Adolescent & Young Adult Specialist

For 25 years, Dr. Washton has worked with adolescents and young adults navigating substance use, anxiety, depression, and the pressures of academic achievement. She specializes in families where success is expected and problems are hidden.

Her approach builds trust with resistant teens while keeping parents appropriately informed — addressing the whole person, not just the symptom that brought them in.

What gives real hope: young people's brains are still developing, still plastic. If you can engage them and help them think differently about their use and how to cope, they shift much more rapidly than many adults.

Concerned About Your Child?

You don't have to wait for a crisis. A confidential call with Dr. Lori Washton can help you understand your options and develop a plan — even if your child isn't ready for treatment yet.

Schedule a Consultation Call (212) 944-8444

Teen & Young Adult Treatment