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About us
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At Connecting for Purpose
We embrace an empowerment approach that includes a reclaiming of one's sense of competence, and a recognition Empowerment is about more than a "feeling" or a "sense," we see such feelings as precursors to action.
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When a person brings about actual change, he or she increases feelings of mastery and control. This, in turn, leads to further and more effective change. Again, we emphasized that this is not merely personal change, but has a group dimension. We wanted to emphasize in this element that empowerment is not a destination, but a journey; that no one reached a final stage in which further growth and change is unnecessary
Meet The Visionary
Dr. Michelle Raysor
Dr. Michelle Raysor is a highly qualified professional with extensive experience in the field of addiction counseling, mental health, and criminal justice. As the Coordinator of the CASAC Program at Monroe College and a faculty professor in the School of Criminal and Social Justice, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her roles.
Dr. Raysor's educational background includes a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Phoenix, a Master of Science in Education from Hofstra University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree from SUNY Empire College. She has also pursued specialized training in alcoholism and substance abuse counseling at The South Oaks Institute and holds certifications from the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC).
With over three decades of experience, Dr. Raysor has worked extensively in the field of addiction/substance abuse counseling and has a particular focus on issues related to women and trauma. Her previous roles as Clinical Director in community-based substance abuse agencies have provided her with valuable experience in providing supervision and oversight to clinical staff.
Furthermore, Dr. Raysor has dedicated a significant portion of her career to working with individuals within the criminal justice system, including those who are currently incarcerated and formerly incarcerated. Her tenure with the Department of Corrections in Suffolk and Westchester County, New York, involved both teaching curriculums that address the unique challenges faced by individuals with mental health, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorders, as well as faith-based counseling.