2014 NAADAC Counselor of the Year: Leigh Kolodny-Kraft
We are honored to celebrate our founder, Leigh Kolodny-Kraft, who was named the 2014 National Counselor of the Year by NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. This award is one of the highest recognitions in the field of addiction treatment and mental health care, given to one outstanding professional each year across the United States.
Leigh was selected for her exceptional leadership in:
Trauma-informed addiction and mental health treatment
Client-centered care for adolescents, families, and individuals in crisis
Ethical excellence, integrity, and innovation in therapeutic practice
Inclusive, culturally responsive counseling for diverse populations
With over three decades of clinical experience, Leigh Kolodny-Kraft has transformed countless lives through her compassionate and evidence-based approach. She is a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), and Substance Abuse Professional (SAP), and she leads The Kraft Group Inc with the same commitment to healing, advocacy, and human dignity that earned her national recognition.
This prestigious honor is awarded annually to one clinician who exemplifies excellence in ethics, innovation in treatment, and extraordinary service to the community.
“This award is not just about me,” said Kolodny-Kraft. “It’s about the clients who show up every day to do the hard work of healing. It’s about changing the landscape of care to make it safer, more inclusive, and deeply rooted in compassion.”
“Receiving this award wasn’t just a personal milestone—it was a reminder that ethical, inclusive, and trauma-informed care is the future of mental health.” – Leigh Kolodny-Kraft
