Break Free: Reclaim your life from addiction
Do you hate how much you look forward to the end of the day and the cocktail(s) that you know will take the edge off?
Have you ever tried to stop using, but you’ve failed every time and you’re just not sure it’s even possible anymore?
Do you wonder if there will ever be anything else that will quiet the noise quite like drinking or smoking?
Substance Use and Addiction Therapy
It was estimated in 2022 that almost 49 million people aged 12+ suffered from a substance use disorder, including alcohol and various drugs. In the same year, NCDHHS recorded that approximately 12 people died every day from a drug overdose in the state of North Carolina. Substance misuse and overuse are not uncommon and we are here to help!
Therapy for alcohol and substance use can help you
Counseling for substance use involves helping to reduce the harm associated with substance use or to help in abstaining from substance use altogether. This therapy is intended not only to reduce or eliminate substance use, but also to explore and identify the root causes of what led to and continues the cycle of substance use. It is common that people who struggle with substance use have co-occurring problems such as depression, anxiety, and/or PTSD. Therapy can help you to replace the unwanted habit, or sometimes addiction, of substance use with more healthy habits and ways of dealing with life’s challenges.
The Impact of Substance Overuse on Your Wellbeing
Extended overuse of alcohol and drugs can have a significant impact on your wellbeing – mentally, physically, and even spiritually.
Anxiety and depression often coexist with substance use disorders. You may experience a rapid heart rate, racing thoughts, restlessness, and excessive worry. Feelings of shame and guilt can lead to a vicious cycle of negative self-image, feeling like a failure, and more self-medicating to numb the pain.
Substance use may include significant financial and legal ramifications, as well. Aside from the cost of purchasing substances, hospital bills, doctor’s visits, DUIs, legal fees, and more can impact an individual’s ability to care for themselves or their families.
Other common side effects of substance use are hopelessness, loss of pleasure and interest, sleep disturbances, lack of motivation, and suicidal thoughts.
But there is hope for healing!
Physical side effects may include impaired memory, distorted vision, sexual dysfunction, dental problems, greater risk of infection, heart disease, and strokes.
Spiritual effects may include detachment and disconnection from self and others (including God), loss of purpose, loneliness, shame, and impaired ability to perceive truth and experience peace.
Benefits of Substance Use and Addiction Counseling
Our trauma-informed team provides outpatient, clinical services to help you uncover the underlying causes of your substance use.
We know that it is so much more helpful to ask not Why the behavior, but rather, Why the pain? This is because substance use and abuse is often a response to distressing events or experiences, and it is a way of coping that offers immediate relief.
Whether you are new to recovery or well acquainted with the journey of sobriety, our clinical team is here to walk alongside you. Individual therapy
for substance abuse allows clients to better understand their cravings, desires, and need for the immediate relief substances provide.
Using evidence-based modalities like person-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing, our team is ready to hit the ground running with you as you pursue wholeness and healing in your recovery.
As believers first and therapists second, we also understand the psychological and spiritual battle that occurs with addiction. We collaborate with our clients to bring a hope-focused approach to addiction recovery that is biblically grounded, evidence-based, and trauma-informed.
If you are struggling with substance use, please reach out today to schedule a free 20-minute consultation for individual therapy.
Trevor Thompson, LCMHC, LCAS
Addiction comes in many forms, whether it is smoking cigarettes on a daily basis, occasional binge drinking, or a years long battle with cocaine use. No matter what substance you are dealing with or how long your struggle, I can help you achieve your goals–whether that is breaking a bad habit, reducing how much you are using, or abstaining altogether. We will work together to explore your values, your intentions, and your hopes for your future.
I truly believe that you are the expert of your own life, so my goal is to come alongside you as a companion and guide to help facilitate your healing journey and to help you explore your feelings, needs, values, and dreams. I strive to be present in your struggles, challenge you to make changes that reflect your values when you are ready, and pinpoint obstacles, habits, or patterns in your life that are keeping you stuck.
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Mollie Pinkham, LCSW
Clinical Therapist | Families Impacted by Substance Use
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Jessie Tucker Mitchell, LCMHCA, CTP
Clinical Therapist | Eating Disorders + Substance Use
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Bayleigh Griffith, LCMHCA, CTP
Clinical Therapist | Trauma + Addiction
Top Questions for Substance Abuse Counseling
When engaging in substance abuse counseling, asking the right questions can facilitate understanding and promote recovery. Here are some key questions to consider:
1: What led you to seek help for your substance use?
Understanding the motivation behind seeking help can provide you and your counselor insight into your readiness for change.
2: How do you feel about your current substance use?
This question helps you gauge awareness and feelings regarding your substance use, which is crucial for building rapport and formulating goals.
3: How does your substance use affect your daily life?
Understanding the impact on various aspects of life, such as relationships, work, and health, can highlight the need for change.
4: What coping strategies do you currently use?
Identifying existing coping mechanisms can help in developing healthier alternatives and strategies for managing stress or triggers.
5: What are your goals for recovery?
Discussing specific goals can help you create a focused treatment plan as well as the motivation behind the effort.
6: How do you envision your life after recovery?
This question encourages you to think positively about your future and the benefits of sobriety.
7: What support systems do you have in place?
Understanding your support network can help you in leveraging those resources during your recovery process.
8: What fears or concerns do you have about the recovery process?
Addressing fears can help build trust and allow for open discussions about the challenges of recovery.
