Substance Use Counselling in 3085
Breeanna Cross
Psychologist, MPsych, PsyBA - Health Psych.
Verified Verified
MacLeod, VIC 3085
Breeanna has held a long interest in the mind body connection and clinical health psychology. She enjoys providing evidence based treatment to a variety of people with mood and anxiety problems; pain management concerns; physical or psychological injury or illnesses; disordered eating, body image and weight management issues; life changes; grief and loss; parenting and relationship problems; performance, academic and career issues. Breeanna also offers expert consulting in the corporate field on matters related to workplace mental health prevention and rehabilitation, assessment and safety.
Breeanna has held a long interest in the mind body connection and clinical health psychology. She enjoys providing evidence based treatment to a variety of people with mood and anxiety problems; pain management concerns; physical or psychological injury or illnesses; disordered eating, body image and weight management issues; life changes; grief and loss; parenting and relationship problems; performance, academic and career issues. Breeanna also offers expert consulting in the corporate field on matters related to workplace mental health prevention and rehabilitation, assessment and safety.
Lauren Pennacchia
Psychologist, MPsych, PsyBA General
Verified Verified
MacLeod, VIC 3085
Waitlist for new clients
Lauren is a psychologist who works with children, adolescents and young adults. Lauren has extensive experience and has worked in hospital settings, a juvenile detention centre and private practice. She has a widespread of knowledge in diagnosis and treatment and aims to bring a warm, empathetic and collaborative approach to therapy. Lauren uses a range of therapeutic frameworks to tailor treatment to each individual. These frameworks include: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), Client Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT).
Lauren is a psychologist who works with children, adolescents and young adults. Lauren has extensive experience and has worked in hospital settings, a juvenile detention centre and private practice. She has a widespread of knowledge in diagnosis and treatment and aims to bring a warm, empathetic and collaborative approach to therapy. Lauren uses a range of therapeutic frameworks to tailor treatment to each individual. These frameworks include: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), Client Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT).
Substance Use Counsellors
How do substance and drug recovery or rehabilitation programs work?
In inpatient programs, individuals live in a facility with other clients in recovery; in outpatient programs, individuals reside at home. These facilities are staffed with healthcare professionals including physicians, nurses, psychologists, counsellors, and psychotherapists. Staff often also includes people who have recovered themselves, serving as mentors and guides. These programs may use abstinence, harm reduction, detoxification, psychotherapy, and other methods.
How do 12-step programs combined with psychotherapy work?
Members of 12-step programs help each other reach abstinence and work to maintain it. These programs promote complete change in the individual’s emotional, mental, physical, and even spiritual perspectives. Some programs require that new members attend 90 meetings in 90 days. Many people do attend these programs in conjunction with their work in psychotherapy; the combination of therapy along with 12-step can be extremely effective.
How does harm reduction combined with psychotherapy work?
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, harm reduction prevents death, injury, disease, overdose, and substance misuse. People who choose harm reduction for substance use reduce the amount of drugs they consume. It is not abstinence-based like a 12-step program, but combining harm reduction with psychotherapy proves to be effective for many people.
Are there specific medications for substance and drug use?
There are medications approved to treat substance use disorder—such as buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone, and acamprosate. These medications do help people cope with substance use as well as avoid the problem of relapse. Naltrexone can help reduce cravings, methadone is an opioid medication used to treat severe pain, and acamprosate may help ease symptoms like poor sleep and anxious feelings.