Are you interested in talking with someone about your substance use and mental health without feeling judged?

Call or text (401.300.4647) to learn how we can help you today!

Please note: This is not an acute stabilization or crisis program.

If you are experiencing an emergency or if you are at risk of harming yourself or others, call 911 immediately. 

You may also call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by simply dialing 988. This is a 24/7 service that is available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Locally (RI), you may contact BH Link at (401) 414-5465 for a mental health crisis.

What is Project BREAK?

Project BREAK is a behavioral care program for Gay, Bisexual, Queer, and other men who have sex with men who use substances. Our therapists aim to provide counseling that is individualized for your needs and align with what is most important to you.  Project BREAK welcomes individuals who are considering or who want to “take a break” from the substance. We specialize in the treatment of crystal methamphetamine and other substances in the context of sex (Chemsex). Telemedicine options are available.

Our therapists have training specifically in working with Gay, Bisexual, Queer, and other men who have sex with men who use substances. Our goals are to help you understand the unique factors that contribute to your substance use, explore how your substance use may differ from your values and goals, highlight your own individual strengths, and together develop strategies that will aid you in making meaningful change in your life which aligns with your values.

You have the ability to make a change and choose a new path for yourself and we are here to help you through that journey.

This is a program sponsored by The Miriam Hospital, Project Weber/RENEW, and Open Door Health. Project BREAK is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Here is how we can help you:

LGBTQ+ affirming individual counseling - Counseling sessions will provide you with a space where you should feel supported to speak honestly and openly. Our counselors have specific training and experience working with gay, bisexual, and queer, and other men who have sex with men.

We look towards helping you:
  • Understand the impact of your identity on your experiences
  • Highlight your strengths
  • Explore values that are important to you
  • Develop a plan for how you want your life to look moving forward
  • Help you “take a break” from substances by:
    • Examining how substances impact your life and weighing what is most important to you
    • Gaining insight into the people, places, things, and emotions that place you at risk for using substance
    • Gaining tools to manage cravings to use substances
    • Developing relapse prevention skills

Specific focus on substances during sex -We provide a space for gay, bisexual, queer, and other men who have sex with men to talk about the use of substances in sexual situations.

These conversations will address:
  • Impact of substances on sexual experiences
  • How to develop intimacy without substances
  • How to explore sober healthy sexual experiences
sober healthy sexual experiences

Case management and peer services – In partnership with Project Weber/RENEW we also offer case management and peer recovery support including:

  • Harm reduction services
  • Support for linking to sober housing facilities
  • Linkage to programs that can provide basic needs
  • Peer support including groups and individual case manager support from those with lived experiences of using substances
intimacy without substances

Holistic care – We understand that for many people using substances this is not the only challenge they are facing. We also recognize the impact that substance use can have on relationships including family, friendships, and partners.

That is why, as part of our treatment, we will explore the underlying issues related to substance use and help clients establish healthy boundaries and relationship patterns.

We will explore together:
  • Underlying issues that maintain substance use including:
    • Anxiety
    • Isolation/loneliness
    • Trauma
    • Impact of COVID-19
  • Create new and healthy relationship patterns

Why Project BREAK?

Our services are designed to engage individuals who identify as gay, bisexual, queer+ who are thinking about how to gain new ways to manage their substance use, develop healthier ways of living, and work towards living a life in line with their values and goals!

Did we mention that:

Services are designed to support and respond to the lived experiences of individuals

Services are confidential

Services are FREE

See how others are benefiting from Project BREAK:

“I didn’t get turned away when I told my story. It felt like the therapist understood me and didn’t judge me. The therapist helped me understand why my meth use was connected to having sex. My therapist didn’t JUST focus on the drugs. We talked about other things too that are important to me, and I felt human.”
“Tina is so common in my community. It’s hard to avoid. It’s still hard to keep from relapsing, but at least now when I relapse, I know how to get back on my feet and I’m kind to myself when I do that. I’m putting more time between my relapses and actually finding happiness in between. I know I’ll get there.”
“I feel like this program should be given to all gay men, not just us meth users. No one has ever talked to me about what is important to me and listened to me, everyone has always focused on my problems or what was wrong with me.”

Are you ready? Have questions?

* Please note that you must be 18 or older to participate and must reside in Rhode Island or Massachusetts.

Project Break FAQs:

Our program is flexible, and the number of sessions is determined by you and your therapist. If long-term therapy is desired, your therapist may help you connect to a therapist in the community for additional, longer-term connections

Sessions can vary in length and this is something you can discuss with your therapist directly. However, most sessions will be a typical “therapy hour,” which lasts 45 minutes.

Meeting once a week is pretty standard for outpatient therapy. However, some folks find it helpful to meet twice a week, especially at the start or around challenging moments, because the extra support is helpful. Others prefer sticking with once a week. And, some feel comfortable meeting every other week or even more spaced out, especially towards the ends of treatment.

Each therapy session will start with setting goals for the session and an agenda. The therapist may have ideas of what to discuss and will always encourage you to bring in topics as well. There will often be a “check-in” at the beginning since the last time you met and we may ask you questions about your anxiety and depression symptoms. There will be a main focus of the session. Before the end of a session, your therapist may assign you something to work on at home between sessions to continue to develop your skills.

Our program therapists are doctoral (PhD) level trained. They are experienced in delivering evidence-based treatments (treatments that have been proven to work with science!). They have experience working with clients from different backgrounds, cultures, gender and sexual identity. At Project BREAK we recognize that individuals have unique intersectional identities that shape their experiences with the world around them, and we know this matters for mental health care.

All therapists have experience in treating substance use disorders including crystal methamphetamine addiction for sexual minority men.

No, status does not matter. However, if your status is something that is on your mind we can also discuss how best to help you achieve your physical health goals.

Magic. No, just kidding, it isn’t magic. For most people, it is a combination of changing their thoughts and their behaviors and learning strategies that help. If you are interested in how our program has helped others, please see our testimonials section!

No, there is no medication offered as part of this program. Currently, there is no medication that is approved for treating crystal methamphetamine use.

It is very common for clients to also use other substances. Goals for each substance may vary. For example, someone may want to eliminate crystal methamphetamine completely, but continue to drink socially. Individual goals for treatment are best discussed individually with your therapist.

We’re not big on labels here. Whether you feel you have a “problem” or not isn’t important to us. We’re here to help you achieve your goals and help you live a more fulfilling life.

You and your individual therapist will develop goals tailored to your needs and will check-in frequently throughout the program to make sure the original goals are still working for you.

At Project BREAK, we understand that relapse is part of recovery. You will never be asked to leave or discontinue because of a relapse – that is often when clients need us most! Instead of being taught to fear relapse, we encourage conversations about what to do if it happens and how to recover from relapse.

Yes! Substance use and mental health often go hand in hand. We can focus on how substances affect mood and anxiety and also what you can do to manage your emotional distress.

Gay, bi, pan, queer…not really sure…however you identify, we are here for you!

We can provide telehealth (video) appointments and in person appointments. It is dependent on what is best for you and your care.

© 2019-2023 ProjectBreak. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Top chevron-downarrow-right-circle