Substance Abuse Counseling
Virtual Therapy in Hawaii, California, Utah, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Florida
“We may not be responsible for the way the world creates our mind, but we can learn to take responsibility for the mind with which we create our world.”
Dr. Gabor Maté
Are You Struggling To Maintain A Healthy Relationship With Drugs Or Alcohol?
Has your substance use begun to consume more and more of your life? Do you find yourself:
- Missing deadlines, underperforming at work, or lacking motivation to pursue your dreams?
- Forgetting to take care of responsibilities like paying bills or making it to important events?
- Withdrawing from relationships out of shame, guilt, or a fear that you’ll be found out?
Perhaps you drink or use to mask ADHD, anxiety, depression, or trauma/PTSD only to find that it’s actually worsening your symptoms. Or maybe you’re considering substance abuse counseling as a way to minimize the potential harm it’s doing to your marriage, mental health, or physical well-being.
Substance Use Tends To Serve A Hidden Purpose
For instance, you may wake up dreading the prospect of being stuck in a cubicle or doing work that is mundane and meaningless. So you daydream about going home and using something to take the edge off. Conversely, you may use certain drugs to help you excel in your career but worry about the long-term effects on your health.
If you’re numbing out as a means of escape, you’re probably growing more and more disconnected from yourself and the people you love. You’re likely spending too much to procure the things that bring you relief—and it may be that you don’t even know what is driving your behaviors.
Because substance abuse and addiction typically serve a purpose, I use a harm reduction approach to recovery that identifies and treats the core issues behind behaviors that may feel out of control. Whatever your goals are for counseling, Therapy with Michal can help you develop a safer, more mindful, and self-aware relationship with drugs and alcohol.
Why Is Substance Abuse And Addiction So Widespread?
As a therapist, I believe—as does my teacher Dr. Gabor Mate—that addiction and substance abuse are rooted in childhood trauma. So the question evolves from Why is addiction so prevalent? to Why is there so much pain? We know that some people are more sensitive to stressors than others, and that can influence substance use as well.
However, we’re also immersed in a culture of addictions, some that are sanctioned and others that are condemned. For instance, the workaholic is praised and esteemed while the drug user is shamed and incarcerated. Then there’s poverty, systemic inequality (i.e., racism), and criminalization—all of which hugely impact substance abuse.
Addiction Is Not A Choice Or Moral Failure
Substance use and habitual behaviors (like gambling or workaholism) are often used to numb trauma or fill a void caused by unmet emotional needs. Not realizing this, most people get stuck treating symptoms instead of the underlying issues—typically emotional wounds that stem from childhood trauma.
Moreover, our society largely stigmatizes and shames the use of substances, so a lot of people are hesitant to seek help or even talk about their struggles. And programs like Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous don’t always treat core issues that fuel addiction and substance abuse disorders, which is why therapy is so important.
Working with a substance abuse and addiction counselor can give you a better understanding of your relationship with drugs or alcohol as well as the purpose it serves. Therapy supports you in building a more empowered, informed, and compassionate relationship with substance use—one that honors your health, safety, and personal goals.
Substance Abuse Counseling Is About Connection, Not Sobriety
In her book Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke, the author writes “We’re all running from pain…We’ll do almost anything to distract ourselves from ourselves,” and society gives us almost infinite ways to do that. From TV and social media to food, drugs, and alcohol, our culture values distraction over connection and forces us to reach outward to soothe our pain instead of healing the wounds within.
Because trauma and toxic environments influence substance abuse and addiction, recovery requires connecting with our true selves and others in safe relationships and nurturing environments. That’s what therapy is all about. Rather than focusing on cessation or sobriety, I want to help you explore unmet needs, heal old wounds, and get you to a place where you feel good about yourself and your life.
How Do I Approach Substance Abuse Counseling And Addiction Recovery?
