Addiction & Recovery
Compassionate, trauma-informed treatment for substance use, compulsive behaviors, and emotional patterns that feel difficult to change.
Addiction is often a response to pain, stress, trauma, or emotional overwhelm. It is not a moral failing or a sign of weakness. Many people turn to substances or behaviors because they temporarily provide relief, escape, or a sense of control when life feels unmanageable.
Over time, these coping mechanisms can become patterns that feel difficult to break. Addiction can affect emotional well-being, relationships, self-trust, and daily functioning. It may look like using more than intended, difficulty stopping, hiding behaviors, or feeling ashamed afterward.
Recovery begins when you can speak honestly about your experience without fear of judgment. Therapy provides a private, supportive space to understand the patterns, emotions, and unmet needs beneath the addiction.
Understanding Addiction
My approach is trauma-informed, attachment-focused, and grounded in a mind-body perspective. Addiction is often tied to nervous system dysregulation, trauma histories, and internal patterns that were learned as a way to cope. We work with the root causes, not just the symptoms.
I integrate EMDR, mindfulness, and emotional regulation skills to support long-term recovery. EMDR helps address the painful memories, beliefs, or triggers that maintain addictive patterns. Mind-body tools support grounding, stability, and emotional balance.
Recovery is a collaborative process. We move at a pace that respects your readiness and supports your goals, whether you seek harm reduction, moderation, or abstinence.
My Approach to Addiction Treatment
Addiction appears in many forms, and not all involve substances. Common experiences include:
Alcohol or drug use
Compulsive behaviors
Emotional numbing
Secretive or isolating patterns
Binge eating or emotional eating
Difficulty setting limits
Using substances to cope with stress or trauma
Repeating painful relationship patterns
Feeling out of control with certain behaviors
Chronic shame, guilt, or self-criticism
If something feels out of alignment, you deserve support. You do not need to wait for a crisis to seek help.
What Addiction Can Look Like
How EMDR and Integrative Therapy Support Recovery
EMDR helps address the trauma, triggers, and internal beliefs that fuel addictive cycles. Many addictive behaviors begin as attempts to soothe emotional pain or avoid overwhelming memories. EMDR helps the brain process what has been held inside, reducing the intensity of urges and emotional reactivity.
Integrative therapy supports the whole person, not just the addiction. This may include somatic awareness, hypnotherapy, parts work, and cognitive strategies. Together, these approaches strengthen emotional regulation, self-understanding, and resilience.
Recovery becomes more sustainable when the root causes are addressed with care and clarity.
What Healing Can Look Like
Healing in recovery involves rebuilding self-trust and reconnecting with your inner stability. Over time, many clients notice improved emotional regulation, healthier boundaries, and a greater sense of control over their lives.
You may feel more present, more grounded, and more connected to yourself and others. Relief becomes possible, not through force, but through understanding and transformation.
Your healing is about reclaiming the parts of yourself that deserve compassion and care.