Counseling For Addiction and Substance Use

Addiction is a real disease.

If you are suffering from it, you know that the struggle is real. You can’t control the disease of addiction any more than you could control the disease of cancer, and that might leave you feeling powerless or hopeless. On top of all of the pain that comes from addiction, there is the stigma that persists in our society and that creates shame, secrecy, and unhealthy patterns of suppression and avoidance.

Like any disease, there is a treatment that works.

Being in a non-judgmental space allows you to finally speak your truth and get real. That’s where the healing happens. Connecting with a therapist who gets it and will support you through even the most painful thoughts and feelings allows you to start working through the things that have kept you stuck in old patterns. When it comes to addiction, there is nothing more important than safe, meaningful connections with other people to heal the part of you that craves substances. As a therapist I can be one of those connections, and help you figure out how to build more of them in your life. I will also teach you useful skills and strategies to cope with life, and address the underlying causes of your addiction. Some of the most common root causes I come across are trauma, anxiety and depressive disorders, difficulty regulating emotions, and a brain that is pre-disposed for addictive tendencies. We will address all of these underlying causes of addiction through therapy. Furthermore, we’ll discuss new skills you can use moving forward. I use a variety of counseling techniques in addiction treatment including mindfulness which will help you cope with the present moment. I also use cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt) which gives you specific new skills and new ways of looking at the world around you so you have can cope with the stress of life without turning to your addiction.

Therapy helps maintain sobriety and support ongoing recovery.

If you have already achieved abstinence from substances, congratulations on your sobriety - that takes a ton of strength and courage. You may have already discovered that not all of your difficulties disappear when you first get sober, and that’s normal and common. Abstinence is only one piece of the puzzle, and substance abuse recovery is a process that will last the rest of your life. Having someone who understands the ins and outs of addiction and recovery guide you through it takes some of the stress and pressure off of you. No one should ever be expected to do this alone, and I am here for you. I can provide the structure, support, and tools that you need to maintain your sobriety, and go from struggling through it to having the life you want.

If you would like a free phone consultation, call (828) 407-0074, or email StriveOnCounseling@gmail.com.

Other Mental Health Services Available at Strive On Counseling

As Asheville, NC substance abuse counselors and mental health therapists, we understand that every individual has a unique set of needs. Therefore, our clinicians offer many modes and forms of therapy meant to treat you as a whole person. Maybe you have used alcohol or drugs as a way to self medicate and cope with anxiety, depression or trauma symptoms. If so, counseling can help you stop relying on substances as well as treat the underlying mental health issue. More specifically, our mental health services include individual counseling, EMDR therapy for trauma, anxiety treatment, counseling for men, therapy for chronic illness and therapy for chronic pain. Also, because we know addiction impacts the entire family system our Asheville based counseling practice also specializes in offering therapy for family members of addicts. Some other resources we offer include a list of books and other useful resources, as well as, information about CBT. If you would like more information about any of these mental health services, please reach out today!