Substance Use Therapists in Austin, TX

Life is inevitably composed of episodes of change. From new experiences and life events to trauma and loss, transitions in life challenge ones' emotional balance. When first entering therapy I believe that it is natural to be unable to identify all of these feelings. Often you may only know that “something is off”. My goal is to sit with you through uncertainty and walk with you through the process of self-exploration and healing. My two main passions are working with those experiencing grief and loss and/or dual diagnosis serious mental illness and substance use disorder.

Let's face it, life can be really hard. Especially in this COVID climate, we can feel isolated and alone and sometimes we turn to drugs and alcohol as a way to cope with life's challenges. However, as the consequences and repercussions of these behaviors begin to escalate it becomes clear that help is needed. I am here to help you manage substance use , addiction and alcohol use as well as life in recovery. Substance abuse is about so more than just the drugs or alcohol. I am here to help you navigate the anxiety, depression and life changes necessary to create a life in recovery.

When life becomes overwhelming, therapy can be a great supplement to the coping skills and support systems you already have. Every client brings an individual set of goals and needs to therapy. In my practice, I have developed a holistic approach to healing. I encourage clients to speak openly and I commit to listening without judgment while providing guidance that is tailored to my client’s specific objectives.

Online Therapy | Sliding Scale | EMDR | Reaching out for help can be extremely difficult. Whether you have a serious issue, specific challenge, or are just looking to increase happiness and improve your quality of life, I can help. I have particular expertise working with military personnel and those struggling with substance use or multiple mental health concerns. I've also had the privilege of working with diverse individuals from all walks of life. Regardless of what you are facing, I believe that therapy can support healing, as well as positive and healthy change.

I believe that all individuals have the capacity to self-heal. A supportive and respectful therapeutic relationship can be the perfect catalyst for growth and change. Through a guided and collaborative approach, we can discover why we fall into the same patterns, often reliving past hurts, and develop practical strategies for choosing to live life differently. By exploring vulnerability and tapping in to our creative, authentic selves, lasting change can occur.

I am committed to serving and elevating the community by providing exceptional, professional and quality services to those seeking guidance and support. I strongly believe that each individual has their own unique needs and pathways to realizing their full potential in therapy, and beyond. My practice areas include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, Anxiety/Mood Disorders and Substance Use Disorders as well as relationship struggles, loss/grief and general life transitions.

Trauma is such a wide umbrella that encompasses so many unique and individual experiences that we have all been impacted in one form or another. The way we process that trauma can often look like depression, anxiety, substance use , or just feeling like we are not truly thriving in life. We often feel held back in our careers or relationships because of these unresolved issues. I am here to help facilitate the process of accepting and growing from these experiences so that you may find peace.

My passion for over 30 years has been to help people explore, identify and deal with problematic or out of control behaviors and the effects in their lives and in the lives of loved ones. I have always believed that these excessive behaviors have served as one way for people to regulate their moods, their neurochemistry, and to cope with anxiety and fears. In other words, to change the way they feel. I enjoy helping people learn to manage stress and anxiety in new ways. I also love helping people improve their relationship with themselves and others and to develop a deeper sense of meaning and purpose.

I believe the therapeutic relationship should be authentic and emotionally safe for you. I am practical and honest with feedback and have a laid back and warm approach. I will go at the pace you set and provide insight and encouragement. I will be respectful of your cultural, spiritual and lifestyle choices.

As a Dialectical Behavior Therapist, my goal in individual and group therapy is to help clients who are struggling with depression, anxiety, anger outbursts, impulsive and compulsive behaviors. I work with clients to help them learn coping skills to manage these symptoms so they can achieve their goals and build the life they desire. I work closely with my clients to support them in the process of change which can be both difficult and very rewarding.

If you have tried everything you can think of and are still stuck we might be a fit. Change begins with awareness of one's self. The only requirement is that I become willing to change the way I see myself, others, and my expectations about how life should be. Nearly all behaviour is learned and therefore can be considered for change. Present moment awareness and a non-judgmental perspective can create the potential to see deeply into one's needs and wants. "Between stimulus and response is a space, and in that space lies man's freedom" Victor Frankl.

