Viktoriya Karakcheyeva, LCPC-LS
Clinical Director
Our clinical director at Fresh Start, Viktoriya Karakcheyeva, is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, a licensed clinical alcohol and drug supervisor as well as a certified clinical supervisor in the state of Maryland. Viktoriya also brings her 17 years of experience working in the mental health and substance abuse treatment fields. She has served in both clinical and leadership positions in a number of roles, in inpatient and outpatient settings, and as a program director, clinical supervisor, government contractor and consultant, among other positions.
What is your mission at Fresh Start?
I want people to be in a better place, emotionally, cognitively, spiritually. When a client comes through our doors, they are starting from what might not be a good place, but the journey evolves. In the end, I hope each individual has learned about themselves and the world around them, as well as developing coping skills and becoming a better person, ending in a better place.
What makes Fresh Start stand out?
The outdoors, recreation, and art therapies we offer. We believe that gradual, safe exposure to healthy leisure activities is beneficial to clients as they build the necessary skills to live clean and sober, not engage substance abuse, and begin to have meaningful experience without drugs or alcohol.
What is the most rewarding part of working at Fresh Start?
The best part of my job is putting smiles on my clients’ faces and helping them believe in themselves, evolve and rediscover their lives’ meaning and purpose in recovery. I bring lollipops, colorful fuzzy balls, smells, sights and sounds to help my clients realize there is a sense of urgency in turning their lives around for the better and they can always choose to have a better moment… hour… day… week… life… NOW!