addiction and substance misuse

People’s relationships with their particular substances are as unique as the individuals themselves. Do you feel that your substance use is beginning to take more of a role in your life than is healthy? Is your substance use tilting the balance away from healthy relationships and a healthy lifestyle? Or do you already know that you have developed an addiction that has taken on a life of its own and you’re ready to regain control? Regardless of where you are in your recovery journey, I will work with you to achieve balance in your life.

Your addiction may stem from past or ongoing trauma that needs to be addressed in order to move forward. Or maybe what began as enjoyable social drinking or drug use developed into a coping mechanism (for social anxiety, depression, or getting through life’s daily stressors) and now you’re not sure how to cope without your substance. Maybe you have recently started MOUD (medication for opioid use disorder – e.g. buprenorphine, Suboxone, methadone) and want to engage in therapy as a supplement to your medication program. I believe that addiction leads to disconnection from our authentic selves and I will work with you to “recover” or “uncover” who you are meant to be in this lifetime.

Addiction impacts us at the chemical and biological levels and I will draw on somatic techniques to redefine and reclaim your relationship with your bodily self. Addiction impacts us psychologically and I will use trauma-focused CBT to teach you skills to support you in your recovery. It impacts family and friendships and we will explore what may need mending or what may need leaving behind and I will support you in navigating these processes. Lastly, addiction can have a spiritual impact, often leaving us disconnected from our true spiritual self and the deeper spirituality that is available to all of us, regardless of your faith background.

I am passionate about this work and besides working with individuals, I continue to work towards dismantling the criminalization of substance use at the societal level. Our mainstream society has stigmatized addiction and I am here to assure you that there is nothing to be ashamed of – we will work together to reclaim your innate power and authentic self.