Addiction Therapists in Cloverdale, CA.

Are you finding yourself needing to fill a void with alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, or even other people? Any of these things can be considerred addictions. When you get addicted to something, power is given away in the sense that you no longer feel complete or whole without the object of your addiction. Recovery means not only stopping the addictive behavior but learning new ways to restore wholeness. In therapy with me, you learn more fulfilling ways to feel whole and complete without the addictive behavior. I often work with people in long term recovery as well, to form a new, more meaningful life. I am well versed in traditional 12 step and alternative approaches.

We have all experienced some sort of addiction, whether it be to food, work, sex, alcohol, a drug, gambling, shopping, or our cell phone… This unconscious escapism or desire to fill a void runs rampant in our modern day lifestyle. What do we do when addiction is eroding our quality of life and/or our relationships? I find the solution is often in identifying the core wound that is causing you to want to escape, or to fill a void. I offer a more spiritual approach to recovery work in which you will cultivate your relationship with your Higher Self and learn how to keep the addict part of you in the back seat with the seat belt on.

Addictions can appear in many forms including substance addictions, internet addiction, sex addiction, gambling addiction, shopping addiction, pornography, social media, excessive exercise, food, etc. Strong cravings with a loss of control can lead people to become addicted in spite of possible dire consequences. Counselling is one of several possible treatments available for addictions. Individual, group and family therapies have been found to be helpful in order to inform a client regarding the harmful effects the addiction may have on themselves, their friends, family and society. Promoting physical, emotional and spiritual well being is often critical for the rehabilitation process.

While I do not work with clients in active addiction, I absolutely support clients who have addiction in their pasts, as this likely indicates some trauma. If you are receiving support from an addiction counselor, going to a support group, or working with your MD, I am always happy to be part of your support team. Trauma and addiction go hand in hand, making this a big part of my practice. Therapy is often a small piece of the puzzle, but I always ensure my clients have the tools they need to be successful. If you need support with addiction, please reach out and I can help you with coordination for you to meet all of your mental health needs.

The root of addiction is always a desire to exit out of the painful present moment. Together we will look at what is causing you pain that you're trying to avoid. Helping you find a sense of connection, belonging, and acceptance of yourself are key to overcoming addiction. Increasing your capacity to stay grounded in the present moment as a neutral observer of the emotions that arise and recede will help you make different choices that better serve your life.

Addiction can be a tricky and slippery issue to deal with due to its nonlogical nature. I know this from personal experience because I dealt with with addiction issues before becoming a psychotherapist. It is this combination of personal and professional experience that makes me uniquely qualified to help people recover from this particular issue. With the aid of tools like EMDR CBT and guided visualizations I can help you overcome this issue and heal from the issues that drive it. Additionally, I can provide tools, coping skills, and other resources to help you manage particular issues while I’m helping you heal.

Drug addiction is a chronic disease, characterized by changes in the brain which result in a compulsive desire to use a drug. A combination of many factors including genetics, environment and behavior influence a person's addiction risk, making it an incredibly complicated disease. The new science of addiction considers all of these factors - from biology to family - to unravel the complexities of the addicted brain. Call me for an appt.

I specialize in working with internet, video game, cell phone, social media, crypto and porn addictions. These process addictions have acquired a power over you that is difficult to break. I take a multi-faceted approach to helping you experience the change you desire. I use Motivational Interviewing to help you solidify your desire to change, I utilize abstinence based strategies and methods to help you establish and sustain sobriety, I help you learn how to replace these addictions with real relationships and interests that foster real relationships and I support you in identifying or establishing a natural support network that helps you to maintain and sustain the new changes in your life

Many approaches to addiction emphasize willpower and deprivation, but this only works temporarily. Alcohol, substances, or other addictive behaviours like gambling and gaming offer short-term relief of underlying issues at a long-term cost to one's relationships and health. As an addiction counsellor, I can help you resolve underlying issues, regain control, and build a sense of meaning and purpose, so you can start living the life you want. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to addiction recovery. I meet each client where they are at, tailoring my approach to each person's unique needs. Send me a message and we can connect for a quick call to discuss next steps.