Confidential counseling services are available for children and adolescents in Haddam and Killingworth.
Haddam-Killingworth Youth and Family Services is deeply committed to providing access to counseling for young people in Haddam and Killingworth and has contracted with Denise Grodzicki, LPC, and Ashlyn Elliott, LCSW.
Denise brings a wealth of knowledge with over 22 years of experience working in the middle school setting within the public school system. Her journey has been marked by a steadfast commitment to fostering the academic, emotional, and social development of students. As a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2010, she has played a crucial role in supporting the mental health and well-being of children, teens, and young adults. Her work involves providing counseling services and implementing intervention strategies with both the client and family. Denise is passionate about empowering people to overcome obstacles, develop resilience and reach their full potential. Denise is also certified as an ESMHL (Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning) through PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International).
Ashlyn is a licensed clinical social worker who is passionate about empowering people to be the person that they want to be. Her philosophy is that people are not defined by their worst moments or biggest mistakes, and showing ourselves and others compassion is an important part of growth. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Social Work and received her bachelor’s degrees in Social Work and Urban Studies from Rutgers University. She has experience working with oncology, domestic violence, substance use, and is currently a social worker for a state hospital. Ashlyn is formally trained in Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and is experienced in using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and motivational interviewing. She is also working towards becoming a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). In her free time, Ashlyn enjoys yoga, hiking with her dog, and cooking! Ashlyn is passionate about community mental health and supporting the mission of Haddam-Killingworth Youth and Family Services.
No Referral Necessary
No one needs a referral to have access to our services and many of our clients are self-referrals. However, many people also access our counseling through referrals from schools, hospitals, physicians, and outpatient programs.
Coordination with Other Providers
So that care can be coordinated at a very high level, our clinical staff maintains close relationships with the schools, as well as with other professional providers in the community.
Counseling Can Deliver a Variety of Benefits
People come to us for counseling for a variety of reasons and can gain from the experience a variety of benefits, including:
- Relief from depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions
- The ability to change self-defeating behaviors and habits
- The recognition of distorted thinking
- Better management of emotions, including anger
- The ability to manage stress effectively
- Greater self-acceptance and self-esteem
- Improved interpersonal and communication skills
- Increased confidence and decision-making skills
- Improved problem-solving and conflict resolution abilities
- A greater sense of self and purpose
