Top addiction therapists in 98258: Lake Stevens, WA.

I work with alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual addiction, spending addiction and compulsive behaviors. I believe that these are coping mechanisms that "worked" at one time. Finding another way to comfort ourselves is key. I like 12 steps and what they have to offer as I believe that the addiction is a force of its own and we need a Power greater than ourselves to get better. I believe that for true recovery to happen, one needs to have a personality change to get away from the dry drunk state that leads them back into addiction. I have a lot of experience with this and have a lot of success stories. This is why I have chosen to specialize in this.

What sometimes starts as alluring, intriguing and fun...can grow into a habit or behavior that leads to mounting consequences for yourself and those around you. When you continue to engage in something that continually results in pain and problems...it can be really tough to find your way out of the snare of the behavior. Our counselors at Mill Creek Family Services are experienced and trained to help you loosen the grip of addiction. With compassion and commitment we work with you to create the shifts needed to leave the damaging habits in the past and move into a life of freedom.

It's only rarely that addiction 'just happens.' For most who have been caught in the web of addiction, it started for a reason. That reason may or may not be obvious, but through the counseling process, you can gain a deeper understanding of what drew you to substance misuse and why you continued using even when you knew it was a problem. Then you will also learn new ways meet those needs, ways that create vitality rather than disruption in your life.

Addiction is a self-destructive path that destroys your relationships and life-style. Work with me to take a look at what you really want in life! I will help you gain the self awareness so that you can see that addiction is just an empty substitution for what would be gratifying to you. Addiction is just wasting your life. Confronting yourself and having the courage to step up and take responsibility will be challenging. I provide a non-judgemental and supportive presence as you work through your problem. If you're ready to move forward and leave behind your maladaptive coping mechanism, you're ready to have a better life.

Addiction is a mental health condition and I treat addiction by a multi-pronged process predominately from a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) model. I help my clients understand the reasons they use a substance or engage in an addictive behavior, teach them skills regulate their emotions and tolerance distress that might otherwise lead them to engage in their addiction, and address any underlying issues that contribute to their addiction. I also help clients with with concerns about their substance use or compulsive behavior to avoid developing addictions.

Our work together will help uproot and eliminate the causes of addiction. Learn to transform negative passions, desires and thought patterns to positive feelings and develop the perspective to live a more meaningful and productive life. in so doing, you create a more positive environment for you and loved ones. experience a lighter and happier sense of self. the process is available to anyone willing to invest time and energy.

Addictions have a wide range and can vary from drugs and alcohol to pornography or cell phone or video game use to love addiction in relationships. Codependency can also become a compulsive or addictive relational pattern. I work with clients struggling with addiction to have the support to address and work through the underlying emotional hurts. As clients work through and replace their addictive behaviors with healthier ones, they see their confidence return and a new ability to find and maintain healthy relationships.

In my work with sex addiction treatment, people are often surprised when I tell them sex addiction isn’t about sex. You may wonder yourself, how can that be? When someone is “acting out” from their sexual behaviors and hiding in shame and secrecy, it’s easy to get distracted by the sordid sexual stories of infidelity, prostitution, pornography or other outward acts of indecency. But sex is only the vehicle or means by which the addict uses to achieve his “high”. Sex you see, is the byproduct or end result of a troubled inner condition. If therapists only focus on stopping the behavior, then that would only amount to a modicum of success. What needs to be altered is more than the external ....

The comedian Russell Brand wrote; “Drugs and alcohol are not my problem — reality is my problem. Drugs and alcohol are my solution.” It really doesn't matter if your addiction is pornography or cocaine or work or your cell phone- we all have solutions that we use to cope and deal with life. The problem is they often rob us of the good and beautiful things in life. I offer a helping hand in escaping addiction and working with the issues that our addictions mask.

I have received extra training and special experience working with substance use disorders. I understand addiction as a short-term solution which causes long-term problems and strive to honor the person who's life has been hijacked by their addiction. We will free you of the shame and blame caused by addiction and work on behavioral strategies to prevent relapse while supporting you towards your recovery. We'll work to find ways to replace the benefits of your addiction with healthier alternatives and to surround yourself with a supportive community. I'll help you repair relationships damaged by the destructive consequences of addition and find peace, love and joy.

Addiction of any kind has a particular hold on the person experiencing it and the people around them. It can be hard to express and even harder to honestly take a look at. I provide a safe, non-judgmental, confidential place to explore the effects of addiction. I am honest and direct but gentle with clients who are seeking help in this area. My approach is harm-reduction. Most often clients have success with cognitive behavioral therapy, rational emotive therapy and mindfulness. Tackling the effects of addiction and choosing to work hard to get better is a life-changing positive decision that will allow you to free yourself from unwanted behaviors and let you live the life you want.

If you have an addiction and are actively pursuing recovery through an addiction program of your choosing, I am happy to work with you to uncover the roots of your addictive behavior. I am not a good choice for a first line of response to recovery but I'm a good addition to your ongoing recovery work. Addiction is a way to change your emotional and mental state because you are finding your current way of being intolerable or distressing. Many addictions are fueled by underlying anxiety. I help clients discover and make sense of the foundations of their addictions in order to help them maximize their recovery process and by replacing harmful coping tools with newer, healthier ones.

I consider myself an expert in addiction therapy. My focus is not the addictive substance or activity. I focus on the root cause for why you engage in the various activities for the purpose of self-medication. As we flesh out the emotional and traumatic scars from past life events, you will find that your desire to self-medicate reduces significantly.