Addiction Therapists in Coto de Caza, CA.

A lot of people who work with addictions are rigid. They demand that their clients all attend 12 steps, abstain from before starting therapy, etc. This is not my approach. Instead, I meet my clients where they are and I support them in finding what works for them. Many do choose to participate in support groups, such as AA or Dharma Recovery. However, others choose to do their work individually. Most end up deciding to abstain but not all, and even if they do eventually conclude they shouldn't use at all they maybe don't start there from the first session.

In my work with clients battling addictions I work to help them discover the root causes for their addictive behaviors and find new ways to resolve them. We work collaboratively with their support system to create healthy lifestyle habits and associations, resolve old recurrent pain, set new healthier boundaries in their work and personal relationships, and find new meaning for their lives. When there are setbacks, my clients learn to explore them in a non-judgmental environment designed to help them move forward toward the sober, healthy life and relationships they are seeking.

Addictions are beyond our understanding. Together, we can walk through the path of your life to help make sense of what you are trying to relieve through addictive behaviors. Whether your addiction is chemical, eating, sexual, pornography, gambling, or internet/gaming related, I can help you understand why you are making the choice of avoidance, even though it doesn't feel like a choice.

If pornography is out of control in your life, or feels like an unhealthy habit, or addiction, I offer therapy specifically intended to help you understand your dependance upon porn, why it's so difficult to stop using, and how you can take your life back and experience freedom. If pornography has become a problem in your relationship, I help couples understand the role pornography serves, how to build empathy and understanding between one another, and how to fill the needs pornography serves in a more fulfilling way.

Are you preoccupied with the addictive or dysfunctional behavior of a close friend or loved one? Do you worry about controlling his or her behavior? Do you feel compelled to solve his or her problems? Are you always anticipating his or her needs? I would like to help. Recovery from codependency is possible. When you place another person’s health, love and safety before your own, your own needs and desires can become hidden, lost and forgotten. I would like to help you re-connect to yourself and build healthy and intimate relationships.

Addictions are ways people have learned to cope and regulate difficult and painful feelings. My approach is to teach you how to talk about and process the underlying emotions which fuel your addiction, and find alternative ways of coping. No matter what the addiction, it can distract you from important relationships in your life and keep you from being the person you know you can be.

While I do not work with clients in active addiction, I absolutely support clients who have addiction in their pasts, as this likely indicates some trauma. If you are receiving support from an addiction counselor, going to a support group, or working with your MD, I am always happy to be part of your support team. Trauma and addiction go hand in hand, making this a big part of my practice. Therapy is often a small piece of the puzzle, but I always ensure my clients have the tools they need to be successful. If you need support with addiction, please reach out and I can help you with coordination for you to meet all of your mental health needs.

We offer individualized addiction and dual diagnosis treatment for adults in a serene environment. Our approach is to get down the core issues and develop a solid treatment plan utilizing individualized assessments, cognitive behavioral therapy, mental health focus, support groups, goal setting, life skills, stress reduction techniques.

I have been assisting clients in the areas of addictions (also compulsive disorders) for over 30 years. I am well versed in the 12 step program, as well as well read in the area of addiction and how it affects relationships, family, and other areas of ones life. Whether your addiction lies in the area of substance abuse, or something else--food, work, sex---I have consulted with clients on all of these areas. I utilize a practical approach to assist clients in recovery and getting their "life" back. Please visit my website and I do look forward to your call: www.therapyhelp4you.com Thank you for your interest.

Dr. Adams is a licensed Marriage Family Therapist and Psychoanalyst specializing in addiction counseling and psychotherapy. Addictive behaviors can be seen as a futile attempt to manage inner experience and painful feelings that have remained unprocessed. A psychoanalytic approach can help to explore on a deeper level, uncovering and addressing those forces inside where the symptoms are rooted. Contact Dr. Adams at (949) 244-1992 or www.SouthOCTherapist.com.

Empty places within us create vacuums that long to be filled. Drugs, alcohol, sex, spending money, eating, being excessively busy are examples of the ways we attempt to fill the holes that exist within us. Going back to the origin of what created the 'hole' and repairing at that level releases us from the pull of the various forms of addictive behavior. If we don't attend to this, we may stop one addictive behavior, but we will evitably find another. These 'holes' are always healed in the context of a safe, reflective relationship. The therapeutic relationship can help repair those palces where we were left alone to process things we had no early capacity to handle.

Addictions can appear in many forms including substance addictions, internet addiction, sex addiction, gambling addiction, shopping addiction, pornography, social media, excessive exercise, food, etc. Strong cravings with a loss of control can lead people to become addicted in spite of possible dire consequences. Counselling is one of several possible treatments available for addictions. Individual, group and family therapies have been found to be helpful in order to inform a client regarding the harmful effects the addiction may have on themselves, their friends, family and society. Promoting physical, emotional and spiritual well being is often critical for the rehabilitation process.

I bring an empathetic, non-judgemental style to my approach to treating addiction. I have extensive experience working with a variety of addictions including but not limited to pornography, gaming, shopping, cosmetic surgery and drugs and alcohol. I am currently the Program Director of The Haven at University of Redlands serving as a Clinical Life Coach for University students in recovery from drugs and alcohol living in a sober collegiate community.