Addiction Therapists in La Mirada, CA.

Often the quickest and easiest way to stuff away negative thoughts and emotions or to just shut down and go numb is to self-medicate. Whether your substance of choice is drugs, alcohol, food, prescriptions, porn, or video games, you have fallen into the habit of dealing with life by turning to your substance. Breaking this cycle takes work and dedication but it is possible! Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Seeking Safety will help you identify your triggers, create a plan to cope with those triggers in a healthy way, and begin to create a support network. Addiction is one of the struggles where support is vital to one's recovery! You're not supposed to do it alone!

The brain can be severely affected and altered by addictions. When the addiction to substances or processes kick in the brain starts to rewire itself to use these unhealthy coping skills. The alteration can also effect the equilibrium of chemicals which can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health symptoms. The process of addiction recovery is to use cognitive behavioral therapy and other conjunct treatments like TMS Therapy, Medication Management, and Meditation practices.

I've worked in inpatient chemical dependency, researched the use of videotaped feedback in alcoholism treatment, & taught a university graduate course in Substance Disorders & Treatment. While active addiction is generally best treated inpatient, outpatient counseling can be an indispensable support both preparing for and after initial recovery, preferably in conjunction with a strong 12-step program, for relapse prevention and for learning a new concept of self and building the skills and tools needed for sober daily living, such as boredom-avoidance, assertiveness, and relationship building and maintenance.

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.

Dr. Clark offers serves for some of the most common addictions: alcohol, gambling, theft, and sexual addictions (including internet addiction, infedelity, seeking prostitutes, and other sexual compulsions such as public exhibitionism and voyeurism). Unfortunately, most people avoid seeking help until they run into trouble with the law and risk loosing their marriage and/or employment. Don't wait that long to ask for help.

I strongly believe that the first step in overcoming an addiction is to feel supported in a safe and comforting therapeutic environment. Without trust, it is nearly impossible to address the issues, including shame, that so often accompany substance abuse. My approach is to help my clients learn to identify the thoughts and beliefs (often negative thoughts about themselves and their lives) that lead them to turn to drugs or alcohol. Treatment helps the client unlearn old patterns of behavior and to learn new ways of coping with situations and thoughts that may have led them to use substances in the past.

My approach to treating addiction incorporates aspects of motivational interviewing. The hardest part in breaking an addiction is acknowledging that you have an addiction and committing to rehabilitation. I differ from other rehabilitation programs like alcoholics anonymous, in that I believe that clients can practice selective sobriety, and that they should not replace their addiction with another addiction of group meetings.

I have many times worked in therapy with clients who struggle with addictions, among other issues. I have studied Motivational Interviewing, which is remarkably helpful in addictions work. Clients feel supported and not judged, and are able to find their internal motivations for change. Therapy with me can complement work in separate addiction treatment as well.

There are many forms of addiction: Alcoholism & Chemical Dependency, Sexual Addictions, and Gambling are just a few. We believe there are root problems to every addiction that you can get to. Even if you don't consider yourself an "addict" you may have a problem in one of these areas. That can still be a very difficult thing to manage in your life on your own. We help people come to grips with addictions and problem behaviors that can get worse if left unaddressed. If you are struggling in this area don't try to go it alone. We can help.

We become addicted to certain behaviors when painful feelings about ourself cannot be recognized or expressed, and therefore unprocessed. Caught in these unrecognized feelings that never get understood, behaviors of accommodation take hold and keep us trapped. Therapy is a process of recognizing these emotional patterns leading to a personal empowerment to speak what one really desires and needs. This process breaks the addictive patterns.

We are talking about craving for substances or behavior that gets in the way of relationships, work, and general health. First, treat yourself to sharing with a professional what is going on because you are unlikely to be able to solve this all by yourself if you are still suffering. Talking is obviously not enough and you will learn to take the steps to change these destructive habits.

Just about everybody knows someone who is struggling with the abuse of a substance. Alcoholism in particular is so widespread in our society that in the last fifteen years there are more treatment centers than ever before providing assistance to those who have lost control over their drinking. What about family members? Alcoholism is a relationship buster. It breaks down families and damages children. It leaves spouses feeling helpless, confused and frightened. Family members know there is a problem. Everybody walks on egg shells. Talking to a loved one doesn’t help and sometimes makes it worse. Living with addiction makes life unpredictable every day. There are fights and arguments and chaos, and then there is peace-until there isn’t again and the...(view profile to read more)

Don't know if you're an "addict"? Are you SURE you are? Whether someone just accuses you of addiction or you've been around the recovery block a few times, you'll find qualified and understanding help at CCRG. But nobody REALLY understands you? Try us! You'll find real understanding and patience, skill and knowledge, motivation and support. Would all that help? Call us and let us help.