Addiction Therapists in Emeryville, CA.

Addiction is a mental health condition and I treat addiction by a multi-pronged process predominately from a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) model. I help my clients understand the reasons they use a substance or engage in an addictive behavior, teach them skills regulate their emotions and tolerance distress that might otherwise lead them to engage in their addiction, and address any underlying issues that contribute to their addiction. I also help clients with with concerns about their substance use or compulsive behavior to avoid developing addictions.

Psychotherapy for addiction is an effective treatment approach that helps individuals understand and address the underlying causes of their addiction. The goal of psychotherapy for addiction is to help individuals develop new coping mechanisms and strategies for dealing with triggers and cravings, as well as to address any underlying emotional or psychological issues that may be contributing to the addiction. Through therapy, you can find what it is that you need to move on.

Addiction is a treatable illness. All that is required is that you want to stop using the substance(s). Therapy can help you overcome your addiction. Not all people fit into the AA model, although all people could benefit from the support. Even without the 12 steps, I can help you think about your cravings and your triggers so we make a plan to help you stop using - and stay stopped.

I help men when alcohol or other substance use has become a barrier in their relationships and/or career. For more then 10 years I have focused on the particular way men use substances to relate to, and cope with the world around them. At some point, the partying stops feeling like a party, and the consequences set in. Often times men go back and forth trying to answer the question, "do I really have a problem here?" You can do something about this, and you do not have to deal or cope with this alone. The majority of my clients express that they are comforted and inspired in their work with me, as they gradually develop greater self-understanding, and a feeling of empowerment in their lives.

If you are moving into recovery from drugs and alcohol I am here to support your path to strength and growth. From many years of experience with those in early or later recovery from addiction, I would like very much to offer you effective ways of staying present, yet getting underneath where your substance issues began and how to move back into a sober and healthier life. There are often specific career and relationship factors that need to be healed or started anew in a fresh way...often both! I am here to give you that guidance towards adjusting to substance free feelings safely. It can be a great benefit to have support in gently allowing awareness of avoided emotions again.

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.

I see addiction from the perspective of what is called "The Hungry Ghost". That when we aren't fed the nourishment we need as children, love, support, being seen, heard, cared for and held safe, that we then feel a huge hole in our psyche's. And when we have not experienced the natural highs of intimacy and love in relationships, we will naturally find a replacement for that feeling in an addiction. The solution is not to shame the addict, but help them see that there addiction is simply Mal-adaptive, and to help guide them to get their needs met with health intimacy. In other words to show them that once they find healthy ways to meet their needs they won't need the addiction.

While most treatment approaches to addiction include 12 step programs, rehabs, and now sober living houses, Grey Matters International, Inc. provides a wildly successful alternative to traditional models of addiction treatment----that keeps the brain in mind. That is, talking to the conscious brain while the primal brain is deciding things even before you are consciously aware? Well, that is the problem to solve in addiction. We have the solution utilizing a new cutting edge neuroscience-centered brain rebalancing system. Contact kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or call 877-606-6161.

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.

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.