Substance abuse and behavioral addictions involve loss of control, psychological and/or physiological dependence, repeated destructive behavior despite negative consequences, and significant impairment in functioning (physical, mental, social, occupational, and/or familial)

Substance abuse/addiction is often referred to as a family disease and rarely impacts the individual with the “problem” alone. Many people interpret substance abuse/addiction as a symptom of an underlying issue (i.e. anxiety, depression, PTSD). Left unaddressed, substance abuse/addiction has the potential to lead to health, relationship, legal, financial, and/or occupational consequences.

We can help you to address your substance abuse and/or behavioral addictions by offering a warm, accepting environment to discuss your addiction issues without fear of judgment while also encouraging you to take the initiative to take actions to help you to overcome your self-destructive behaviors. Addressing addiction issues requires a holistic approach in order to help clients create and sustain a lifestyle that promotes improved quality of life.

Key components to overcome addiction issues include processing guilt and shame, processing the costs and benefits of choosing to continue addictive behavior vs. abstaining from addictive behavior, learning about the stages of change and identifying appropriate coping strategies to progress through your current stage of change, learning about healthy vs. unhealthy boundaries, identifying personal triggers and coping strategies to manage triggers, learning about relapse warning signs and developing a relapse prevention plan, building positive social support, identify and implement healthy self-care/self-nurturing behavior, and learning and implementing appropriate distress tolerance skills to cope with adverse life situations.

Common practices to properly treat addictive issues include referrals to psychiatrists/addictions specialists for anti-craving medication, peer support groups (12-step groups, SMART Recovery, etc.), and (as-needed) referrals to substance abuse group treatment (intensive outpatient program (IOP), partial hospitalization program (PHP), residential treatment).