Addiction Therapists in Nutley, NJ.

I am a licensed clinical social worker, licensed alcohol and drug counselor and have a sap credential. I have worked in a treatment facility, 27 years in a school district as a substance abuse coordinator and have also worked in a state prison. Through out all these years, I have worked with all populations and all addictions. There is not one approach. I tend to be eclectic. I am passionate about helping people and offer an environment that is supportive in implementing pathways to healing.

I have successfully helped clients with a variety of addictions including eating disorders, substance abuse, compulsive shopping, compulsive exercise, gambling addiction, and sex addiction. I often work in conjunction with 12-step programs or other support groups, as guided by the needs and preferences of the client. In addition to helping clients stop the addiction that is hurting them at the moment, I help you to understand the origin of your addiction so that you can attain a more permanent recovery. By helping to you see the psychological motivations, you are empowered to work your program more effectively. Instead of transferring from one addiction to another, you develop strategies to

Overall, I treat addiction much like I would treat any other crisis. I would do addiction assessment to make sure I'm the right person to treat you. I'd identify triggers, what makes you more likely to repeat the addictive behavior. I can work with substance use and sex addiction. My general belief is that addiction is a way that people avoid dealing with other people and their problems. It can be a learned behavior. In order to stop doing the offensive behavior, it is important to focus on what you do want to do. This is the process of recovery, and I will do my best to facilitate this.

I focus on providing support for individuals in recovery from addiction, helping them maintain sobriety and build a healthy, balanced lifestyle. My approach involves equipping clients with effective coping strategies, fostering personal growth, and reinforcing the skills they gained during treatment. While I do not work with individuals actively battling addiction, I offer guidance to those in recovery, emphasizing relapse prevention, personal accountability, and long-term emotional well-being to ensure sustained progress and a fulfilling life post-addiction.

Drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, love, food, netflix etc. WORK! You would not use them to survive feelings that are otherwise unbearable, if they didn't. Unfortunately, there is simply never enough, or the consequences become dangerous and/or intolerable. Eventually the feelings of neglect, isolation, alienation, paranoia and loneliness return. Treatment for addiction will allow you to accept your feelings and your past so that you can regain control over your life and choices, heal relationships, and restore your sense of esteem, dignity and agency.

Individuals in the process of recovering from substance use can learn how to prevent relapse, identify and process triggers associated with substance use, learn interpersonal and emotion regulation skills to navigate life in recovery from using substances and assist in developing a positive support system. Individuals can learn about treatment and recovery from substances.

I help my clients become aware of how they protect against their feelings. These are called addictions We can use anything as an addiction if our intention is to avoid our feelings or to use something to make us feel worthy. I can help you manage the loneliness, helplessness and heartbreak that you may be avoiding with your addictions. Once you know you can handle your feelings then you no longer have to protect against them and can let go of your addiction.

I began my career working outpatient with alcoholics, addicts, and their families. Though I believe that the 12 steps offer a full and complete basis for recovery, I also acknowledge that the help of a professional can be beneficial as well, particularly in early recovery or at later stages when life gets very "real". In early recovery, the information can be overwhelming, and having a professional to help sort things out is super helpful. In later recovery, we often develop some unrealistic expectations that need to be right-sized.

Addictions range from alcohol and drugs to internet, money, gambling and many other challenges. Do you find yourself struggling to get back on your feet only to fall right back down on your face even harder than the last fall. You cannot do it alone. Willpower is helpful but it is not enough for many forms of addiction. It is time for you to admit that you need help and support to get to recovery.

This is an area of treatment where I have seen many miracles. Successfully moving beyond substance dependence and abuse is not a matter of will power and character. Addictions are very 'sticky' and nine decades of research and experience confirms that attempting to keep them in check without help does not work. Twelve step programs (AA, NA, CA, etc) are the ‘gold standard’ of recovery, and are tried and true methods of achieving lasting abstinence. I possess a strong 12 Step program background, but know it is very helpful to be introduced to recovery properly to feel at home. Come for a consultation and see what is possible.

You went after work to hang out with friends. You had some drinks or you got high. Everything was fine in the beginning until you noticed that just stopping was no longer easy. I believe that people can reduce or completely stop. The choice is yours to make. There are consequences to working me; you may decide you don't need to be high or drunk to enjoy yourself.