Helen McIntosh

Helen is a licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC), an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Certified Social Worker. Helen graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2002 with a Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling with a specialization in Addictions Counseling. Helen began working with the developmentally disabled in 1973 at the Hunterdon Developmental Center in Clinton, New Jersey and worked there until 1979 when she moved to Oregon. In Oregon she worked as a head start teachers aid while she volunteered for Dunn House, the local battered women’s shelter. Helen attended her first year of college in 1985 at Southern Oregon University as an Art Major and began working with emotionally disturbed children as a work study job. Although she loved Art, she knew her heart was in social work and counseling. Helen moved back to New Jersey in 1986 and shortly thereafter began working with clients with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse issues at the Warren County Easter Seals Program. She was there for 7½ years until she realized that in order to advance in her career she would have to go back to school. So, at 40, Helen enrolled at Warren County Community College getting her associates in liberal arts within two years and followed that with a three year combined Bachelor’s/Master’s program at Fairleigh Dickinson University. In 2001 Helen took a position as a residential aide and then as a counselor at Anderson House, a Halfway house program for Women in Recovery in Hunterdon County. A year later she was offered the position of Clinical Director at Anderson House. Helen facilitates the Family Counseling Program at Anderson House and created the Family Education program there as well. Helen has been the Clinical Director at Anderson House since 2001.

Helen is a client centered relational therapist using Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral therapies as well as trauma informed therapy to help her clients towards change. Helen strives to help her client’s understand the beliefs and coping skills they have developed in order to negotiate their relationships and family systems. Helen helps her clients to understand the relationship they created with the drug or behavior of their choice and how this affects all of their relationships, with themselves, their families their co-workers, friends and larger community. She works with her clients to develop more effective life affirming coping skills and healthy alternatives to their addictive behaviors.

Helen is an avid organic gardener and promoted the creation of an organic garden at Anderson House. Helen continues to tinker in artistic endeavors, plays guitar, sings and loves to work on her house, read practically everything and dote on her three grandsons every chance she gets.