therapy for substance abuse

There are a variety of reasons to seek out a substance abuse counselor. The goal of substance abuse counseling isn't always sobriety or abstinence. The goal may be to cut back, understand patterns and/or how using is impacting your life. I work with folks all the time who want to have a better relationship with themselves and usually that means reducing reliance on substances. Of course for some folks, sobriety or abstinence is the goal and we can find success in this. Here are some reasons to begin working with a substance abuse therapist:

• Too much money is being spent on the substance or behavior
• A significant amount of time is being wasted on the substance or behavior
• You feel ready to make a change in your life and want to live a healthier lifestyle
• The substance or behavior is impacting your relationships (romantic relationships, friendships, professional relationships and/or familial relationships)
• An incident happened where you or others are concerned (DUI, blacked out at an event, made a scene due to the substance or behavior, etc.)
• You've tried to quit or reduce use on your own but have been unsuccessful 
• Those around you use or drink frequently and you're unsure how to navigate your relationships if you reduce or quit using or drinking

The first step in healing substance abuse is utilizing therapy to recognize where you're at in terms of treatment. If individual therapy is determined to be the right level of care, having one on one support is an excellent way to work toward recovery. 

Recognizing patterns in family, relationship with addictive behavior and triggers are just a few examples of topics addressed in therapy. Determining the stage of change in session will help both client and therapist work together at a feasible pace. One treatment modality I utilize is harm reduction. Harm reduction involves meeting the client where they're at and focusing on small steps to increase overall safety rather than quitting cold turkey (which I highly caution depending on the substance due to adverse effects)

Utilizing evidence based care in therapy is crucial. I strive to utilize the most up to date treatment approaches when helping clients work toward substance abuse recovery. Some of these modalities include:

• Harm Reduction techniques mean utilizing practices which reduce harm by taking small feasible steps rather than quitting cold turkey
• Motivational Interviewing and The Stages of Change Model techniques utilizes tools to create feasible change while recognizing where the individual is at in terms of changing
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques involve breaking down patterns, recognizing triggers and creating supports for feasible change
• Self-Care Planning and Coping Tools involves creating a tailored, personal plan to help reduce stress, manage emotions and improve well-being

• I'm not sure I want to be completely sober or substance free   As your therapist, my job will never be to tell you what to do. My job is to support you in meeting your goals and feeling confident in them. Some folks want to reduce use and I support this. Some folks want to become completely sober and I also support this. I will help you gain clarity on what the best option will be for you. 

• My partner and family aren't fully aware of my use or problem- Do I have to tell them?  You get to decide who is involved in your treatment and what that looks like. Some folks prefer to work independently with their therapist while others want family members included. Regardless, I respect your privacy and we will work together to come up with the best plan for you. 

Through a combination of pattern awareness, trigger recognition and a tailored list of coping tools to reduce addictive behavior, recovery is possible. It never ceases to amaze me the strength and power we have as individuals to not only make changes but maintain them.

Examples of work with clients include:

• A client in their early 30s successfully eliminated alcohol use which has also reduced anxiety levels
• A client in their early 30s successfully reduced alcohol use after a stressful divorce. Today, they report feeling in control and able to manage usage while also starting to date again
• A client in their late 20s reduced marijuana use to where they're no longer dependent on marijuana for sleep but are able to successfully manage occasional use
• A client in their early 20s reduced alcohol use post college and learned how to have a healthier relationship with drinking

I have worked with folks struggling with substance abuse for over ten years. I understand the vulnerability, willpower and overall strength it takes to make a change. I know from experience with my own loved ones how challenging substance abuse is but also the the joy seeing and experiencing success. I've seen firsthand how working with a substance abuse counselor can make a difference. I'm here and ready to help you on your journey.