Substance Abuse Counseling in California
I offer substance abuse counseling in California for adults who want to maintain long-term sobriety and break free from patterns that hold them back. If you’re struggling with triggers, cravings, or underlying trauma, therapy can help you develop the skills, coping strategies, and support you need to stay sober and create a healthier, more balanced life.
You’ve gotten sober. Now you’re ready to stay that way.
You may have been to treatment or achieved sobriety on your own. But you’re realizing that getting sober isn’t the same as staying sober…and that’s what you really hope to do.
Recovery is a lifelong journey. You’re likely already aware of some of the stressors or triggers that can arise, and you know how important it is to be prepared to navigate those before you encounter them. You may also have a sense that there are some deeper roots to your addiction—things that you may not have acknowledged or addressed before—that may be impacting you today.
What is substance abuse counseling like?
Substance abuse counseling is a safe, non-judgmental, and supportive space to help you achieve your goal of long-term sobriety.
Addiction can alter the structure of the brain in ways that take months, if not years, to heal. In substance abuse counseling, you can identify and address the unaddressed emotional struggles, trauma, and other triggers that are often at the root of addiction, setting you up for success as your brain heals and you pursue long-term, significant changes in your life.
My approach to substance abuse counseling
As a therapist who has worked in drug treatment for many years, and who holds certification as a Certified Addictions-Informed Professional, I understand how intricate this “balancing act” can feel in both early and later stages of recovery. My goal is to offer you a place where the shame of addiction is removed and you instead feel empowered to confront the behaviors, thoughts, or experiences that have contributed to your addiction in the past.
In our sessions, we will work on:
Setting boundaries in established relationships and cultivating new ones
Addressing the deeper roots behind your addiction, including past experiences that may still be impacting you
Maintaining your commitment to sobriety in difficult situations
Creating healthy coping skills to manage emotions, anxiety, stress, or past trauma
Overcoming feelings of guilt or shame related to your addiction
How does substance abuse counseling work?
We will begin our work together by understanding your history and establishing your goals: what is important to you, and what do you want to accomplish in therapy? What does a life of sobriety look like and feel like to you? From there, we’ll develop a roadmap to making those things a reality.
Many times, addiction is caused by painful past experiences, emotional struggles, or trauma—things that often aren’t addressed or diagnosed in relation to substance use. In counseling, we’ll work on identifying the deeper roots behind your substance use and then use methods like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to heal them at the source. I’ll also help you develop healthy coping skills for triggers and stressors in life, learn how to set boundaries and advocate for your needs effectively, and think about yourself and your life in a more positive light.
Together, we’ll acknowledge the different emotions tied to your addiction and address the patterns of shame or negativity that have held you back in the past.
Who I can help
I support clients in recovery from various substances, including:
Alcohol
Marijuana
Opioids
Heroine
Meth
Cocaine
Frequently Asked Questions about Substance Abuse Counseling
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For some people, sobriety means 100% abstinence from substances. For others, it may be moderate use that no longer interferes with daily functioning. This is something that you and I can discuss in our work together and ultimately work toward, recognizing that recovery looks different for different people. I’m here to support you in achieving the sober lifestyle that you envision for yourself.
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Substance abuse is defined as a pattern of drug use that leads to significant problems. Sometimes these problems are at school or work, in relationships, or in day-to-day functioning. This is often diagnosed as Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and is sometimes accompanied by mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, or bipolar disorder.
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Addiction is often caused by past trauma (even if we don’t realize it at the time). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful, evidence-based method for addressing painful memories or deep-rooted negative beliefs. In substance abuse counseling, EMDR can help you treat the trauma that may be underlying your substance abuse behaviors, reducing the compulsion you have toward them and helping cultivate healthier coping skills that support your sobriety.
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There are two main ways counseling can help you on your recovery journey: addressing the roots of your addiction, and supporting you with healthy coping skills and strategies as you move into the future.
As part of our work together, we’ll take a look at your history with substances and the experiences that may have led you to begin using them. I take a trauma-informed approach to substance abuse counseling, meaning that everything we do will be highly individual and guided by your unique needs and experiences. We’ll identify the contributing factors to your addiction and work together to address each of them using evidence-based therapy methods.
I’m also here to support you in the day-to-day of your recovery journey. We’ll work on developing tools to aid you in managing emotions, stress, and anxiety, addressing triggers, and cultivating a support system that shares your goal of long-term sobriety.
By addressing both the root causes and the day-to-day of recovery, you’ll be equipped to move into the future sober, healthy, and confident that you can handle whatever life throws at you.
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I work with adults navigating recovery from a range of substances, including alcohol, marijuana, opioids (such as heroin), meth, and cocaine. Regardless of the substance, our work focuses on understanding the patterns, triggers, and underlying experiences that contribute to your use so you can build a more stable and sustainable path forward
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No. Some clients come to therapy after completing a rehab or treatment program, while others begin counseling without any prior treatment. We can meet you wherever you are in your recovery—whether you’re newly sober, maintaining sobriety, or thinking about making a change
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The length of counseling varies depending on your goals, history, and where you are in your recovery journey. Some people benefit from short-term support focused on specific challenges, while others engage in longer-term therapy to address deeper patterns or trauma. We’ll regularly check in on your progress and adjust our work together as needed
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Yes, online therapy can be a highly effective way to receive support for substance use and recovery. It allows you to access consistent care from the comfort of your own space, which can make it easier to stay engaged in the process. The most important factor is having a supportive, consistent therapeutic relationship—whether sessions are held in person or online
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Absolutely. Feelings of guilt or shame are very common in recovery and can sometimes make it harder to move forward. In our work together, we’ll create a non-judgmental space to explore these feelings, understand where they come from, and begin to shift how you relate to them. The goal is to help you build a more compassionate and empowering view of yourself as you continue your recovery.
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I offer a free 15-minute consultation to help you decide if I’m the right substance abuse counselor to support you. Request your appointment. We’ll use this time to answer any questions you have about counseling, share a little bit about what you’re hoping to achieve, and determine if we’re a good fit to help you get there.
You are capable and deserving of a fulfilling, joyful, sober life.
I help adults in California maintain long-term sobriety, address underlying triggers, and build healthier coping skills through substance abuse counseling.