Substance Abuse Counseling

dark tunnel with a light at the end after substance abuse treatment at Marie E Selleck Therapy

Finally feel in control again

Is Your Relationship with Drugs or Alcohol Taking Control of Your Life?

Do you find yourself thinking about your next drink or use throughout the day? Have you noticed that what started as occasional drug or alcohol use has begun to affect your relationships and daily functioning? Perhaps you're caught in a cycle where you promise yourself "just one" or "only on weekends," yet repeatedly find those boundaries slipping away into addiction.

You might be experiencing a growing sense of shame and confusion, wondering why, despite your intelligence, you can't seem to control your substance use. The impact on your daily life might be subtle at first—increased anxiety, trouble sleeping, racing thoughts—but gradually expands to affect nearly every area of your existence.

Your relationships may be suffering as you find yourself becoming more reactive, defensive, or simply withdrawing from loved ones. Work performance might be affected too, not necessarily because you're using substances during work hours, but because your mind is occupied with thoughts of using later, or you're dealing with the aftereffects of yesterday's binge.

Perhaps most concerning is the growing sense that you're losing touch with your authentic self—the person you were before the substance abuse began playing such a significant role in your life.

You're Not Alone in Your Struggle with Substance Abuse

Addiction affect millions of Americans across all ages, backgrounds, and life circumstances. Approximately 20 million Americans (about 1 in 12 adults) struggle with substance use disorders[1], and many more experience problematic substance use that doesn't meet the clinical threshold for diagnosis.

The shame and stigma surrounding addiction often prevents people from seeking help, creating a false impression that you're somehow uniquely flawed or weak-willed. This couldn't be further from the truth. Substance abuse challenges develop for complex reasons that go far beyond personal choice or willpower.

Many people don't realize that addiction typically begins as an attempt to manage uncomfortable emotions or experiences. Research shows that approximately two-thirds of people with substance abuse issues have experienced some form of trauma[2]—ranging from childhood emotional neglect to more obvious traumatic events.

Our culture's contradictory messages about drugs and alcohol don't help. We're bombarded with advertising portraying drinking as a normal way to relax, celebrate, or socialize, while simultaneously stigmatizing those who develop problems.

What's important to understand is that substance abuse issues develop gradually through changes in brain chemistry and neural pathways. This isn't a moral failing—it's a physiological and psychological process that responds to treatment. With proper support and evidence-based approaches, recovery is not only possible but happens every day for countless individuals.

Ready to Take the First Step?

I understand that reaching out for help with substance use can feel vulnerable and overwhelming. That's why I offer a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to answer your questions and help you determine if my approach is right for you.

During this brief call, you can share what you're experiencing and learn more about how we might work together. There's no pressure or obligation—just an opportunity to explore possibilities for healing in a low-stress environment.

You don't have to continue struggling alone with substance use challenges. Contact me today to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward a more balanced, authentic life.

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Reclaim Control Through Substance Abuse Counseling

Effective substance abuse treatment addresses both the immediate challenges of managing use and the deeper issues that drive the behavior. My approach combines evidence-based techniques like Brainspotting with practical strategies for managing addiction, creating a comprehensive treatment path tailored to your unique needs.

Our work begins with understanding your personal history and addictive patterns without judgment. I provide essential education about how addiction affects the brain, helping you understand that your struggles aren't the result of weakness or moral failing, but of predictable neurological processes that can be addressed through targeted intervention.

Brainspotting, a powerful therapeutic technique, allows us to access and process the deeper emotional experiences that often drive substance abuse. This approach is particularly effective because it works with the body's natural processing system, targeting the felt sensations that occur 20-30 milliseconds faster than conscious thoughts. By using this "focused mindfulness," we can help you move out of automatic patterns and develop greater awareness of what your body truly needs versus what the substance-seeking part of your brain is demanding.

Alongside this deeper work, you'll learn practical strategies for managing cravings, recognizing triggers, and developing healthier coping mechanisms. We'll identify the specific situations, emotions, or beliefs that typically precede use and create personalized plans to navigate these challenges differently. Importantly, we'll work on building communication skills and support networks to counter the isolation that often accompanies substance abuse.

A diverse group of people place their hands in the middle stacking on each other, feeling capable and connected to each other

Clients who commit to this process consistently report not only reduced substance abuse but also improvements in their overall emotional regulation, relationship quality, and sense of personal control. Many find that as they address the underlying drivers of their addiction, they naturally develop greater clarity about their values and priorities, often rediscovering parts of themselves that had been obscured by their relationship with substances.

What sets my approach apart is the combination of neurobiological understanding with practical, skill-building techniques. Rather than focusing solely on abstinence or harm reduction, we'll work together to transform your relationship with difficult emotions and build the neural pathways that support healthier choices. My specialized training in both addiction and trauma treatment allows me to address the complex interplay between these issues, offering a more comprehensive path to recovery than approaches that target only the substance use itself.

My ultimate goal is to help you develop the awareness, skills, and support systems that allow you to maintain your well-being independently. While the journey isn't always linear, clients consistently demonstrate that with commitment and proper support, lasting change is not only possible but achievable.

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[1] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2020). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

[2] National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2018). Making the Connection: Trauma and Substance Abuse.

Questions You Might Have About Therapy For Substance Use

A: The most common 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.
Another very successful therapy for substance use is Brainspotting. This is a therapy that accesses the deep brain through where sensory information, and unconscious triggers, are stored. Brainspotting can help re-wire the brain more effectively than talk therapy alone.
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.
We will then begin exploring emotions and felt-sense than you might be avoiding and working through these with Brainspotting. We want to encourage you to feel emotions you have been avoiding, so we get you back into your “window of tolerance” which is a far more manageable place to be.
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.