Addiction Therapists in Santa Barbara, CA.

Many compulsive behaviors are protectors for sensitive parts inside of us. Compulsive behaviors can be addictions of all sorts--to food, sex, screens, alcohol, drugs, work, toxic relationships, and many more things. My approach to these challenges is to build a sense of safety and an atmosphere of compassion so that clients can begin to understand the different parts inside of themselves. Clients get to know and care for the inner protectors who turn toward these compulsive behaviors and also the inner children that they are often trying to protect. Addictions often overlay a history of trauma. Slowly, gently, we begin to work on healing what is underneath and restore a sense of well-being.

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.

I wholeheartedly agree with the work of Dr. Gabor Mate who posits that all addictive tendencies arise in the parts of our brains governing some of our most basic and life-sustaining needs and functions: incentive and motivation, physical and emotional pain relief, the regulation of stress, and the capacity to feel and receive love; these brain circuits develop, or don’t develop, largely under the influence of the nurturing environment in early life, and that therefore addiction represents a failure of these crucial systems to mature in the way nature intended. The human brain continues to develop new circuitry throughout the lifespan and therapy can provide the "corrective" experience.

Whether you are worried that you might have a drug and/or alcohol addiction or cannot leave your computer to play with your children, I can help you gain some insight into way you do what you do and then find ways to slowly decrease your need to engage in the undesired activity. Being free of the addictive drive, however invasive it has been in your life, will leave you not only with more freedom to be who you truly want to be, but it will also increase the depth and truth of your relationships.

I specialize in helping those struggling with addiction, pain, and psychological trauma. As a psychotherapist, I'm committed to providing a safe and compassionate environment for clients to explore their feelings and experiences. I understand how difficult life can be and strive to provide personalized care that best suits each person's individual needs. My goal is to work together with my clients to gain insight and understanding into their unique situation so that they can ultimately find healing.

While most treatment approaches to addiction include 12 step programs, rehabs, and now sober living houses, Grey Matters International, Inc. provides a wildly successful alternative to traditional models of addiction treatment----that keeps the brain in mind. That is, talking to the conscious brain while the primal brain is deciding things even before you are consciously aware? Well, that is the problem to solve in addiction. We have the solution utilizing a new cutting edge neuroscience-centered brain rebalancing system. Contact kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or call 877-606-6161.

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.

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.