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About Counseling For Today's Issues
About Counseling for Today’s Issues
Counseling for Today’s Issues (CFTI) is a privately owned counseling practice conveniently located in West Yarmouth, MA, in the heart of Cape Cod. The practice is led by Sandra Farrell, a highly experienced mental health professional with over 35 years of experience in the field.
Sandra holds a Master’
About Counseling for Today’s Issues
Counseling for Today’s Issues (CFTI) is a privately owned counseling practice conveniently located in West Yarmouth, MA, in the heart of Cape Cod. The practice is led by Sandra Farrell, a highly experienced mental health professional with over 35 years of experience in the field.
Sandra holds a Master’s degree in counseling and is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor (CADC). Her expertise covers a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, grief, relationship challenges, and more.
Sandra is known for her compassionate, practical, and client-centered approach. She provides confidential in-office consultations and one-on-one counseling in a safe and supportive environment.
In 2016, I was honored to be named National and Massachusetts Counselor of the Year—an experience that continues to shape the passion and values I bring to my practice today.
What You Can Expect:
- Appointments available within 36 hours
- Evening sessions available
- Affordable, reasonable rates
- Free initial phone consultation
Sandra is currently accepting new clients and welcomes the opportunity to support individuals on their path to healing and personal growth.
View Sandra Farrell profile at Psychology Today
The rewards of a sober and straight lifestyle are significant. I know because I have been in recovery for over 40 years now!
ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS
Is It Time to Get Real Help for Your Anxiety, Depression, or Substance Use?
- Do you feel more anxious or depressed than most people you know?
- Do you worry you may have a problem with alcohol or drugs, but feel like you can’t talk about it?
- Have you ever felt hopeless, like nothing helps you cope with your symptoms?
- Have you tried to shar
Is It Time to Get Real Help for Your Anxiety, Depression, or Substance Use?
- Do you feel more anxious or depressed than most people you know?
- Do you worry you may have a problem with alcohol or drugs, but feel like you can’t talk about it?
- Have you ever felt hopeless, like nothing helps you cope with your symptoms?
- Have you tried to share how you feel with friends, family, or a partner, but felt misunderstood — or like you were a burden?
- Did talking help for a little while... but the pain always came back?
- Do your loved ones care, but also seem overwhelmed by what you’re going through?
- Do you sometimes feel scared, stuck, and completely alone in your situation?
You’re Not Alone — And You Don’t Have to Stay Stuck
You might believe that counseling helps others, but feel like it won’t work for you. Maybe you’ve tried therapy in the past and it just didn’t click.
That’s okay.
Every counselor has a different approach — and the connection you have with your therapist matters. If it didn’t work before, it doesn’t mean it never will. It just means you haven't found the right fit yet.
What If Things Could Get Better?
Imagine being able to:
- Reduce your stress, anxiety, or hopelessness
- Understand and manage the triggers behind your symptoms
- Develop real tools to handle difficult emotions without numbing out
- Start feeling in control, hopeful, and supported in your healing
Working with the right professional can help you process pain, build resilience, and move toward a healthier, more grounded version of yourself.
You Deserve to Feel Better
If you're open to change and ready to get support, I invite you to explore how one-on-one counseling can help you:
- Manage anxiety and depression
- Break the cycle of substance abuse or alcohol dependency
- Improve relationships and emotional connection
- Rebuild your confidence and peace of mind
Let’s Work Together
📞 Call (508) 873-2132 for a confidential consultation.
It’s time to stop suffering in silence. Let’s talk — without judgment, pressure, or pretense. Just real support for your unique experience.
Offering a comfortable Private Relaxed Setting with Complete Confidentiality to my clients
1. The therapy services offered meet the client's immediate and long-term needs.
2. Counseling is by appointment only. Evenings are available.
1 hour sessions are $125.00
3. Couples counseling may be short-term, solution-focused or long-term.
4. I
Offering a comfortable Private Relaxed Setting with Complete Confidentiality to my clients
1. The therapy services offered meet the client's immediate and long-term needs.
2. Counseling is by appointment only. Evenings are available.
1 hour sessions are $125.00
3. Couples counseling may be short-term, solution-focused or long-term.
4. It is possible for clients and their counselor to develop treatment plans with the opportunity to involve others in their therapy.
5. Clients remain with the same counselor throughout treatment.
6. NO INSURANCE IS ACCEPTED
Why Many Counselors Don’t Accept Insurance — And Why That Can Benefit You
If you’ve searched for a therapist or counselor and discovered that many don’t accept insurance, you might wonder why. At first glance, it may seem inconvenient or costly — but there are important reasons behind this choice that actually protect your privacy, autonomy, and the quality of care you receive.
