Jeffrey Bienenstock

Jeff Bienenstock is a Certified Associate Counselor–Alcohol and Drug (CAC-AD) in the state of Maryland with five years of experience working in residential substance use treatment. He is currently completing his Master’s degree in Counseling at Walden University and practices from a trauma-informed perspective.

Jeff specializes in working with individuals struggling with alcohol and cocaine use, particularly chronic relapsers and high-functioning professionals. Many of his clients present with co-occurring depression and anxiety, as well as patterns of shame, isolation, and intellectualization that interfere with sustained recovery. He is especially skilled at helping clients identify recurring behavioral and emotional patterns that contribute to relapse.

Jeff takes a direct but collaborative approach to treatment. He challenges denial, confronts intellectual defenses, and emphasizes accountability while maintaining respect and compassion. He integrates 12-Step principles as one component of recovery, while also helping clients understand the multidimensional nature of addiction, including its psychological, behavioral, relational, and emotional components.

In couples work, Jeff focuses primarily on accountability and communication. He helps partners better understand the impact of addiction, break unhealthy relational patterns, establish boundaries, and rebuild trust through honest dialogue and structured action.

Jeff believes addiction is a treatable illness that requires more than abstinence alone. Recovery involves education, insight, and sustained action. His role is to educate clients about both the problem and the solution, while also serving as a mirror, helping individuals see themselves more clearly so they can make meaningful and lasting change.