Substance Use Counseling
Your thoughts on substance use could be anywhere right now. You may know you have an issue or perhaps you struggle with knowing whether your drug or alcohol use is a problem. Maybe you’ve been trying to quit using and you’ve relapsed - for the 1st or 20th time. Or maybe you’ve been to multiple inpatient and outpatient treatments, and it’s just not working for you. Perhaps you’re not the one with the issue; your parent, spouse, child or friend are the ones struggling. Whichever scenario resonates with you, I want you to know that I’ve been where you are right now. I’m in recovery myself so I know what it’s like in your head. However, I also want you to trust that there is a way out, and together we can find it and make it happen. Our plan will take a harm reduction path, learning the pitfalls and how to navigate them. We’ll put together an individualized plan – tailored just for you.
Together we’ll work on:
- Learning about substances and how they affect the brain and body
- Medication assisted therapy
- Harm reduction
- Relapse prevention
- Improving relationships
- Establishing a support system
- Assessments for legal or employment issues
You’ll also learn skills to improve self-awareness and the fundamental ways our minds and bodies work together to provide enriching mental and physical health.
Our Time
Sessions last 50 minutes.
During our first session, we will get to know a little about each other and complete any remaining paperwork. I’ll explain my process and then we will get into more detail about what you need to explore in therapy, where you hope to go and how to achieve those goals. We’ll put together a plan, knowing that it is flexible and open to change. As we proceed in on-going sessions, we will work that plan in part by developing an alliance that will provide the trust for insight we need to do the work.
How often should we meet?
It is important to meet as often as we can, at a minimum, weekly if possible. We may decide to meet less frequently as you’re able to put into practice what you learn. Eventually, we will check in periodically for an assessment of progress.