Peter Juliano, LCSW, CASAC
Associate Director / Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Meet Peter
I am the Associate Director here at Gooding Wellness Group in Cold Spring Harbor, NY. I am certified as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) with over a decade of professional experience in a wide range of specialties, ranging from residential care, to hospital social work, and to private practice.
I began my career as a counselor in a long-term residential treatment center for adolescents grappling with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders. This is a very vulnerable population of clients that are often scared, frustrated, and lacking hope. Although this work presents its challenges, I pride myself on my ability to connect with young people and help them develop the skills they need to build resilience and a better life. I dedicated myself to providing young people these tools early on so that they can use them to flourish outside of the treatment center. I have found that, sometimes, all it takes is one safe adult with the right resources to turn a teen's life around. It was and continues to be an honor to act as that safe person for so many of my clients.
That early experience shaped the approach I still bring to every session today: consistency, patience, and being a steady, trustworthy presence a client can rely on, no matter how vulnerable the moment. Whether I'm working with a teenager in early recovery or an adult navigating trauma, my approach starts with the same premise. Safety comes first, and everything else builds from there.
Check Out Peter on The Good Exchange Podcast
Support for the Whole Family
Throughout my career, I learned how the impact of substance abuse reaches beyond the struggling individual but affects their families and loved ones as well. Healing does not happen in isolation, it truly takes a village. However, a support system cannot be as sturdy and reliable as we need them to be if they are not receiving support themselves. The pressures that come along with caring for someone struggling with addiction or any other mental health battle are serious, but too often overlooked. I developed a passion for ensuring that my clients' support systems were receiving the proper support, along with the client. With this in mind, I progressed into a family therapist role, and eventually went on to become the Family Services Coordinator. I enjoyed engaging family systems in the treatment process and empowering them to heal together.
Connecting People and Resources
My journey in residential care progressed as I moved on to become a program manager, and, ultimately, a clinical director. I believe that the treatment process is not limited to the work between one client and one clinician, but is about finding and using any and all resources that can facilitate healing. In my leadership roles, I was responsible for the clinical integrity of the residential program. With that responsibility, I was able to foster a program culture that promoted healing, growth, and connection. I was able to connect my clients and clinicians with resources both within and outside of our program that ensured our clients were getting the best possible care with the best possible results. Treatment programs are not one-size-fits-all, and I have always understood that what I can provide for a client might not be the right fit for them. For this reason, I have always prioritized community outreach and connecting with resources outside of my own practice, so I always have quality referrals available.
Educating the Next Generation
As a CASAC instructor at the Outreach Training Institute and an adjunct professor at Adelphi University School of Social Work, I was able to foster a productive learning environment for my students to understand the foundational knowledge and clinical skills they need for their future. My aim has always been to foster a generation of social work professionals that are just as competent as they are compassionate. I want them to understand every strategy and therapeutic approach in the book, while also understanding when it's time to put the book down to listen, connect, and feel.
Finding the Gooding Wellness Group
When I first came across the work that Gordon was doing at Gooding Wellness, I immediately felt that his mission connected with my values of quality care, community connection, and life-long education. I joined Gooding Wellness Group in 2021 as a clinician, and in 2025, that relationship grew into a friendship, then formal partnership. I believe I have found a perfect fit for myself within this practice, as it allows me to both showcase and build upon all of the skills I've learned through my previous experiences. Every one of those roles taught me the same thing: treatment doesn't happen in a vacuum. It's about finding and using every resource that can facilitate healing, inside a practice or out. I'll say it the way Gordon would: becoming a partner with Gordon wasn't just a title change. It reflects a shared vision we built together over years of working side by side, that quality care requires real collaboration, not just co-located offices. Gordon and I bring different strengths to the table, but the same drive to help the people of Cold Spring Harbor and the greater Long Island community. I'm proud of where we are taking this practice. The work we do really matters and I'm grateful for the chance to help provide it. Together, we're equipped to navigate many more years of this work.
How I Can Help
As an LCSW and a CASAC, I am qualified to treat a wide range of clients and issues, including (but not limited to) substance abuse, anxiety, depression, OCD, and trauma. My role as the Associate Director of Gooding Wellness has allowed me to oversee the practice as a whole and participate in improving the practice from an administrative level. However, I also have the pleasure of continuing individual, couples, and family therapy sessions, and I deeply value being able to continue making an impact on a smaller scale. Within my counseling sessions, I have extensive experience in a wide variety of evidence-based treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, dialectical behavior therapy, positive psychology and mindfulness. Through an advanced training program with the EMDRIA Institute, I am now certified in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), which is a powerful therapeutic approach that aids clients in processing distressing memories to reduce their emotional impact. I understand that no two people are alike, and I work with each client and family throughout Long Island to explore my toolbox of therapeutic approaches and develop a plan that works best for them. If you'd like to work with me directly, book a consultation and let's talk about what you're facing. "Quality care isn't about knowing everything yourself — it's about connecting people to the right help, wherever it lives." — Peter Juliano, LCSW, CASAC
