Substance Abuse Counseling in Grand Rapids, MI
Helping adults learn tools and strategies to manage substance abuse and finally feel in control again
Getting and Staying Sober Through Understanding the Brain
If you are struggling with substance abuse, attempting recovery can feel like an endless cycle of willpower, relapse, and shame. But what if there was a way to break free from that cycle by truly understanding your brain's role in addiction and then changing it?
By providing you with information about how your brains works and how experiences, beliefs, and behaviors change your brain, I empower you to make goals and lifestyle changes that actually REWIRE your brain to be happy (while sober) as well as mentally and physically well.
Smarts Have Nothing To Do With Addiction
Many intelligent people get caught in the trap of thinking "I'm a smart person, I should be able to control my substance use." But the truth is, addiction hijacks the brain in ways that have nothing do with willpower or intelligence.
When you misuse substances like alcohol or drugs, they cause an intense surge of dopamine - the brain's "feel-good" neurotransmitter. Over time, the brain compensates by producing less dopamine (happy chemical) naturally and becomes reliant on substances to feel good.
This superficial dopamine release also creates powerful memory associations that lead to cravings. People, places, and emotional states become intertwined with the desire to use because of changes in brain.
Meanwhile, the decision-making areas of the brain involved in judgment and self-control become disrupted, making it harder to resist cravings even when you know substance use will lead to negative consequences. This is why I remind people that GOOD PEOPLE can make POOR DECISIONS, but this does not make them bad people.
Shame, Trauma, and Control Issues
There can be immense shame and loss of control that comes with the inability to overcome addiction through sheer force of will. This is made even worse when there is underlying trauma that has been avoided for years.
Using CBT, I help clients dive into the thought patterns and core beliefs driving their substance use while evaluating how emotional experiences from the past may have contributed to using substances as a coping mechanism.
We then work on developing new coping strategies, reframing unhelpful thoughts, and rebuilding a sense of control and power over their life.
No matter how changed the brain has become, it is very capable of unlearning the habits, beliefs, and other junk from the past, and creating new connections and rewiring itself through guidance in therapy.
It’s time to go from BEING controlled to being IN CONTROL!
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me—I’ll answer your questions and we can decide if we’re the right fit. I can provide therapy to adults residing in MI, FL, and AZ
Holistic, Evidence-Based Therapy for Substance Abuse
It may feel impossible now, but you can gain back control of your life. My approach incorporates the latest research from neuroscience, psychology, and physiology, providing you with a deeper understanding of the underlying causes of needing to “get away” and numb, and how to manage them effectively.
Therapy for Substance abuse helps you:
Understand how different substances like alcohol, opioids, and stimulants affect the brain's reward system and other key areas.
Understand the role of genetics, childhood experiences, and mental health have in increasing vulnerability to addiction
Identifying and resolving any underlying traumas that may be fueling addictive behavior
Build a toolbox of techniques for coping with cravings and managing thoughts, emotions, and environments that trigger substance use
Build a lifestyle that reconnects you to what is important in your life and in line with your values, so you can be your TRUE self, the one underneath the drinking or drug use.
You don't have to battle addiction alone or criticize yourself for a lack of willpower. I'm here to share insights into how your brain works and together we will create a tailored plan base on your own unique experiences and goals.
If you're feeling exhausted by the cycle of substance use, it's time to understand the roots of addiction on a deeper level than you ever have before. To learn more about substance abuse and addiction, check out my Blog.
FAQs
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A: The most common and effective therapy for substance abuse is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This is an evidence-based treatment that focuses on changing thoughts and beliefs about yourself and the world, in turn impacting how you feel, and assisting in resolving other symptoms such as anxiety and depression.
Beliefs about yourself and the world are typically developed early in life and so the process includes pulling apart beliefs that may have served a purpose a long time ago, but now cause distress.
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A: The first couple of sessions we will be exploring your history and relationships in order to better understand what has contributed to the development of a substance use disorder. We will identify the impacts addiction has had on your beliefs about yourself and your world and what is being avoided. I will help you develop individualized strategies to help gain back some control of the behaviors and feelings that contribute to substance use.
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A: How long you will be in therapy depends on your needs. Addiction and Substance Use are lifelong struggles so typically therapy is a longer process than the average 12-sessions. However with adequate social and community support, this doesn’t mean therapy has to go on for the rest of your life. Many clients do enjoy ongoing services and accountability to address evolutions and changes in their lives.
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