Addictions Counseling

Substance Abuse and Recovery
Substance abuse and recovery affect the individual, family and work environment in many different ways.  Whether you are seeking help with the effects of growing up in a family where substances were abused or have or have had problems with abusing substances, therapy can help you begin to identify how you can make changes that you want to. It is important for any counseling to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of substance abuse in order to help the individual, couple or family facilitate and/or maintain recovery. Individual, couples or family therapy can offer help and guidance in the process of understanding how an individual’s use or abuse of substances has affected their life and their relationships with others. Therapy can also serve as a place to identify goals and explore alternative ways of relating to others.

For the addict and their loved ones
ADDICTION MYTHS (just a few of the many false expectations):

1.   Addiction is a moral decision. 
The cause and origin is a debated topic.  I, personally, have rejected the idea that addicts are morally inept for the simple fact that I have met so many great people with addiction that simply would not have chosen to be overcome by the powerful disease of addiction.  The  disease model of addiction describes addiction as a lifelong disease involving biologic and environmental sources of origin.

Since the introduction of the disease concept, research studies have examined a possible genetic link in alcoholism/addiction. One such study demonstrates that the offspring of alcoholics are approximately three to five times more likely to develop alcoholism than offspring of non-alcoholics. Other biological components of addiction have been discovered as well, such as differences in functioning of the frontal lobe between addicts and non-addicts.

2.    Addiction is simply the dependence on drugs and/or alcohol. 
Actually addiction goes far beyond the compulsion to use/drink.  Abnormal thinking plays a large role in addiction.  Alcoholics Anonymous coined the term “stinking thinking” to describe this. 
Recommended Reading :  Addictive Thinking by Abraham Twerski

3.   Supporting my loved one means helping them pay bills, bailing them out of trouble, and fighting their battles. 
Not necessarily. The family of addicts often feel that they have to prevent their loved one from experiencing consequences from their substance use for fear that they might get hurt.  In fact, it is NOT experiencing a consequence that can harm them...we will keep touching a hot stove if we don’t feel the burn.  Healing for the family and the addict involves redefining what support is.

4. Relapse is when the addict uses their drug of choice again. 
Actually relapse starts long before you pick up your drug of choice.  Many people say that relapse is a process and this process ends when the addict uses their drug of choice again.  This process may start days or months or years before the addict uses/drinks again.  The relapse process involves changes in thinking, feeling, attitude and lifestyle.   It is important to learn what your personal warning signs are.

5.   A treatment program can cure me (or my loved one). 
The disease model views addiction as a life-long disease that needs to be maintained much like Diabetes.  An alcoholic will never be able to drink "normally" and a drug addict will never be able to use "casually".  Recovery is about finding out what helps you maintain abstinence (and the many other changes in recovery) and continue to do it one day at a time.

6.   The addict is the sick one…I (family, spouse, partner) do not need help.
Addiction is considered a family disease because it affects everybody.  Often the loved ones of addicts spend so much time focusing on the addict, they forget about themselves.   Self-care is an important part of recovery for the family and the addict.

Getting started
Please feel free to contact me with questions or if you would like to arrange an initial consultation. I find that the best way to see if I am a good fit for you is to meet in person. After a consultation period of one to three sessions I will make initial treatment recommendations. If your problem is outside my range of experience and expertise, I will help locate a more appropriate treatment source for you.

You may contact me by filling out the Contact form or by phone at 954-358-5788.