Mental Health Therapy
Mental Health Therapy:
I see individuals with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, substance use, and trauma. Finding a skilled therapist who can accurately assess your needs and create an appropriate treatment plan is essential to your healing. I also see many clients struggling with social anxiety as well as those with compulsions and obsessive tendencies. Many of my clients are struggling with perfectionism, workaholism, and low self-worth.
Family Issues:
Loving someone who has a substance use disorder can be an emotionally painful and confusing process. The behavior of the substance user can be hurtful and family members can feel deceived by the incongruence in their words and behavior. Substances impair the critical thinking aspect of the brain, which influences the behavior of your loved one. Assuming your loved one will have clear thinking and follow through on their promises may be unreasonable given how the brain works. Building trust can be a very slow process for many family members. Often, the first step is connecting with an experienced therapist that treats substance use disorders to help get started on your recovery. Recovery for family members often starts with acknowledging the pain, resentment, hurt, anger, and anxiety that they have been over-tolerating. Some clients choose to attend Codependency or Al-Anon 12-step meetings to further support their recovery process.
Some family members begin therapy to address codependency behaviors, to process their emotional pain, grief, and loss as well as tools to rebuild trust in their relationships.
Recovery from co-dependency involves learning how to advocate for your needs and wants in your relationships, learning how to set clear boundaries, and not continuing to over-tolerate behaviors that are not healthy for you. Identifying what self-care you need to be healthy is an essential part of healing. Healing for the family member is as important as it is for the client who is struggling with substance use disorder.