Counseling for Addiction and Recovery
Because I believe addiction is a family disease, I support not only the identified addict or alcoholic but also the family and loved ones seeking guidance, education, and a safe space to share vulnerable emotions.
More often than not, addictions start with an experimental use of a drug or additive behavior in social situations; and for some people, the use becomes more frequent. As time passes, a person may feel the need to engage in the behavior more frequently to experience the same high, and soon a person may need the behaviors to simply feel “normal” or “good.”
I will provide a safe, non-judgmental, compassionate yet direct and honest space where you can explore what continues to drive the addictive behavior.
When a person commits to their recovery, however, and is willing to heal the uncomfortable parts of themselves; the results are incredibly powerful.
I have seen the deep pain that addiction can cause for both the person struggling and for the family and loved ones. I believe in addiction there is a level of sensitivity that has not been addressed, and the addiction is a way to manage these emotions and vulnerabilities.
Addiction symptoms and behaviors include, among others:
Feeling the need to use the drug regularly, which can be daily or multiple times a day
Having intense urges for the drug
Over time, needing more of the drug to get the same effect
Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug
Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities
Doing things you wouldn’t normally do to get the drug
Focusing more and more time and energy one getting and using the drug
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug
Failed attempts to quit using the drug.
obsessive thoughts regarding addictive behavior
use of the behavior causing shame and guilt; which in turn can lead to more use of the behavior
suddenly experiencing powerlessness over the behavior that you once felt you had “under control”