Substance Use & Abuse Counseling
Life with an addiction can often feel unbearable. Substance abuse and other addictions quickly overtake a person’s life, leaving them trapped in a cycle of hopelessness, shame and regret. Worst of all, the very thing that you are addicted to is often your primary source of comfort.
Escaping painful feelings or difficult thoughts with substances or unhealthy behaviors only perpetuates pain. Through substance use & abuse counseling, you can begin to unpack your addictions, heal trauma and take back control over your life.
What Type of Addictions Programs & Counseling Are There?
The most intensive form of treatment for substance abuse is rehab, but this is not the only option. Sometimes, rehab is not accessible or affordable. Other times, a person simply may not be willing to commit to a rehab program. It might feel too extreme, too exposing, too life-altering, or too overwhelming. But they still want help, so where do they go?
Individual counseling that pays special attention to substance use behaviors and works in conjunction with other substance use, abuse, and addiction resources can have a tremendously positive impact on a person’s life. More often than not, people struggling with addiction are also experiencing other mental health problems such as depression, anxiety or unresolved trauma. We can help with these underlying issues.
Treating addiction and other mental health symptoms requires personalized care; therapists use a combination of strategies that include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to help you change your thoughts, manage your emotions, and develop healthier habits. And when current or unresolved trauma is a contributor to the addiction, therapists use other modalities such as EMDR, Narrative Therapy and Internal Family Systems. These therapies help with processing the trauma, building internal resources and new ways of operating in the world.
Your counselor may also suggest that you participate in group therapy or a 12-Step model group, which provides education and support from professionals as well as peers currently working through their addictions.
Types of Addictions and Treatment
People can become addicted to anything, but the two most common types of addictions are substance use disorders and process addictions. Substance use disorders result from a chronic and irresistible urge to drink alcohol or take drugs. Process addictions typically include shopping, gambling and sex.
12-Step Programs
12-Step programs are one of the most common forms of treatment for addiction. Unfortunately, the 12-step model does not always have a high success rate. Why is that? One reason is that the 12-step model does not always address the underlying issues that lead to substance use and abuse, which need to be unpacked and processed. It is also true that the 12-Step model has to be worked all the way through. Many people who enter into 12-Step type programs, don’t actually engage in the entire model; seeing it through to its finality. Additionally, professionals are becoming increasingly aware of the need for personalized care in addictions treatment in conjunction with a 12-Step or group model of treatment.
With one of the counselors at Foundations Family Counseling, you will receive therapy with a compassionate, accepting clinician who creates a treatment plan that aligns with your recovery goals and supports your work in a 12-Step or group program.
If you have already gone through rehab, then individual counseling targeting the issues underneath substance use and abuse can be an excellent way to continue your recovery journey and maintain sobriety. People who have a co-occurring disorder can also receive treatment that tackles their addiction in relation to their mental health diagnosis.
How Addictions Counseling Helps
We adopt a holistic approach to recovery. Our counselors believe that every client deserves personalized care; whether you’re questioning your ability to overcome addiction or striving to stay sober, we want to help you achieve physical, emotional and spiritual wellness.
We’ll work together to come up with goals and follow a treatment plan that works for you.
In addition, we offer couples and family counseling that can help you heal close relationships that have been damaged by addiction. We believe that social support is one of the most important factors of successful recovery, and our counselors are committed to helping you reconnect and heal with your loved ones.
You don’t have to live another day suffering alone. We’re here to help you on your journey to recovery. Contact us today to learn more about our services, and to schedule your first appointment.
Contract therapists at Foundations Family Counseling are NOT Certified Addiction Counselors. They are highly trained and experienced in working with the underlying and co-occurring issues that often accompany substance use and abuse. If your substance abuse is better treated by rehabilitation or needs a multi-disciplinary approach, we will help resource you.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 303.393.0085 or click here.