Here’s a breakdown of why many therapists opt out of insurance networks and how this decision can ultimately benefit you as the client.
1. Protecting Your Privacy and Confidentiality
When therapists accept insurance, they are required to submit detailed clinical information to the insurance company. This often includes:
- Mental health diagnoses
- Progress notes
- Treatment plans
- Personal background and history
This data becomes part of your permanent medical record, which could affect future insurance coverage, life insurance applications, or even employment in certain fields.
By not accepting insurance, your therapy stays private — shared only between you and your counselor. Your records aren’t exposed to third parties unless you choose to release them.
2. No Mandatory Diagnoses
In order to receive reimbursement from an insurance company, a therapist must provide a diagnosable mental health condition, such as Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or PTSD.
But what if you're seeking counseling for:
- Relationship issues
- Life transitions
- Stress or burnout
- Grief or low self-esteem
- Personal growth or clarity
These important concerns may not meet insurance criteria for reimbursement — even though therapy can be incredibly helpful. When you work outside of the insurance system, you can access care without being labeled or forced into a medicalized model that doesn’t reflect your needs.
3. Greater Flexibility in Treatment
Insurance companies often limit:
- The number of sessions you can have
- How long sessions can be
- The type of therapy that’s “covered”
By paying privately, you and your counselor decide what’s best for your care — not an insurance adjuster. You can work at your own pace, tailor the format of sessions (individual, couples, longer or shorter), and shift focus as needed, without worrying about policy restrictions.
4. Focus on Quality, Not Quantity
Therapists who work with insurance companies often must manage large caseloads to make up for low reimbursement rates and delayed payments. This can lead to burnout, less availability, and shorter or rushed sessions.
When therapists operate outside of insurance, they can:
- Provide longer, more focused sessions
- Have fewer clients, which means more individualized attention
- Spend more time preparing and following up on your progress
The result? Higher-quality care and a stronger therapeutic relationship — one of the key predictors of successful outcomes.
5. True Client-Centered Care
Without the need to report to insurance companies, therapists can offer more collaborative, customized care. You set the goals, the pace, and the priorities — and your therapist tailors the approach accordingly.
This empowers you as the client and honors your autonomy and individuality, rather than fitting you into a rigid framework.
6. Less Red Tape, More Focus on You
Insurance often comes with:
- Paperwork
- Denials
- Co-pay confusion
- Delayed reimbursements
By eliminating the bureaucracy, therapy becomes simpler, more straightforward, and more focused on what matters: your growth, healing, and well-being.
You’re Investing in Yourself
While paying privately for therapy may require budgeting, many clients find that it’s a worthwhile investment in their mental health and personal development. Without the limitations and compromises of insurance-based care, you gain:
- More privacy
- More control
- More flexibility
- More personalized support
Want to Learn More? Let’s Talk.
You Deserve More Than Another Article
The internet is flooded with information about anxiety, depression, addiction, and substance abuse. You’ve probably read the symptoms, causes, and statistics over and over again. But reading about these struggles doesn’t necessarily help you through them.
What’s often missing is a real, personal path fo
You Deserve More Than Another Article
The internet is flooded with information about anxiety, depression, addiction, and substance abuse. You’ve probably read the symptoms, causes, and statistics over and over again. But reading about these struggles doesn’t necessarily help you through them.
What’s often missing is a real, personal path forward.
These issues are not just topics for discussion — they’re painful, often life-altering experiences. Anxiety, depression, and addiction can shatter relationships, steal opportunities, and in some cases, even take lives.
You already know what you're going through.
You feel the weight every day.
What you need now isn’t more definitions — it’s a solution that’s about you.
Healing Starts with a Conversation
No two people experience mental health or substance use issues the same way. Your challenges, your triggers, and your pain are unique — and your recovery should be too.
That’s why individualized counseling makes the difference.
You deserve therapy that is:
- Confidential
- Compassionate
- Tailored specifically to you
Whether you're dealing with anxiety, depression, alcohol or drug addiction, or relationship difficulties, one-on-one counseling can help you move forward — one honest conversation at a time.
Work with a Certified Professional Who Listens
Sandra Farrell, MS, CADC
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor
📞 (508) 873-2132
Sandra provides intensive individual and couples therapy in a safe, private, and non-judgmental space. You’ll receive the full attention, care, and support you need to begin healing and reclaim your life.
Take the First Step Toward a Better Tomorrow
You’ve read enough.
Now it’s time to act.
Reach out today — because you don’t have to go through this alone.
Creating Real Change Through Clear, Behavioral Goals
Change doesn’t happen by accident.
