Freedom Institute Welcomes Andrew Tatarsky, PhD, Pioneer and Founder of Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy
Reflecting their collective commitment to proven and progressive treatment models to best serve all patients, Freedom Institute and Silver Hill Hospital have announced Andrew Tatarsky, PhD, as the new Director of Clinical Programming for Freedom Institute, an outpatient treatment and recovery center in midtown Manhattan.
The founder of Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy (IHRP) and a leader in the field, Dr. Tatarsky will build new IHRP-centered programming to treat the spectrum of substance use disorders and other addictive behaviors and will create and facilitate an internal IHRP training program. Dr. Tatarsky will work in close collaboration with Freedom Institute Medical Director Ryan Wade, MD, and Director of Clinical Services Caroline Kern, LMHC, to integrate the harm reduction framework alongside the organization's existing abstinence-based programs.
"Dr. Tatarsky is a true groundbreaker," said Andrew J. Gerber, MD, PhD, President and Medical Director of Silver Hill Hospital, which is currently working toward a partnership with Freedom Institute. "Through his career, he has been driven by a deep responsibility to the individuals in his care and compelled to develop innovative and empathic approaches to help them. We are thrilled to have him on board at Freedom Institute and honored to work with him."
Dr. Tatarsky has worked with individuals living with substance abuse and their families for over 40 years. He is internationally recognized for his work with IHRP, having trained thousands of clinicians across 20 countries, and his book, "Harm Reduction Psychotherapy: A New Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Problems," has been translated into three languages.
He holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from the City University of New York and is a graduate of New York University's Postdoctoral Program in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. Dr. Tatarsky has been a long-time member of the Medical and Clinical Advisory Panels to the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and has contributed to the OASAS regulations that support a harm reduction approach.
In addition to developing an internal IHRP training program, Dr. Tatarsky will also facilitate external educational programs through the Silver Hill Academy for Research and Education (SHARE).
About Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy
IHRP is a comprehensive approach to substance use that is based on the belief that biology, psychology and social context contribute to an individual's relationship with drugs or alcohol. Treatment combines relational psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and other practical strategies to address related personal and lifestyle issues while inspiring gradual behavioral changes that align with patients' personal goals and reduce the negative health and social consequences of substance use.
"Harm reduction and abstinence are not competing models of substance abuse treatment; rather, they coexist along a continuum of care, giving individuals nearly infinite instances to enter, progress, and succeed in recovery at a pace that is appropriate to them," said Dr. Tatarsky. "The IHRP model is founded on compassion, respect, empowerment, and collaboration ? the same hallmarks of care that Freedom Institute and Silver Hill Hospital are known for."
In March 2023, Silver Hill Hospital and Freedom Institute announced that they were working toward a partnership in which Silver Hill would assume leadership over Freedom Institute and incorporate their premium intensive outpatient and other Manhattan-based services into the Silver Hill continuum of care. This collaboration is expected to be finalized soon.
About Silver Hill Hospital
Established in 1931, Silver Hill Hospital is a nationally recognized leader in the treatment of psychiatric and addiction disorders. The Hospital has 21 full-time board-certified psychiatrists and admits more than 3,000 adolescents and adults annually for disorders that include addiction, depression, trauma, anxiety, bipolar disorder, personality disorders and schizophrenia, among others. Located on 44 scenic acres in New Canaan, Connecticut, the Hospital is especially known for its expertise in treating complex conditions and co-occurring disorders in adults and adolescents.
About Freedom Institute
A non-profit organization founded in 1976, Freedom Institute is a state-of-the-art outpatient treatment and recovery center. Freedom's mission is to provide clinical assessments and innovative, evidence-based treatment services, as well as referral services, when necessary, in a caring, compassionate and confidential environment, for individuals suffering from alcoholism, substance use disorders, and related underlying mental health issues. Freedom provides in-person and telehealth services, and the programs offer the highest caliber of outpatient care tailored to the specific needs of all clients.
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