“The attempt to escape from pain, is what causes more pain.”
Gabor Mate
Substance use tends to show up as a survival strategy for most people I work with. It helps people disconnect just enough to cope with life’s struggles. Many people find substances are/were the only thing that ever made them feel “normal,” or the only thing that made them feel like they weren’t spinning out of control constantly. But substances (regardless of which one(s) you use) can take on a life of their own. Instead of being the thing to fix our problems, substance use can become a problem by robbing you of your ability to experience life fully.
I can help you:
Learn to identify emotions and what they feel like both as mental states and in the body
Learn the ways substances allowed you to avoid/endure emotional discomfort
Learn characteristics of healthy relationships
Learn effective communication skills
Learn the importance of boundaries, including how and when to set them
Learn what true self care looks like (hint: it’s not face masks and bubble baths)
Each client has their own unique goals and needs when exploring their relationship with substances. If complete abstinence is your goal, I can support you in finding community and support to help you achieve and maintain sobriety. If you are still trying to figure out if you can continue to use substances in a healthier way, I can also support you in figuring out the role substance use plays in your life and if that resonates with your values. If you are somewhere in the middle, that’s fine too. There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution here. The direction in which our work takes is up to you.