You can be good at handling a lot and still be tired of handling it alone. Maybe work is going well, but you replay conversations long after the day is over. Maybe you’re going through a divorce, worried about your relationship with your adult children, or wondering how much space alcohol has started to take up in your life. These are things you can bring into therapy, even if you’re still figuring out how to talk about them.

I’m Justin Barsanti, a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist with more than 25 years of experience. I see adults and couples in my private practice on Main Street in Westport, Connecticut. I’m especially drawn to working with people whose concerns overlap. Anxiety can show up alongside grief, family conflict, or recovery. We can start with what’s weighing on you most and make room for the rest as we go.

What it’s like to work with me:

My style is warm, conversational, and direct. I’ll listen closely, ask questions, and tell you what I’m noticing. If you’ve been having the same argument with your partner, for instance, we might slow down a recent conversation and look at the moment it went sideways. What did you want to say? What did the other person hear? What could you try the next time it comes up?

In our first session, I’ll ask what brought you in now, what you’ve already tried, and what you’d like to be different. That might mean sleeping without running through tomorrow’s problems, getting through a family dinner without feeling responsible for everyone’s mood, or talking honestly with your partner about something you’ve both been avoiding. Those everyday moments give us a place to start and a way to tell whether the work is helping.

The experience I bring:

Before opening my practice, I spent 19 years at The Waynik Group, where I served as Director of Social Work. I’ve also led a weekly addiction and recovery group for nearly two decades. That work has taught me how important it is to talk openly about shame, setbacks, and the strain that substance use and recovery can put on relationships.

I earned my Master of Social Work at Columbia University and my bachelor’s degree at The Ohio State University. I completed advanced training in parent management at the Yale Parenting Center and Child Conduct Clinic under Dr. Alan Kazdin. That training informs how I help parents work through recurring conflicts and make changes they can carry into daily life.

Getting started:

I offer in-person, private-pay appointments at my Westport office. My fee for individual therapy is $200 per session. If you’re considering working together, call 203.249.3152 to ask about availability and tell me a little about what you’re looking for. We can talk through whether my approach feels like a good fit for you.Use a text section to describe your values, show more info, summarize a topic, or tell a story.