Photo of Heather Davault, Marriage & Family Therapist in 90069, CA
Heather Davault
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
One of the bravest things you can do is ask for help. Imagine traveling on a path and not knowing where you are headed. I imagine you might feel lost, afraid, alone, and unsure of which way to go. Perhaps you have suffered from uncontrollable worry, depression, or loss. Know that you are not alone. Discovering your inherent gifts, strengths/weaknesses, and setbacks can lead to healing for now, for tomorrow, and for the rest of your life. What if you had a travel partner to help support and navigate life's road map? I want to join you on this journey of self-discovery.
One of the bravest things you can do is ask for help. Imagine traveling on a path and not knowing where you are headed. I imagine you might feel lost, afraid, alone, and unsure of which way to go. Perhaps you have suffered from uncontrollable worry, depression, or loss. Know that you are not alone. Discovering your inherent gifts, strengths/weaknesses, and setbacks can lead to healing for now, for tomorrow, and for the rest of your life. What if you had a travel partner to help support and navigate life's road map? I want to join you on this journey of self-discovery.
(323) 312-3792 View (323) 312-3792
Photo of Veronica Calkins, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in 90069, CA
Veronica Calkins
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
A Licensed Psychotherapist specializing in trauma, crisis, grief, anxiety, depression, and relationships. Veronica provides an empathetic and caring environment to work through challenges without judgment. Veronica obtained her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology and Master’s in Social Welfare at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She is trained in CBT, DBT, and family and couples therapy. She is also certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and the administration of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Deep-Brain Theta Stimulation.
A Licensed Psychotherapist specializing in trauma, crisis, grief, anxiety, depression, and relationships. Veronica provides an empathetic and caring environment to work through challenges without judgment. Veronica obtained her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology and Master’s in Social Welfare at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She is trained in CBT, DBT, and family and couples therapy. She is also certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and the administration of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Deep-Brain Theta Stimulation.
(833) 918-2676 View (833) 918-2676

Alcohol Use Therapists

Are there specific medications for alcohol use?

There are oral medications approved to treat alcohol use disorder—such as disulfiram, acamprosate, and naltrexone, which also comes in an injectable form. These medications do help people reduce their drinking as well as avoid the problem of relapse. Naltrexone helps reduce cravings, disulfiram can make a person feel sick when they drink, and acamprosate may help ease symptoms like poor sleep and anxious feelings.

How do alcohol recovery or rehabilitation programs work?

In inpatient programs, individuals live in a facility with other patients in recovery; in outpatient programs,individuals live at home. These facilities are staffed with healthcare professionals including physicians, nurses, psychologists, counselors, and psychotherapists. Staff can also include people who have recovered themselves, serving as mentors and guides. These programs may use abstinence, harm reduction, detoxification, psychotherapy, and other tools for recovery.

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 alcohol use reduce the amount of alcohol they intake. It is not abstinence-based like a 12-step program, but combining harm reduction with psychotherapy proves to be effective for many people.