Harlan Matusow
(914) 320-0350
I work with individuals, couples, and families who are trying to cope with anxiety, relationship challenges, work issues, their own or a loved one’s behavioral or chemical addiction, or major life decisions. I also speak with people who aren’t currently enduring any of those challenges but who want to speak on a regular basis to address small issues before they become big ones.
I have an analytical background – on Wall St. and in scientific (addiction) research – and my approach to therapy is informed by those pursuits. I am dedicated to getting to the heart of the problem using both reason and instinct. My responsibility is to work with you to shine a light on the events, circumstances, and choices that have compromised your ability to embrace your life, your work, or your relationships. Once clarified, their ability to negatively affect your life is diminished, making it far easier to live in accordance with your values and aspirations. And to live a well-deliberated, meaningful life.
If you have never been to therapy, rest assured: It’s not awful. It’s not pressured. It is an opportunity, not an obligation, to say things you’ve always wanted to say without fear of judgment; to put words to feelings without fear of reprisal; to work through difficult conversations with someone who is trained to listen carefully and who will provide support, objectivity, and guidance. If you have some experience in therapy, then you have some idea of what it’s like. But if your past experiences in therapy have not been positive, I ask you to have faith that a new experience can be better. It just requires the right chemistry.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
-Harlan
Note: I am an out-of-network provider.
Research
In my capacity as both clinician and researcher, I have a special interest in implementation science – research to practice – and the challenges associated with bringing evidence-based practices into therapeutic settings.
Facilitating Medication Assisted Treatment Adoption and Implementation in Problem Solving and Felony Courts
Despite the high prevalence of opioid addiction among persons under criminal justice supervision there has been very limited penetration of medication assisted treatment (MAT; methadone, buprenorphine, and extended-release naltrexone); an intervention that has a very strong evidence base. To spur implementation of MAT, we propose a Stage I study to develop and assess the feasibility, acceptability, utility and sustainability of an interactive eLearning modality and an eLearning + an organizational approach (Technology Transfer [TT] model) to advance knowledge and facilitate inclusion of MAT in drug and felony courts. We expect this development/pilot project to lead to a protocol that will be tested in a larger-scale efficacy trial to implement evidenced-based therapy for opioid-addicted criminal justice clients.
Challenges to Opioid Treatment Programs after Hurricane Sandy: Preparation, Impact, and Recovery
There are more than 300,000 opioid-addicted patients who are receiving methadone maintenance therapy from opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in the United States. Large numbers of these attend OTPs located in areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Disruption of methadone dispensing and other services can have severe consequences to patients (and treatment seekers) such as relapse, dropping out of treatment and resumption or increase in HIV/HCV injection risk behaviors. The goal of this study is to develop recommendations for OTPs in their recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy and their planning for future emergencies by obtaining data from OTPs (directors, staff, de-identified records, and patients), out of treatment persons who subsequently sought addiction treatment, and New Jersey and New York SOTA Directors about Sandy preparedness and response.
Prescription Data Monitoring Programs: Usage by OTPs
Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) provide both supply and demand data to those in the opioid treatment and criminal justice communities. In order to assess the ways in which opioid treatment programs access and utilize PDMPs, we undertook a mixed-methods study to collect and report: 1) De-identified baseline and quarterly PDMP data and, 2) Staff and administrative interventions with patients who provided information that was not concordant with PDMP data from 15 PDMPs in 11 states. All programs found, to varying degrees, discrepant information when comparing self-reports of new patients with PDMP data. Virtually all patients who misreported prescription information received one-on-one counseling. To the degree that programs 1) consistently and systematically compare patient reports with PDMP data and, 2) use the occasion of discrepant reports to comprehensively educate misreporting patients about the treatment benefits of providing accurate information, the potential of PDMPs will be fully realized, and outcomes will be improved for a burgeoning opioid treatment population.
Selected Publications
If you would like a complete list of publications, please go to Google Scholar.
2013 Medication assisted treatment in US drug courts: Results from a nationwide survey of availability, barriers and attitudes
Drug treatment courts are an increasingly important tool in reducing the census of those incarcerated for non-violent drug offenses; medication assisted treatment (MAT) is proven to be an effective treatment for opioid addiction. However, little is known about the availability of and barriers to MAT provision for opioid-addicted people under drug court jurisdiction. Using an online survey, we assessed availability, barriers, and need for MAT (especially agonist medication) for opioid addiction in drug courts. Ninety-eight percent reported opioid-addicted participants, 47% offered agonist medication (56% for all MAT including naltrexone). Barriers included cost and court policy. Responses revealed significant uncertainty, especially among nonMAT providing courts. Political, judicial and administrative opposition appear to affect MAT’s inconsistent use and availability in drug court settings. These data suggest that a substantial, targeted educational initiative is needed to increase awareness of the treatment and criminal justice benefits of MAT in the drug courts.
2018 Challenges to opioid treatment programs after Hurricane Sandy: Patient and provider perspectives on preparation, impact, and recovery
Over 300,000 patients with an opioid use disorder (OUD) receive methadone maintenance therapy from opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in the United States. Large numbers of these attend OTPs located in New York and New Jersey, areas (largely but not exclusively coastal) impacted by Hurricane Sandy (Sandy) on October 29th, 2012. Disruption of methadone dispensing and other services can have severe consequences to patients (and treatment seekers) such as relapse, dropping out of treatment and resumption or increase in HIV/HCV injection risk behaviors. To facilitate OTP preparedness and response, we developed recommendations for OTPs for future emergencies.
2014 Efficacy of Dual Focus Mutual Aid for Persons with Mental Illness and Substance Misuse
Previous studies have indicated that persons with co-occurring mental health and substance use problems can benefit by attending dual-focus mutual aid groups. However, to date, a trial to test the efficacy of these groups has not been published. This study randomly assigned 203 substance misusing clients attending a mental health or dual-diagnosis facility to either a dual-focus 12-step group (Double Trouble in Recovery; DTR) or a waiting list control group. Participants were followed for 3–6 months. The primary outcome was substance use (days used in the past 30 with saliva testing to detect under-reporting); secondary outcomes included psychiatric medication adherence, attendance at traditional (singlefocus) 12-step meetings (e.g., AA/NA); and improvement in mental health and substance use problems (quality of life). Multilevel model (MLM) regression was used to analyze the nested effect of participants within 8 facilities (7 in New York City and 1 in Michigan). Regression imputation was used to adjust for drug use under-reporting.
If you've googled or used AI to try to find "addiction or gambling therapist in Manhattan" or "couples therapist near me" you've discovered how bewildering the process can be. And then when you finally decide to reach out, it can feel like just one more longshot.
But here's the bottom line: It's just a conversation. Certainly deeper than most, but still, just two people talking about what got you thinking about therapy, what you hope to achieve, and what I can do to assist. Way more often than not, just talking for 10 or 15 minutes with the right person reduces anxiety and improves confidence that things can be better. And at that point, we can schedule a session, if you'd like. I see people both remotely and in person.
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