Addiction education · Recovery maintenance · Co-occurring disorders · Relapse prevention

Addiction & Recovery Counseling in Florida

Strategies and support from a therapist who knows both addiction and recovery.

What does addiction look like?

Do you feel that you're losing control over your emotions? Think about the last time you made an emotional decision. You may feel your life is dominated by frustration, resentment, anger, irritability, and conflicts.
Do you feel like you're out of touch with the things that are important to you? You're overthinking to the point of avoiding decisions and actions, and you have trouble setting goals because you feel powerless.
Do you feel more shame, guilt, or fear than you used to? Are your relationships slipping — with your friends, your family, and even yourself? You're having a hard time being honest with yourself about how deep this problem goes.

These battles are all steps along the path of addiction.

I am here to help you

fight those battles.

Addiction takes many forms, and they are not all related to substance use. It is possible for you to have both substance addictions — such as alcohol, illegal drugs, and prescription medications, and behavioral addictions — such as codependency, compulsive shopping, and excessive internet use. I work with both.

We may not realize the connection between our substance use and our mental health. Often, that connection comes from a history of trauma. Because of stressors in our homes and workplaces, it’s more common than you might think to receive a mental health diagnosis along with diagnosis of a substance use disorder. That's why I specialize in dual diagnosis - therapy for addiction recovery and co-occurring mental health disorders.

There are many diagnoses that appear alongside drug and alcohol addiction.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Bipolar Disorder

Depressive Disorders

Panic Disorder

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Psychotic illness

Borderline Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Active addiction mimics a lot of the symptoms of mental health disorders. I find that when we deal with the stressors, triggers, and trauma, some clients no longer fit the criteria for the co-occuring disorders they thought they had. Others realize that these mental health disorders are what led them into addiction in the first place. Sorting it all out is a validating and comforting experience.

Silhouette of a person in a hoodie alone on a bench at twilight.

I’ll tell you a secret.

All addiction, whether it's a substance addiction or a behavioral addiction, is about the same thing:

Feelings.

People use substances and behaviors to escape feelings, or to find a way to have feelings they see other people having and wish that they could have.

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I can teach you how to live a happy life in recovery because I’ve successfully done it since 2011.

You are looking for a therapist who knows about recovery, not just about addiction.

You are not alone. I see what you are going through and I understand how you feel, because I went through it. I am here to guide you. I schedule appointments seven days a week, because addiction doesn’t take a holiday.

I will help you dissect the reasons behind your addiction. We will acknowledge the things you don’t like about your feelings and actions, and we will take steps to help you accept the past, forgive yourself, and move forward toward your dreams and goals. We will focus on solutions by identifying your strengths and building on them.

If you’re in a head space where you do not feel as though you have many strengths, I promise you right now that you do, and I will help you recognize and expand on them.

How do you know if you’re in the right place?

My practice is a good fit for you if you are ready to get off the emotional rollercoaster, repair your relationships with family and friends, and get your career back on track.

Whether you think you might have an addiction to alcohol or other drugs but you're not sure, you're just out of rehab and you need some extra support, or you’re the parent or partner of someone in active addiction, I can show you how to recover your life.

If you’ve already got some time in recovery and you're ready to take your recovery to the next level, I’ve got the tools for you, too.

There are so many positive changes you can expect to see through recovery and the work that we do together.

You will get comfortable with your feelings. You will learn to manage your emotions instead of letting them manage you.

You will repair the damage to your relationships and start to build new relationships - healthy, satisfying relationships. You will learn to set and keep healthy boundaries around how you treat others, and how others treat you.
You will start to think more clearly. Your memory and focus will improve. Your senses will sharpen and you will start to develop more confidence in your decisions. You will have more energy, less muscle tension, and less anxiety.
Your physical health will improve as you change how you treat your mind and body. Your skin will clear up, you will sleep better, and you won’t get sick as often.
You will start to notice something you haven’t had for a while: Stability.

I always ask my clients:

"Why are you here? Why now?”

These are the answers I hear most often. I’m willing to bet that one of them is going to resonate with you.

I want to stay sober. If I can just get a little time sober, everything will work itself out.
I want to be happy.
I don't know who I am.
I want my family to trust me again.
I want to be more confident.
I want to make my own decisions.
I want peace of mind.