My philosophy is that people should be able to do what they want with their bodies, which is why I take a harm-reduction approach to counseling. I’m also deeply influenced by my friend and colleague Dr. Carl Hart, who believes (and I agree) that the ability to alter one’s consciousness is a fundamental human right.
That means it’s up to you to decide what your goals are for therapy. If you want to limit your usage, we can focus on your health, relationships, and safety. If you decide to completely abstain, I can support you with that as well.
Because connection is key to substance abuse and addiction recovery, my counseling sessions are also designed to help you embrace resources for healing outside of therapy. Engaging in things like yoga, surfing, jogging, volunteering, or your spiritual community is a great way to deepen your connection with yourself and others. That, in turn, can offer you a community of support that outlasts therapy.
Some Of The Tools I Use In Substance Abuse Treatment
Whether you are trying to manage alcohol addiction, a substance abuse disorder, or a habit that’s getting out of hand, counseling can help you establish a healthier relationship with substance use. To make this happen, I often draw from several modalities:
- Compassionate Inquiry explores the underlying issues driving addictive behaviors. It also involves a somatic element that helps identify and release anxiety/trauma that is manifesting in the body while bringing compassion to everything you think, feel, and experience.
- Emotional Regulation Skills, including meditation practice, breathwork, yoga, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT skills for substance abuse), can help you manage cravings and relapses.
- Mindfulness Practice and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT for Substance Abuse) enable clients to feel grounded and safe as we explore and work through problematic thoughts and feelings, such as shame, guilt, or low self-worth.
- Brainspotting helps access and resolve trauma stored deep in the brain and body that may be fueling substance use or driving behaviors that feel out of control or difficult to shift.
- Motivational Interviewing, a form of talk therapy, examines the obstacles holding a client back, what that person’s intentions are regarding substances, and how they can maximize their efforts to create sustainable change.
Addiction can feel overwhelming, like a trap you can’t escape—but with the right help and support, so much is possible. Counseling is not about willpower or fixing yourself—it’s about understanding what’s beneath the addiction and finding new, healthier ways to meet your needs.
Recovery isn’t just about stopping a behavior or substance either—it’s about reclaiming your life, discovering your strengths, and building meaningful connections with yourself and others. You have the ability to heal and break free—and I want to show you how.
Still Have Questions About Substance Abuse Therapy?
How do I know if I need help for substance use?
If you feel like your substance use is affecting your relationships, work, health, or overall sense of well-being, it might be time to seek support. You don’t have to hit “rock bottom” to benefit from counseling.
Therapy can help you explore your relationship with substances, identify underlying causes, and create a path toward healing—even if you’re unsure about making any big changes.
Will my substance use/abuse counselor make me quit?
Substance use/abuse treatment isn’t about judging you or forcing you to quit. It’s a collaborative process that’s tailored to your needs and goals. Together, we’ll explore the patterns and triggers behind your use, address the emotional pain or stress that may be fueling it, and develop practical tools for coping and making healthier choices. Whether your goal is harm reduction, moderation, or sobriety, the process is about empowering you to take steps that feel right for you.
Can therapy help if I’ve tried to stop using substances before and failed?
Absolutely. Recovery is often a process of trial and error, and past setbacks don’t mean you can’t succeed. Therapy provides a safe space to explore what’s happened in the past, identify new strategies, and build resilience. Together, we can uncover the root causes of your substance use and focus on long-term healing rather than just treating the symptoms. Every step forward counts, no matter how small.
Reclaim Control Over Your Substance Use
Substance abuse treatment isn’t just about battling alcoholism or overcoming drug addiction—it’s also about helping you heal and find peace regardless of your goals for recovery. If you would like to learn more about me or my harm reduction approach to substance abuse counseling please call (347) 860-1471 or use my contact form to set up your free, 15-minute consultation.
Therapy with Michal offers online substance abuse counseling for adults in CA, FL, PA, UT, NV, Honolulu, and all of the neighbor islands.