Substance Abuse Therapy

Effective substance abuse treatment addresses both the immediate challenges of managing use and the deeper issues that drive the behavior. My approach combines Brainspotting with practical strategies for managing addiction, creating a comprehensive treatment path tailored to your unique needs.

Our work begins with understanding your personal history and addictive patterns without judgment. I provide essential education about how addiction affects the brain, helping you understand that your struggles aren't the result of weakness or moral failing, but of predictable neurological processes that can be addressed through targeted intervention.

Brainspotting, a powerful therapeutic technique, allows us to access and process the deeper emotional experiences that often drive substance abuse. This approach is particularly effective because it works with the body's natural processing system, targeting the felt sensations that occur 20-30 milliseconds faster than conscious thoughts. By using this "focused mindfulness," we can help you move out of automatic patterns and develop greater awareness of what your body truly needs versus what the substance-seeking part of your brain is demanding.

Alongside this deeper work, you'll learn practical strategies for managing cravings, recognizing triggers, and developing healthier coping mechanisms. We'll identify the specific situations, emotions, or beliefs that typically precede use and create personalized plans to navigate these challenges differently. Importantly, we'll work on building communication skills and support networks to counter the isolation that often accompanies substance abuse.

Clients who commit to this process consistently report not only reduced substance abuse but also improvements in their overall emotional regulation, relationship quality, and sense of personal control. Many find that as they address the underlying drivers of their addiction, they naturally develop greater clarity about their values and priorities, often rediscovering parts of themselves that had been obscured by their relationship with substances.

What sets my approach apart is the combination of biological understanding with practical, skill-building techniques. Rather than focusing solely on abstinence or harm reduction, we'll work together to transform your relationship with difficult emotions and build the neural pathways that support healthier choices. My specialized training in both addiction and trauma treatment allows me to address the complex interplay between these issues, offering a more comprehensive path to recovery than approaches that target only the substance use itself.

My ultimate goal is to help you develop the awareness, skills, and support systems that allow you to maintain your well-being independently. While the journey isn't always linear, clients consistently demonstrate that with commitment and proper support, lasting change is not only possible but achievable.