Addiction & Substance Abuse

Have you been using alcohol or drugs as a way to deal with difficult emotions?

Are others that care about you complaining about your drug or alcohol use?

Are you bothered by cravings or urges to drink alcohol or use drugs?

Do you want to break the cycle of addiction?

Have you completed drug rehab and are looking to prevent relapse and foster long-term sobriety through outpatient psychotherapy?

Are you involved in a 12-step recovery program and would like a mental health professional to support your process of discovery and recovery from addiction?

Sometimes drug addictions start with the experimental use of a substance in social situations or to manage mental or physical health symptoms. For some, this substance use becomes more frequent, and as time passes, they may feel the need to use more of a drug to get the desired effect and then realize they may need the drug to feel “good” at all. Substance abuse recovery is possible with the right support. A therapist who understands addiction can help.

 

Often, these are the symptoms of a substance use problem:

  • Feeling the need to use the substance regularly, which can be daily or multiple times a day

  • Having intense urges or cravings for the substance

  • Over time, needing more of the substance to get the same effect

  • Efforts to make sure that you maintain a supply of the substance

  • Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities

  • Doing things you wouldn’t normally do to get the substance, such as lying or stealing

  • Focusing more and more time and energy on getting and using the substance

  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using the substance

  • Failed attempts to quit using the substance for a sustained amount of time

You are not alone.

Many people who struggle with addiction to drugs and alcohol also suffer from other common mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Psychotherapy can help address these co-occurring mental health issues and help you heal from the underlying causes of addictive behavior.

During treatment with me, you will learn how to build and maintain motivation, practice healthy habits, cope with urges and cravings, and manage difficult emotions, thoughts, and behaviors to build a life free from the cycle of substance abuse.

Whether you want to abstain from drugs and alcohol altogether or moderate your use, this is something we can explore. Paths to successful recovery vary for everyone and together we will work with your goals and desires to help you make the life changes you want to make and create the life you want.

Ready to progress toward achieving your recovery goals?

Contact me today.