It starts with a clear vision — and a plan to get there.
Whether you're working to overcome anxiety, depression, addiction, or relationship struggles, setting goals is a powerful first step. But not just any goals — they need to be personal, specific, an
Creating Real Change Through Clear, Behavioral Goals
Change doesn’t happen by accident.
It starts with a clear vision — and a plan to get there.
Whether you're working to overcome anxiety, depression, addiction, or relationship struggles, setting goals is a powerful first step. But not just any goals — they need to be personal, specific, and actionable.
Understand How Goals Work
- Only you can set your goals. Someone else can support you, but they can’t define your path for you.
- Your goals need to reflect your new way of thinking — not just what you want to remove, but who you want to become.
- As your mindset shifts, new behaviors will follow.
Make Your Goals Behavioral
One of the most effective ways to build lasting change is by setting behavioral goals — goals you can see, measure, and take action on.
✅ Instead of saying “I want to feel less anxious,” try “I will practice breathing exercises for 5 minutes every morning.”
Here’s how to structure meaningful goals:
- Break them down into small, specific actions
- Focus on what you want to add, not just what you want to eliminate
- Align each goal with a positive behavior that moves you forward
- Use a counter-conditioning approach: Replace a harmful habit with a helpful one
Example: Build on Past Success
Think of a time when you set a clear goal and succeeded. What did you do differently? How did you stay focused?
Use that success as a blueprint. Reflect, learn, and create new goals based on what’s already worked for you.
Take It One Step at a Time
Don’t try to change everything at once. Lasting progress happens in stages:
- Short-Term Goals – The first step, the first win.
- Intermediate Goals – Build momentum and confidence.
- Long-Term Goals – A sustainable lifestyle change.
🗣️ “First Things First.” Start with your most urgent issue.
Assess your situation honestly and create small, manageable steps that lead toward lasting change.
Be Proactive
- Stay aware of situations or triggers that might pull you back into old patterns.
- Identify problems early, before they grow.
- Keep your goals in sight, and adjust when necessary.
Build In a Feedback System
Change thrives with support.
Ask yourself:
- Who do I trust to talk to about my goals?
- Who can give me honest feedback and encouragement?
Whether it’s a counselor, mentor, sponsor, or close friend — find someone who will walk beside you and hold you accountable as you grow.
Ready to Start Making Changes?
Setting goals is more than wishful thinking — it’s a roadmap to healing, growth, and self-discovery.
If you're struggling to define what you want or how to get there, professional counseling can help. Together, we can clarify your goals, shift your mindset, and take meaningful steps toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Professional Guidance
Sandra is a compassionate and knowledgeable counselor. She was awarded the Lora Roe Memorial Addiction Counselor of the year award at the 2016 Annual NAADAC Convention . This National award is presented by NAADAC to an counselor who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession of addiction counseling.
NAADAC is the Associa
Sandra is a compassionate and knowledgeable counselor. She was awarded the Lora Roe Memorial Addiction Counselor of the year award at the 2016 Annual NAADAC Convention . This National award is presented by NAADAC to an counselor who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession of addiction counseling.
NAADAC is the Association for Addiction Professionals, it represents the professional interests of more than 100,000 addiction counselors.
That same year Sandra was also awarded the Massachusetts Counselor of the Year award.
Sandra is known for her compassionate, practical, and client-centered approach. She provides confidential in-office consultations and one-on-one counseling in a safe and supportive environment.
How Marriage Counseling Can Rebuild, Renew, and Strengthen Your Relationship
Every relationship faces challenges — but you don’t have to face them alone. As a professional marriage counselor, Sandra Farrell, MS, CADC, offers compassionate, solution-focused therapy to help couples restore connection, resolve conflict, and build a healthier
How Marriage Counseling Can Rebuild, Renew, and Strengthen Your Relationship
Every relationship faces challenges — but you don’t have to face them alone. As a professional marriage counselor, Sandra Farrell, MS, CADC, offers compassionate, solution-focused therapy to help couples restore connection, resolve conflict, and build a healthier, more fulfilling partnership.
Here’s how Sandra can support your journey:
1. Improving Communication in Relationships
- Creating a Safe Space for Dialogue
Sandra helps couples express their thoughts, feelings, and concerns openly in a structured, judgment-free environment. Both partners learn to feel heard and understood.
- Learning Better Communication Skills
From active listening to respectful assertiveness, you’ll gain tools to improve everyday conversations and reduce misunderstandings.
2. Effective Conflict Resolution
- Uncovering the Root Causes of Conflict
Instead of focusing on surface-level arguments, Sandra helps you identify the deeper emotional issues driving the tension.