I'm a therapist as well as the Executive Director of Innovation360 Austin. I specialize in helping young people and adults who have become stuck, adrift or immobilized. I also greatly enjoy supporting family members in need of consultation or counseling related to their concerns for a loved one. Some clients or family members join me for therapy because they know something is wrong and something needs to change but aren't sure of what true help may look like. Anxiety, insecurity, depression, and challenges in relating to others are frequent obstacles that my clients face and develop the capacity to overcome.

Sometimes our lives get to a point where we're just surviving, rather than thriving. In survival mode, we cope the best we can - this may mean using disordered eating behaviors, self-harm, substance use , self-criticizing inner talk, or self-destruction. I'm here to help guide you out of survival mode and into your best life. In therapy, we'll explore how you're surviving and how you can thrive. We'll identify changes you want and I will offer suggestions to help you create these changes. We will balance this change with lots of self-compassion.

My mission is to create hope where there is none and to empower the individuals I work with to find healing. Healing will be defined by YOU - I will operate as an active guide throughout the process. I offer private counseling to individuals and their family members/significant others who are struggling with alcohol and/or drug use. I am able to help craft safety plans, moderation plans or abstinence plans based on your goals. I will assist you to create balance in your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health.

***I am currently accepting clients and LMSWs seeking supervision towards LCSW licensure*** Contemplating any change can be daunting, but here you are, reaching out, exploring. Seeing a therapist can be the first step along a new path. Change takes time, and we can go at your pace, walking together on a path you determine. Whether you are looking at a life transition, worried about how substance use is affecting you, grieving a loss or dealing with a chronic illness, together we will begin the process of examining where you are, working together to shift to a place that brings you fulfillment and to help you reach your goals.

My priority is to make counseling accessible to people of all backgrounds, to help determine their therapeutic path. I have experience working with individuals struggling with issues around substance use , trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, relationships and an overall wounded connection to themselves. Life is full of various changes and stressors that impact our wellbeing and can suddenly become unmanageable. Talk therapy is an avenue that I believe can foster the space for people to practice releasing their own tension, while having the freedom and support to discover who they are, and the vision they have for their lives.

Have you been told to look at your substance use by someone you are close to? Are you worried you might have a problem or know that you do? Substance use is on a continuum, with abstinence on one end and severe abuse, or addiction, on the other. Historically, approaches to substance use treatment have been binary—you either use or you do not. While this approach is effective for some people, for most it feels restrictive and at times punitive. The goal of therapy is for you to determine—you may want to examine your use, minimize it, work toward ceasing use all together or even maintain positive changes you have already made.

We all begin the therapeutic journey with our own set of strengths and needs. Sometimes our uniqueness promotes creativity, new perspectives, and collaboration. Other times our uniqueness can be terminal; leading to emptiness, feeling disconnected from self and others, and beliefs that mental health treatment may work for other people, but it won’t work for you. Therapy is not about “getting over” events and issues; it’s about understanding your triggers and learning how to manage your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors so that you can move forward and continue to build a fulfilling life.

My experience has provided me with the training and tools needed to uphold the values of the field of Counseling, including honoring the dignity and autonomy of the patients and practicing multicultural humility in my work across a widely heterogeneous population. I was able to work with a diverse population (adults, children, adolescents, and groups) that present with extensive psychosocial barriers to utilizing behavioral healthcare as well as complex clinical diagnoses such as substance use , trauma, depression anxiety, grief, couples, and groups, … etc.

I believe there is no typical addict each person is uniquely different and so are the situations in your lives that have taken to this place. I also believe that including families is an essential tool to helping the entire unit heal and reconnect. Correct Choices lead us to harmony with all things, no matter how long and hard the road can get. Life's cycles, eternal motion and the choices we are confronted with always give us Another Chance for Change. I accept some major insurance. Unlike other programs, I understand that sometimes getting seen is urgent and you don't want to wait weeks. I attempt to get clients in within 24 hours. And I am like you; I hate waiting in the reception area to see the counselor, therefore I make every attempt to stay on schedule this is a priority to me so that I won't disrespect your time. I am currently work towards a PhD. in Addiction since I find helping those who struggle with substance use disorders important and fulfilling.