Cini Shaw, MA, AADC, CASAC, NCPRSS, is Chief Recovery Officer of The Lighthouse Recovery Services. Cini is an Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor as well an Interventionist. She is also a Nationally Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist and a Recovery Coach Trainer. At the Lighthouse, she supervises a network of recovery coaches and residential directors and provides family support and family coaching services. She has had extensive training through CCAR on all aspects of recovery coaching and through CMC on their Invitation to Change model for families. Additionally, she is trained in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness Self-Compassion and Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Cini’s positive influence and support pervades every aspect of client care. On a daily basis, she meets individually and in groups to assist those with substance use disorders, helping to foster acceptance, empowerment and self-compassion. Multiple nights each week, Cini facilities group sessions on a range of topics, including DBT, Mindfulness Self-Compassion and MBSR. Cini also leads a weekly education and support group for the families of clients, which has proven to be tremendously helpful to both family members and the clients they are there to support.
Cini completed her graduate studies at Columbia University with a Master of Arts degree in Special Education after receiving her BA in Psychology from Colgate University. She began her career in special education, working with the developmentally disabled, and today continues to advocate for the rights of those who do not have a voice and have been marginalized by our society.
In addition to her work at The Lighthouse, Cini is committed to raising awareness about substance use disorders, reducing stigma and bringing pathways of recovery to our communities. She is affiliated with multiple highly-regarded organizations working to support mental health and substance use disorders—she is a member of the ADPC Recovery and Health Management Subcommittee as well as the DMHAS CT Peer Certification Advisory Council. She is also an Executive Board member of Liberation Programs, which is one of Fairfield County’s leading behavioral health organizations specializing in treatment for all types of substance use disorders.
Through her experience of raising five children in Fairfield County, Cini has a deep understanding of the unique challenges, as well as the benefits, associated with raising a family in this area. She understands the social pressures, alienation and competitiveness pervading many of our communities and recognizes that these pressures can be overwhelming and can then lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and unsafe coping skills, making Cini an invaluable source of support and guidance for women with substance use disorders.
Cini was recently named 2022’s Addiction Professional of the Year by preeminent addiction treatment provider Caron Treatment Centers. The Caron New York Community Service Awards recognize individuals, organizations and institutions that have made an outstanding contribution in the ongoing battle against alcohol and drug addiction.
