About

What It's Like to Work With Me


Making a positive connection with your therapist is vital to a successful outcome. 


My job is to create an atmosphere of safety, compassion, and hope necessary for you and/or your family member to engage in therapy to confront what is probably one of the greatest challenges of your lives.


I respect your courage in seeking help and the trust you’ll be placing in me.

My Approach

My approach to therapy is self-empowering and collaborative: we'll work together to identify your strengths and develop tools and strategies that will help you address and overcome the challenges you are facing.


We'll also be solution-focused, meaning we'll work to establish specific goals and develop a plan for you to achieve them.


I take a holistic approach, focusing on helping you feel better emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually. I'll help you figure out where and how to begin based on what you want to accomplish in therapy, and I'll offer options to help you take steps forward.

Moving Forward With Hope

Based on what you want to accomplish in treatment, I’ll help you figure out where and how to begin, and I'll offer options for you to gain some traction so you can make additional progress.

I’ve become a better therapist by witnessing my clients’ honesty and courage, sharing their life experiences and knowledge, and becoming a partner with them in their unique paths in recovery.

I look forward to the opportunity to work with you.

My Experience

I'm known in the community for my work with young people and their families who are facing challenges related to substance use and mental health. My expertise in school psychology and family therapy has equipped me with the skills needed to help this age group, who often struggle with complex issues that can be difficult to diagnose and treat.


Through individual and family therapy, I focus on helping my clients improve their emotional regulation, communication skills, and self-awareness. My goal is to empower them and give them hope for a brighter future. I am committed to providing the highest quality of care and support to my clients, and I take pride in the effort I put into my work.


For years, I struggled to help people with addiction issues because it was difficult to get them the treatment they needed in addition to counseling. I worked with one client and family at a time, but it was frustrating and painful. My own family experiences with substance misuse, addiction, and mental illness, as well as my awareness of our country's flawed public health policies that criminalize and stigmatize drug users, inspired me to focus on the bigger picture.


So, in addition to my regular work as a therapist, I helped start a nonprofit called Families for Sensible Drug Policy (FSDP). Through my work, I've learned about harm reduction, which is a different approach to helping people with addiction. Instead of treating everyone the same way, harm reduction focuses on each person's unique needs and encourages any positive changes. This approach avoids the negative feelings of shame and stigma that often come with traditional treatment programs that force everyone to fit into the same strict treatment model.

A 100% Telehealth Practice

I have decided to become a 100% telehealth practice, which means that all my consultations and therapy sessions are conducted virtually using private and confidential video platforms like Zoom, Facetime, or Skype. Alternatively, I also offer phone sessions. Initially, I started using telehealth as a way to continue working with my clients safely during the pandemic. However, I soon realized that it had the potential to increase accessibility to treatment for people and families who might otherwise have difficulty accessing it.


I have found that telehealth is just as effective as in-person therapy in many cases. It is especially convenient for those with busy schedules since it allows for flexibility in scheduling appointments and eliminates the need for commuting. Additionally, I am able to offer more availability throughout the week.


However, telehealth may not be suitable for everyone. Some people prefer in-person therapy sessions because they feel that being physically present helps them connect better with their therapist. This preference is understandable. Additionally, some individuals have urgent mental health needs that require in-person care.


Stay healthy and be safe and feel free to contact me if you have any questions about my practice.

Licenses / Certifications

Pennsylvania Licensed Psychologist, License # PS-005657


Pennsylvania Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, certificate# 0415

I am a member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians and have a Pennsylvania Department of Heath Training Certification in Medical Cannabis.


Education / Training

Graduate

Temple University M.Ed., School Psychology, 1986

Pennsylvania State University M.Ed., Counselor Education, 1975

Clinical Internship

Child Psychiatry Center, Phila, PA, 1987-1988

Undergraduate

Pennsylvania State University B.S., Psychology, 1974


Publications

Family Survival Skills for Early Recovery - Michael Ascher and Barry Lessin (March 2015)


Helping Teens With Substance Use Problems: Why I Changed My Approach - Barry Lessin (December 2014)


Nine Common Questions About A Drug That Saves Lives - Barry Lessin (September 2014)


Lessin, Barry (2014, August 11) Removing Barriers to Effective Overdose Prevention - Barry Lessin (August 2014)

Harm Reduction Made Me a Much Better Family Therapist - Barry Lessin (July 2014)


Harm Reduction Principles for Effective Parenting Barry Lessin (2014)


Teens and Drugs: Helping Parents Chill Out - Barry Lessin (April 2013)


Providers as Partners: The Integrated Employee Assistance Program - B. Lessin and D. Bern - Keynote Press: Torontof 1997)


The HMO Client: Working within the HMO system to provide effective EAP services. Barry Lessin - Employee Assistance Quarterly, 4(2), 61-73. (1988)

Dr. Chad Coren, PsyD, MA, MEd, CAADC

“Barry Lessin is a professional colleague to whom I have confidently referred any client or family who has struggled with a substance use and/or mood related concerns.  He has proved himself to be a valuable and trusted asset within his community. More specifically, he is compassionate, incredibly knowledgeable, and has 40 years of experience treating families and young adults where substance use has become an obstacle in their lives. I know of no other provider in the Philadelphia region who can bring the unparalleled level of experience  that Barry Lessin offers his clients. Thus, without reservation, I highly recommend him to you!”


Chad Coren, PsyD, MA, MEd, CAADC

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