Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling

Has Alcohol And Substance Use Started To Make Your World Feel Small?

Are you questioning why alcohol and drugs are prevalent in your life? Do you think you might be suffering from an addiction, but you’re not sure? No matter how hard you try to cut down, does it seem like sobriety is a hopeless endeavor with only temporary relief?

When you’re dealing with alcohol and substance abuse, your whole world can begin to feel small and your options limited. The more absorbed you are with obtaining and using drugs and alcohol, the more insignificant everything else in life becomes. Your work may suffer and your relationships may become strained. You may feel restless, irritable, and discontent. You may long for a future without the need for drugs and alcohol, but you’re not sure where to start.

Overcoming An Addiction To Alcohol and Drugs Can Be Lonely

Perhaps your drinking and using has made you feel disconnected from friends and family. The people in your life may not fully understand how addiction works or how they can help out. You may experience shame, guilt, judgment, and an overall lack of support from friends and family. This could make you feel powerless over alcohol and drugs and make it seem like there is nowhere to turn.

Deep down, you probably tell yourself: If I could just pull myself together and resist using for a while—maybe a day, a month, or a year—everything would be fine. If this is how you feel, I encourage you to connect with me. Alcohol and substance abuse counseling is a chance to expand your awareness, change your relationship to drugs and alcohol, and leave addiction in the past.

Alcohol And Substance Abuse Is Often A Sign Of Deeper Emotional Wounds

Roughly one in ten Americans suffer from a substance use disorder. That number is even higher for those in the LGBTQ+ community—about 20-to-30-percent of sexual minority adults grapple with drug or alcohol addiction.

For many people, alcohol and substance abuse is a symptom of a deeper problem. People often start using or drinking to cope with trauma, abuse, loneliness, bad relationships, or grief and loss. Their suffering often makes them want to mentally “check out” of everyday life and soothe their “hole in the soul” with alcohol and drugs. This can lead to taking greater risks and result in serious consequences. When you’re struggling with an addiction, there often comes a moment when you are “sick and tired of being sick and tired.” There is a better way to live.

Substance Use May Start As A Way To Cope With Suffering—But It Rarely Stays That Way

Although people often start using or drinking to deal with painful emotions, there comes a point when they are no longer self-soothing and their using takes over. Their alcohol and substance use becomes a mental and physical dependence, gaining a life of its own outside of their control.

Most people wait a long time to admit they have a problem with alcohol and drugs. Oftentimes, they delay seeking support until recovery seems like a herculean and impossible task. But no matter how bleak things may appear, I encourage you to take heart. With my help, you have the opportunity to get to the core issues of your substance use and embrace a brighter future.

Substance Use May Start As A Way To Cope With Suffering—But It Rarely Stays That Way

Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling Can Help You Reduce Your Substance Abuse And Develop A Recovery Plan

Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment Can Help You Reduce Your Substance Abuse And Develop A Recovery Plan

There is so much more awareness around addiction nowadays, yet an atmosphere of shame and guilt continues to persist. That’s why I seek to nurture a safe, non-judgmental space for healing. Above all, substance abuse counseling is a chance to be yourself. This is a time to practice self-forgiveness and self-acceptance. I want you to understand that addiction is not a choice, but that you are in control of your healing process and you can make a change today.

Working together, you and I will identify the core issues driving your addiction and build on your strengths to create a recovery plan of action. We will formulate a path forward that is realistic and attainable for you. The immediate focus may be symptom reduction and the long-term goal is mapping out a pathway to a healthier and more fulfilling life.

What To Expect In Sessions

Trying to get or stay sober can be daunting and overwhelming. That’s why breaking things down into small segments is so important. Alcohol and substance abuse counseling is a chance to focus on the day-to-day things—building a routine and structure, exercising or taking daily walks, even just pausing to take a deep breath, etc. Oftentimes, there’s a heavy focus on doing things for other people. Helping others is a great way to get your mind off your troubles and stave off the loneliness that puts you at greater risk of slipping into old patterns.

Although drug and alcohol counseling is generally practical, I also find it helpful to do the deeper work needed to facilitate healing. Together, we’ll explore the people, places, and things at the root of your addiction and look at what might need to change. What emotional wounds in the past made alcohol and substance use feel like the best solution? How have your previous relationships informed your using experience? These are all important questions that we can explore in therapy.

Tailoring your Treatment Plan

I utilize an integrative approach to alcohol and substance abuse counseling, drawing from Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), and many other healing methods. The goal of MI is to help you improve your sense of motivation and be more committed to specific goals for your addiction recovery. This approach can help you make these changes within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion.

I know how difficult it can be to reach out for support. Right now, you may feel like no one understands you or can provide the emotional support you need. That’s why I’m here. Partnering with me, you have the chance to overcome your need for drugs and alcohol and create a new way of living.

You May Have Some Concerns About Alcohol And Substance Abuse Counseling…

Based on your history and attempts at sobriety, I can see why you might feel this way. Substance use is a very complex issue that affects you all the way down to your core being. If you know that alcohol and drugs are bad for you, that means that your core being is signaling you to stop. Together, we can explore this gut-feeling and identify the barriers that prevent you from listening to it.
When you’re deep into alcohol and drug use, it’s hard to imagine a life without it. The question is: how is life with drugs or alcohol? If you’re reading this page, there’s probably a part of you that genuinely wants to change. In therapy, you and I can explore the possibility of a life without substances and map out what that looks like for you.
In many cases, drug and alcohol abuse is progressive in nature. You might have used substances once a month, then once a week, and then every day. Even if you’re not sure that you have a problem, the fact that you’re considering support shows you’re questioning your behavior and its consequences. If you want to understand your alcohol and substance use on a deeper level, I would be honored to offer support.

Addiction Does Not Define You

If you feel like overcoming addiction can seem like a daunting idea, I would be honored to partner with you. No one should have to go it alone. I provide both online and in-person therapy in Wilton Manors and the greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida area. Most major health insurances are accepted in-network, and I also participate with clients for out-of-network health insurance benefits. To begin your journey with a trusted and supportive therapist, you can contact me for a free 15-minute phone consultation.

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