
“ADDICTION isn’t a choice anyone makes. It’s a RESPONSE to emotional pain.”
There is no-one-size-fits all when it comes to addiction counselling.
Every addict is different, with their own problems and reasons for adopting the addictive habit. Equally, the path to recovery is different for everybody, and a trained counselor will be able to tailor their advice to what suits best the needs of the individual patient. They may also be able to recommend them to other support groups or further treatment where this may be necessary.
Nancy specializes in addiction with much emphasis on substance abuse.
She has helped many adolescents and adults stop abusing pain medication, heroin, and other illicit substances. She is gentle and compassionate in her approach, helping bring to light what response to emotional pain each person may have that brought on the addiction in the first place.

Licenses / Certifications:
- NY State Certified Social Worker
- NY State Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Specialized training in Domestic Violence
- Substance Abuse Professional
- Certified Alcohol & Substance Abuse Professional
- EMDR therapist
Professional Affiliations:
- National Association of Social Workers
- Fellow of the NY State Society for Clinical Social Work
- Board Certified Diplomat of the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work
For more information about counseling:
Contact Nancy Hilsenrath, LCSW, CASAC, SAP for info. about therapy near you.
EMAIL NANCY or call (718) 551-2777
3 COUNSELING LOCATIONS: West Hempstead, NY, Douglaston, NY, Hewlett, NY
Read some of my other posts about substance abuse below:
- Talk Therapy for Anxiety DisordersAnxiety disorders are the most common group of mental disorders. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, around 40 million adults in the United States over the age of 18 experience some type of anxiety disorder. Although many psychological conditions may involve anxiety, some of the most common may include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and/or social anxiety disorder.…
- Therapy for Anxiety / Panic AttacksPanic attacks can occur without warning, provoking an intense surge of fear that can be disruptive and debilitating. They can occur as a result of perceived danger in the absence of a real or imminent threat. Within minutes a panic attack can reach its peak, accompanied by both physical and mental discomfort. Generalized anxiety can have a constant presence in your life, while panic attacks occur…
- What Causes Children to Become Narcissists?Many people believe narcissists aren’t born that way. Psychologists aren’t exactly sure what causes children to become narcissists, but many think they become this way due to their environment. This article has an in-depth look into what causes kids to become narcissists. First, let’s look at the definition of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). This is a diagnosed mental health condition, not just a term to toss…
- Male Survivors of Sexual AbuseHealing trauma with consciousness and therapy. My goal is to create awareness of male survivors of sexual abuse and shed light on this topic. Why do boys / men seldom discuss events of abuse? One of the most common reasons is FEAR. Whether it’s fear of their perpetrators, or fear turned into a physiological response from a result of the trauma. Oftentimes, men have memory loss…
- Seeing an EMDR Therapist for Dealing with TraumaEMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. In the simplest terms, an EMDR therapist helps adults and children address the emotional distress and traumatic memories of disturbing life experiences. Resolving traumatic memories and associated symptoms. During EMDR therapy, the protocol is as follows: The client attends to emotionally disturbing material and brief sequential doses while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus. Therapy involves the following 3…
- Anxiety: a Core Cause & Symptom of Substance AbuseThe ugly head of anxiety rears itself in many forms throughout our lives. Some cases are much worse than others, requiring anxiety counseling or even hospitalization. While we all experience anxiety on occasion, it is prevalent in situations where substance abuse occurs. Not only is it one of the direct triggers for abuse, it exists as a symptom that manifests before, during and after abuse occurs.…