- Building Conflict Resolution Strategies
Learn how to manage disagreements constructively, using healthy compromise, emotional awareness, and mutual respect.
3. Building Empathy and Emotional Understanding
- Encouraging Empathy Between Partners
Through guided exercises and conversation, Sandra helps each partner see situations from the other’s perspective — a key to reducing resentment and improving connection.
- Deepening Emotional Understanding
Explore each other’s needs, fears, and unmet expectations to foster emotional safety and a stronger bond.
4. Rebuilding Trust After Betrayal
- Healing After Infidelity or Breach of Trust
Whether you're recovering from infidelity or secrecy, counseling provides a path to rebuild trust and reconnect.
- Fostering Honesty and Accountability
Develop open, transparent communication and learn how to restore honesty and emotional security over time.
5. Setting Realistic Expectations
- Managing Unrealistic Beliefs
Many relationship frustrations stem from unspoken or unrealistic expectations. Counseling helps both partners align on what’s reasonable and achievable.
- Setting Shared Goals
Sandra works with couples to create realistic relationship goals that reflect mutual values and long-term visions.
6. Restoring Intimacy and Connection
- Reigniting Emotional Intimacy
Marriage counseling can help couples reconnect emotionally, rebuilding the closeness that may have faded.
- Addressing Physical or Emotional Intimacy Issues
Whether you’re dealing with mismatched desires or emotional distance, Sandra provides practical tools to strengthen intimacy.
7. Strengthening Commitment and Long-Term Success
- Reinforcing the Relationship Bond
Recommit to your relationship with intention and clarity. Counseling helps clarify your shared purpose and reignite the reason you came together.
- Gaining Tools for Lifelong Growth
Sandra equips you with proven techniques to manage conflict, nurture love, and grow together — even after therapy ends.
8. Support During Life Transitions
- Navigating Change as a Couple
Major transitions like parenthood, career changes, relocation, or empty-nesting can put strain on any marriage. Counseling helps you stay connected and supportive through those changes.
9. Proactive Counseling for Prevention
- Pre-Marital Counseling and Relationship Coaching
Start your marriage strong. Sandra offers pre-marital therapy to address potential challenges early, enhance communication, and build a foundation for success.
You Don’t Have to Wait for Crisis to Seek Help
Whether you’re facing ongoing conflict, a period of disconnection, or simply want to improve your relationship, couples counseling offers the tools, space, and guidance to grow together — not apart.
📞 Call Sandra Farrell, MS, CADC today at (508) 873-2132
Evening appointments available. Complete confidentiality assured.
A Fresh Start for Your Marriage
As the new year approaches, it brings with it the perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and reignite the connection in your marriage. The changing calendar isn't just symbolic — it’s a fresh start, a chance to renew your commitment, and to build something even stronger with the one you love.
Whether your r
A Fresh Start for Your Marriage
As the new year approaches, it brings with it the perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and reignite the connection in your marriage. The changing calendar isn't just symbolic — it’s a fresh start, a chance to renew your commitment, and to build something even stronger with the one you love.
Whether your relationship has hit a few bumps or you simply want to strengthen your bond, 2025 can be the year your marriage grows, heals, and flourishes. Here’s how to make it happen:
1. Embrace Positive Change
The beginning of the year is like a blank canvas — full of possibilities. Use this moment to reset the tone of your relationship. Small, intentional acts of kindness, patience, and appreciation can lay the foundation for lasting change.
Pro tip: A simple daily habit like expressing one thing you’re grateful for about your partner can shift your emotional connection dramatically.
2. Set Realistic Relationship Goals
Don’t feel pressured to fix everything at once. Instead, choose realistic and achievable goals. This might include:
- Practicing better communication
- Spending more quality time together
- Sharing responsibilities more equally
Breaking goals into manageable steps prevents overwhelm and builds momentum over time.
3. Prioritize Open Communication
Healthy communication is essential for a lasting relationship. Make time to truly talk — without distractions, without judgment.
- Listen to understand, not to respond
- Express emotions honestly and calmly
- Validate your partner’s experiences, even if you disagree
If communication has been difficult, couples counseling can help create a safe space to reconnect.
4. Rediscover Romance
You don’t need grand gestures to reignite the spark — just consistent attention and affection.
- Schedule regular date nights
- Leave surprise notes or texts
- Show appreciation in small, meaningful ways
Reconnecting emotionally and physically can bring joy and intimacy back into your relationship.
5. Consider Marriage Counseling
If you’ve been stuck in conflict or disconnection, working with a professional marriage counselor can be transformative. A trained therapist provides tools, perspective, and a neutral space to work through challenges together.
