Substance Use Issues
change and growth are waiting.
When you started drinking or using substances, they gave you something you needed.
Maybe it was a chance to unwind, to bond with friends, to feel wild and free, to embrace creativity, or to be confident. Maybe it was relief from anxiety or depression, or a refuge from life’s challenges.
If you’ve found this page, I’m guessing that your relationship with these behaviors got more complicated somewhere along the way. Alongside the purpose they were serving, you started to notice other results that were counterproductive.
Finding yourself in deeper than you planned is completely understandable. you’re not alone.
If you want a change in the way you are using alcohol or other substances, therapy may help you figure out the next steps. Substance use can be difficult to talk about, and I want you to know that discussing what’s going on without judgment is my highest priority.
What I do as your therapist is help you look at the history of your relationship with substances, think about what purpose they are serving in your life at present, and activate alternate ways to meet those needs.
When substance use has become a challenge, there are often other issues that are intertwined:
Family
Relationships
Work
School
Legal problems
Physical health
Mental health
History of trauma
Therapy will give you space to figure out how these things are interacting with your substance use, which can help you find the motivation and clarity you need to make a change.
At certain levels, substance use issues aren’t responsive to weekly therapy and more intensive support is needed. If that’s your situation, I can help you understand and access additional treatment resources.