SMARTER APPROACHES
TO HEALING
Individualized and Transformative Care for Substance Use and Cooccurring Disorders
Whether you’re taking the first step or continuing your journey, we’re here to walk alongside you by helping to navigate the challenges of recovery, rebuild connection, and create lasting change. Our team of experienced therapists are dedicated to helping adolescents and adults take that first step.
Our Services
Individual Psychotherapy
We offer a supportive, one-on-one space to explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences at your own pace. Whether you're attempting to cope with stress, trauma, relationships, or life transitions, this is a place just for you—to feel heard, understood, and empowered to grow. Together, we’ll work toward clarity, healing, and meaningful change
Individual Psychotherapy - Adolescents and Young Adults
We utilize a personalized, one-on-one counseling process that supports teens and young adults as they navigate substance use challenges, life transitions, emotional challenges, trauma, identity development, and mental health concerns. This therapy provides a safe, confidential space to explore thoughts and feelings, build coping skills, and foster resilience, with a focus on age-appropriate approaches that respect each individual's unique experiences and goals.
Clinical Parent Coaching
We specialize in helping parents who have an adolescent or young adult who is navigating a substance use and/or mental health crisis with psychoeducation, resources, communication, boundary formulation, and self-care practices. All interventions are presented in an effort to rebuild the family system, create an environment for your loved one to be successful, and address your own process and needs so you can continue to show up the way you want to.
Clinical Case Management
Our team can provide individualized support to individuals and families by coordinating care across providers, connecting them with community resources, and advocating for their needs. This service can compliment therapeutic work by addressing practical and systemic barriers to well-being, ensuring clients receive comprehensive, integrated support both within and beyond the therapy space
Consulting
Our team is available to mental health professionals and programs to consult on cases and programmatic structure that would benefit from a perspective based on our expertise and experience
About
Searchlight
Therapy
We prioritize delivering individualized, high quality, evidence-based treatments tailored to your individual needs by utilizing creative and hands on techniques to support you in the best way possible
Our team of experienced and professional therapists are dedicated to fostering a supportive environment that empowers individuals on their journey to wellness.
Meet the Team
-
Ben Mushlin, LMSW, DBT-LBC, CTT2, CARC
Founder
Ben’s journey to becoming a psychotherapist started with his own healing from years of substance use, chaos, and various attempts to cope with his traumas and pain. He was fortunate to have people who helped him selflessly along the way and showed him the path towards hope, happiness, and freedom. It was through the helping hands of others that he was able to heal and ultimately be inspired to dedicate his life to extending that helping hand to others.
Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, Ben worked in the field of substance use recovery in sober living residences throughout New York City, and later as a Recovery Coach and Case Manager. Following those experiences, he led a New York City Department of Health opioid overdose response team and began training for a Master of Social Work Degree at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. After completing social work training, Ben began to practice as a psychotherapist at an outpatient substance use treatment program in New York City and later became the director of a transitional living program for adults with co-occurring disorders. Most recently, Ben was Clinical Director at a world-class Outpatient Treatment Program in NYC treating Adolescents, Young Adults, and their families.
When it comes to psychotherapy, Ben employs a strengths-based, holistic approach; utilizing multiple modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), psychodynamic, mindfulness-based, and trauma-informed interventions that allow clients to understand their behaviors and empower them to achieve significant sustainable change.

Schedule a complimentary consultation
Schedule your complimentary 30 minute consultation today to start your journey towards improved well-being. Our experienced professionals are here to provide the personalized support you deserve.
Former Client -
“I ran through six treatment centers and a handful of therapists before I found Ben. He was the first person I spoke to that I felt actually understood what I was going through. I wouldn't be alive today without him.”
Former Parent Coaching Clients-
“Our son was in a cycle of substance use, acting out, and self-destruction. We were burnt out and disconnected from ourselves after months of flailing to find solutions. Ben came in compassionately and helped guide us to freedom, happiness, and solutions”
Former Client-
“In addition to being brilliant, he is also highly perceptive and insightful and without his enormous talent I would never have found the peace and happiness that I have finally found. I am, and will forever be, immensely grateful to him.”
FAQs
-
Fees vary between type of services and the Therapist you are working with. After an initial consultation, a clear and transparent fee schedule will be provided to you.
-
We strive to make our high-quality and evidence based services accessible to those seeking it, while also meeting our needs as a practice. Any ability to reduce fees can be discussed during your initial consultation session
-
We are not currently in-network with any insurance companies. We are happy to provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance company for Out of Network reimbursement. Any possible reimbursement for services provided is based on your individual insurance plan and we cannot guarantee any reimbursement
-
We currently are only offering virtual services, however we are seeking a physical space and are hoping to offer in-person services soon!
-
Your frequency of sessions will be tailored to fit your individual needs. This may include more frequent sessions than once a week.
-
Individual Psychotherapy and Clinical Parent Coaching sessions are typically 45 minutes long. Family psychotherapy sessions typically are between 50-60 minutes long. Please speak to your Therapist about sessions meeting your specific needs
-
All sessions are private and confidential, with the exception of if you are a danger to yourself or others, or if there's any sign of child or elder abuse. Your therapist will send you our confidentiality agreement with a more detailed explanation to sign before your first session.
-
Yes! We will work diligently to bring any current providers (therapists, psychiatrists, etc) into the fold and work with them to ensure we are all aligned in meeting your needs. You will need to sign a Release of Information Consent Form for each provider you would like us to speak to before we are able