addiction is a complex problem deserving sophisticated understanding and treatment
“Junkie.” “Crackhead.” “Drunk.” "Liar." "Slut." "Philanderer." These are judgmental terms that are often thrown around without a second thought, not realizing that there are real people behind them with real loved ones affected by the problems of addictions. Many people believe that addictions are the fault of a morally weak and careless person when actually science has shown us that addictions are actually complex diseases/disorders that are characterized by compulsive drug and alcohol use or other harmful, chaotic behaviors such as gambling, sexual compulsions, video gaming, etc. People with addictions carry on these behaviors despite consequences that they may face. Negative consequences alone often aren't enough. Often people with addictions have histories of unsuccessfully or under treated acute and/or developmental trauma, prolonged grief, and/or co-occurring emotional disorders (i.e. depression, PTSD, anxiety).
People with addictions may be in a place where they drink alcohol to go to sleep and/or to wake up and don’t know why. Or use marijuana most of the day to feel anything interesting. Or use cocaine before every social encounter just to feel like they fit in. People with gambling addictions make promises to never use protected funds for gambling, or to never hide their gambling, and yet they use the family savings. People with Out of Control Sexual Behavior have serial affairs, betraying their spouses or romantic partners, and risking sexually transmitted infections, legal problems and other consequences. People with addictions are often close to losing something very important because of drug use or other addictive behaviors, and they feel lost as to how to stop themselves. If it were as simple as saying "Just Stop It!" it would be, and people with addictions and their loved ones wouldn't toil over what to do and how to do it.
Psychotherapy can be an important element in helping individuals with addictive disorders recognize problems they are having and make changes that matter to them towards their recovery. Methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) are evidenced to help address motivation and change towards recovery, Relapse Prevention Planning is evidenced to help maintain desired changes, and trauma-informed therapies such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) are shown to increase the likelihood of maintenance of desired changes by helping individuals address emotional addiction triggers left in the wake of traumas and significant losses.
Psychotherapy can also be helpful for the Concerned Significant Others (CSO) of people with addiction disorders. Methods including Community Reinforcement And Family Training (CRAFT) and Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy (ABCT) are evidenced to increase CSO well-being and facilitate identified patients (aka the person with an addiction) to enter and remain in recovery services. Methods such as Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method address elements of couple dynamics that challenge or strengthen motivation for recovery and heal Attachment Injuries (relational wounds) left in the wake of addiction-influenced interpersonal behaviors (i.e. lying & deception, betrayals of boundaries and trust, aggression, etc.). And trauma-informed approaches such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) can help CSOs regain and maintain their health and balance after an addiction has affected their loved one.
Our therapists are trained to work together with you to help you get where you want to be. Our therapists are trained to use various approaches in the treatment of addictive disorders including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Community Reinforcement And Family Training (CRAFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotionally Focused Therapies (EFT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help individuals with addictions and their loved ones find and maintain balance, health and happiness again.
Get in touch with one of our therapists listed below:
People with addictions may be in a place where they drink alcohol to go to sleep and/or to wake up and don’t know why. Or use marijuana most of the day to feel anything interesting. Or use cocaine before every social encounter just to feel like they fit in. People with gambling addictions make promises to never use protected funds for gambling, or to never hide their gambling, and yet they use the family savings. People with Out of Control Sexual Behavior have serial affairs, betraying their spouses or romantic partners, and risking sexually transmitted infections, legal problems and other consequences. People with addictions are often close to losing something very important because of drug use or other addictive behaviors, and they feel lost as to how to stop themselves. If it were as simple as saying "Just Stop It!" it would be, and people with addictions and their loved ones wouldn't toil over what to do and how to do it.
Psychotherapy can be an important element in helping individuals with addictive disorders recognize problems they are having and make changes that matter to them towards their recovery. Methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) are evidenced to help address motivation and change towards recovery, Relapse Prevention Planning is evidenced to help maintain desired changes, and trauma-informed therapies such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) are shown to increase the likelihood of maintenance of desired changes by helping individuals address emotional addiction triggers left in the wake of traumas and significant losses.
Psychotherapy can also be helpful for the Concerned Significant Others (CSO) of people with addiction disorders. Methods including Community Reinforcement And Family Training (CRAFT) and Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy (ABCT) are evidenced to increase CSO well-being and facilitate identified patients (aka the person with an addiction) to enter and remain in recovery services. Methods such as Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method address elements of couple dynamics that challenge or strengthen motivation for recovery and heal Attachment Injuries (relational wounds) left in the wake of addiction-influenced interpersonal behaviors (i.e. lying & deception, betrayals of boundaries and trust, aggression, etc.). And trauma-informed approaches such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) can help CSOs regain and maintain their health and balance after an addiction has affected their loved one.
Our therapists are trained to work together with you to help you get where you want to be. Our therapists are trained to use various approaches in the treatment of addictive disorders including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Community Reinforcement And Family Training (CRAFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotionally Focused Therapies (EFT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help individuals with addictions and their loved ones find and maintain balance, health and happiness again.
Get in touch with one of our therapists listed below:
Addiction treatment practitioners on staff:
James McCracken, LCSW (he/him)
Modalities: Concerned Significant Others, Couples, Families with Adult Children
Addictions: Alcohol & Substance Abuse, Out of Control Sexual Behavior Methods: CRAFT, EFT, AEDP |
Kiel Frett, LCMHC, LCAS (he/him)
Modalities: Individual Adults with Addictions, Concerned Significant Others
Addictions: Alcohol & Substance Abuse Methods: CBT, MI |
Family support Practitioners on staff:
James McCracken, LCSW (he/him)
Kiel Frett, LCMHC, LCAS (he/him)