Addiction Therapy

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Are you tired of using drugs, alcohol, pornography, or sex to cope with life’s stressors? 

• Are you ready to quit once and for all?

• Do you wish you could moderate your use to more reasonable levels?

• Are you using drugs despite your best efforts to change?

• Are you stuck in the same old patterns again and again and ready for something different?

Alcohol and drugs can wreak havoc on your life if you don’t address your use. Maybe you are using substances to escape from your life, and it feels like a monumental task to get yourself back on track. Maybe you don’t use drugs and alcohol but you suspect you might have an addictive relationship with sex or pornography. If you have experienced a lot of suffering in your life then it makes sense why you turned to substances or sex to take the edge off, but that strategy to deal with your pain only works for so long.

While the pain might go away temporarily while you are high, it will only come back twice as bad when you come down. You might find you are needing more and more of your substance of choice just to feel OK, and the hangovers and withdrawals are getting worse and worse. Using sex to feel better leaves you feeling worse the next morning. At its worst, addiction and alcoholism can take over your entire life. At some point you realize you have completely lost control of your use. You may find yourself continuously battling against desires to use without much success. Once you get to the point where you can’t stop even if you wanted to, life can become bleak and hopeless. 

Have you experienced some of these consequences of addiction in your life?

• Withdrawal symptoms

• Hangovers

• Uncontrollable cravings to use

• Needing increased dosages

• Health problems like asthma, liver problems, infections

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Loss of work

• Loss or degradation of close relationships

• Incarceration

• Financial problems

• STDs/STIs

• Infidelity

• Lack of intimacy with your partner

Many people struggle with addiction and alcoholism

You are not alone in your struggle. Many people suffer from addiction and alcoholism in their lives. Addiction is not, as was once thought, a moral or ethical failing, it is a difficult disease that can affect anyone. You might feel ashamed and want to isolate or hide yourself because of your addiction, but know that there are millions of other people out there in similar situations as you. 

It can be hard to deal with the day-to-day struggles of life, and it's no surprise that many turn to drugs or alcohol to cope. If you overcome the stigma by admitting to yourself the truth of your situation you give yourself a chance at getting the support you need. If you are struggling with addiction, it is nothing to be ashamed of, but getting help is essential. Even if you think you are too far gone and there is no hope for you, with a little bit of willingness and a lot of hard work, anything is possible. 

Drug and alcohol counseling can help you get back on track

Talking to an addictions counselor can help you address your problems and move towards recovery. Substance abuse counseling gives you a clear and strategic plan of action to get your drug or alcohol use stabilized so you can start living your life again. We will start with a clear and effective harm reduction plan to help you stop or cut down on your use so you can stop suffering so many negative consequences. Often this means recruiting the help of outside resources like support groups, meetings, online communities and workbooks. Finding a regular routine in recovery is essential, and we will collaborate on a plan to help you reach your drug and alcohol use goals. 

Drug and alcohol counseling also allows you to explore the roots of your addiction to understand why you are stuck in the pattern and start to show you a way out. By exploring your past we can understand why you felt the need to get involved with drugs or alcohol in the first place and address the core problem at its roots. Physical addiction may be a big reason why you have kept using drugs for so long, but it’s also essential to understand what caused you to pick them up in the first place. Once you understand the real reason you started using drugs or alcohol, we can address that underlying hurt so you no longer feel you have to medicate yourself to get by. 

You might feel hopeless or overwhelmed by the process, but you have to start where you are. As Johann Hari wrote; “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety - it is human connection”. Start by connecting with a compassionate professional to help you on your path towards living a more full life. 

Maybe you still have reservations...

“I don’t want to have to stop using, I just want to use a bit less”

Addiction and drug abuse takes many forms. Some people need to stop completely in order to get healthy, while others are indulging just a bit too much and want to cut back on their use. Maybe you aren’t sure which applies to you, but you suspect something is up with your substance use and you’d like to explore. I take a harm reduction approach in all of my drug and alcohol counseling. This means my goal is to help you meet your drug and alcohol use goals, whatever that looks like for you. This may mean you just want to cut down or take a break, it may mean you have to stop completely. I will explore and assess with you to see what is the best path for you and will always follow your lead on your stated goals in recovery.

“I want to get sober but I hate 12-step programs”

Many people who have tried to get sober in the past have some experience in 12-step programs. Maybe you have tried AA or NA and feel it's not for you for any number of reasons. Fortunately there are a multitude of support groups for addiction and alcoholism that are not 12-step based. Additional meetings outside of therapy can be very helpful to continue the momentum and keep a daily reminder of recovery in your life. This does not, however, mean that 12-step is your only option. I will work with you to come up with the best option that fits your recovery, and we will work together to find suitable resources to support your recovery journey. 

“Can you really help me stop using? I feel hopeless...”

I have helped many individuals cut down or quit addictive relationships with alcohol, cannabis, opiates, ketamine, cocaine, and other substances. I have seen clients who felt hopeless find new light in their life and accomplish what they thought was impossible. I would be happy to explore drug and alcohol counseling with you and help you move towards your goals. Addiction recovery is not a smooth road, and it takes a lot of hard work, but it can be done and I’ve seen it happen many times.

Had enough already?

I offer drug and alcohol counseling in Santa Cruz, and online anywhere in California. Reach out today to connect or ask any further questions you might have. I offer free 15-minute consultation calls to hear more about your situation and how I might be able to help.

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