Meet Woody
Woody Giessmann became an addiction specialist and Interventionist in 1993 after his experience as the drummer for the rock band and Warner Brothers Recording Artists The Del Fuegos. After the loss of his brother, Brian, recognizing and confronting his own issues with substance abuse, Woody committed himself to helping others with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. His approach is to assist people to regain their health and be true to their authentic self. Woody assists individuals in finding a healthy lifestyle in recovery. His personal experience brought firsthand witness to the devastating effects of substance abuse and untreated mental health.
Woody is a Licensed Counselor (LADC-I), Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), an active member of the Associations of Intervention Specialists (AIS), and Board-Certified Interventionist Professional (CIP). He specializes in an invitational approach to identify the need for treatment. He prides himself in finding the right providers of treatment of substance use and mental health disorders. Using a combination of Motivational Interviewing, with concepts of the Arise invitational approach, Family Centered, and The Johnson Model Intervention, he has a highly effective evidence-based approach to individual and family intervention.
The goal of an intervention is to address substance abuse, assist a loved one with psychological assessment, properly diagnosis, establish a relationship with both the individual and their family, and find a safe treatment program. A family-centered intervention is for a family member or friend who is struggling with untreated substance use disorder or related mental illness.
Woody was the founder of Right Turn, Inc. in Watertown, MA, a 501C3 non-profit established in March of 2003 – July of 2024. The program was designed to assist people with substance use disorder in an intensive outpatient clinic, with medication assisted treatment, in a welcoming place where those in recovery can experience a sense of belonging in a creative environment. The program was a combination of creativity, art, and music therapy, with evidence-based approaches based on dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), with artistic and expressive emphasis, to assist individuals seeking treatment on their way to a productive lifestyle. Right Turn was a community of creative people coming together in a safe haven where they could explore, be educated, and learn skills to sustain their recovery. A part of recovery is to nurture or discover one’s level of intelligence, creative gifts, or talents.
Woody received his BA in Human Service Management from the University of Massachusetts (2003) and a master’s Certificate in Community Human Service Management from Suffolk University (2005). He worked at The Cambridge Health Alliance under the direction of Dr. Mark Albanese, MD in and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Outpatient Addiction Services (OAS). He was instrumental in establishing the Cambridge Program of Assertive Community Treatment Team (PACT) for the Department of Mental Health for individuals with severe and persistent mental health issues. Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts appointed Woody to The Board of Registry in Medicine (BORIM) in 2016. He began his second term in 2019, serving as Vice Chairman.
Woody accepts self-pay clients. A fee payment can be made through VENMO - @woody-giessmann or by personal check.