💬 Marriage counseling isn’t a last resort — it’s a smart investment in your future together.
6. Practice Gratitude Daily
Couples who express gratitude regularly tend to feel more connected and satisfied. Take time to notice the good — even during tough moments.
Try this: End each day by sharing one thing you appreciated about your partner.
7. Grow and Learn Together
The best relationships evolve. Explore new hobbies, take a class together, or tackle a shared challenge. These experiences can strengthen your emotional bond and create lasting memories.
8. Celebrate Small Wins
Don’t wait for anniversaries to celebrate. Acknowledge the progress you make — even small victories like resolving a disagreement peacefully or carving out time for connection.
Celebrating progress reinforces positive momentum.
9. Support Each Other’s Self-Care
A strong marriage begins with two healthy individuals. Encourage one another to prioritize:
- Mental and emotional wellness
- Physical health and rest
- Personal goals and fulfillment
When you each thrive, your relationship becomes even stronger.
10. Reflect and Reconnect Often
Take time throughout the year to reflect on your journey — the challenges you’ve overcome and the love that continues to grow. A shared sense of appreciation can bring deeper meaning to your connection.
Make 2025 the Year of Reconnection
Your marriage is a living, evolving partnership — and with effort, love, and the right support, it can grow stronger than ever. Let 2025 be the year you and your partner choose growth, healing, and deeper connection.
Need Support Rebuilding Your Relationship?
📞 Call (508) 873-2132 to schedule a confidential consultation.
How an Alcohol Counselor Can Support Your Recovery Journey
If you’re struggling with alcohol use, you don’t have to face it alone. A licensed alcohol counselor can provide compassionate, confidential support to help you better understand your patterns, heal from past pain, and build a path toward long-term recovery.
Here’s how Sandra Farre
How an Alcohol Counselor Can Support Your Recovery Journey
If you’re struggling with alcohol use, you don’t have to face it alone. A licensed alcohol counselor can provide compassionate, confidential support to help you better understand your patterns, heal from past pain, and build a path toward long-term recovery.
Here’s how Sandra Farrell, MS, CADC, can help:
1. Assessment and Evaluation
- A thorough evaluation to understand your alcohol use patterns, history, and the impact on your mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
- Identification of underlying factors such as stress, trauma, anxiety, or depression that may be contributing to alcohol misuse.
2. Diagnosis and Individualized Treatment Planning
- Assessing the severity of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) using established clinical criteria.
- Creating a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs, goals, and challenges — not a one-size-fits-all approach.
3. Education and Awareness
- Offering clear, honest information about the physical, emotional, and social consequences of alcohol abuse.
- Helping you understand the nature of addiction and how biological, emotional, and situational factors play a role.
4. One-on-One Counseling and Therapy
- Exploring the root causes of alcohol dependence in a safe, non-judgmental setting.
- Using proven therapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) to develop healthier habits and emotional resilience.
5. Group Therapy Support
- Facilitating group sessions to reduce isolation and promote peer support.
- Encouraging a sense of shared experience and community, which is often key to long-term recovery.
6. Behavioral Interventions
- Teaching practical tools to change harmful drinking behaviors.
- Developing healthy coping strategies for stress, emotional triggers, and cravings — without relying on alcohol.
7. Family Counseling and Support
- Involving family members in the recovery process to rebuild trust and enhance support systems.
- Educating loved ones on addiction and showing them how to offer meaningful, appropriate support.
8. Relapse Prevention Strategies
- Identifying high-risk situations and emotional triggers that can lead to relapse.
- Equipping you with techniques to manage setbacks and stay on track with your goals.
9. Referrals and Care Coordination
- Connecting you to additional services, including medical professionals, support groups, or mental health specialists, when needed.
- Collaborating with other providers to offer comprehensive, holistic care.
10. Progress Monitoring and Ongoing Support
- Regular check-ins to assess your progress and adjust your treatment plan as necessary.
- Encouragement, guidance, and recognition of every step forward — no matter how small.
11. Advocacy and Life Support
- Helping you navigate challenges in your workplace, healthcare system, or legal matters related to your recovery.
- Offering support during transitions and empowering you to reclaim control of your life.
12. Crisis Intervention
- Immediate support during urgent or high-stress situations.
- Building a personalized crisis management plan to help you stay grounded and safe when things feel overwhelming.
You Deserve Support — Let’s Start Where You Are
Recovery isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. As a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, I’m here to support your unique healing journey with care, confidentiality, and respect. Whether you’re just beginning to question your drinking or actively working toward recovery, there’s help — and hope — available.
📞 Call Sandra Farrell, MS, CADC today at (508) 873-2132
Confidential appointments available — evenings too.