Addiction Therapists in Wheeling, IL.

Our team of professionals includes several clinicians with addiction treatment specialties. We understanding that the treatment of addiction involves understanding and treating the underlying problems of addition. We employ a holistic approach to addiction treatment involving counseling, medication management, and referral to outside support groups.

In my general practice, I employ many of the same approaches and strategies as the famed "12-Step" program. I have worked with drug and alcohol addicts who are able to function at school and work. I do not work with serious drug or alcohol addictions as I am not so qualified. However, I work with families of functional and non-functional addicts.

I have worked wirh hundreds of substance abusers in the past, and I work with people who are abstinent and involved in a program such as AA or NA. Many times the substance abusers have an underlying psychiatric disorder and may be "self medicating" and I will make appropriate referrals for medication.All of the substance abusers that I have worked with have an underlying trauma or depression or unresolved grief.

When struggling with an addiction one can feel hopeless. Treatment after treatment will seem to work for a time and then grow ineffective. My style of working with addictions is to combine short-term behavioral interventions to work to keep you safe and maintain employment, relationships or other significant areas of your life that may be affected, while working to understand the deeper issues and causes of destructive behaviors, unquenchable needs and hopeless feelings.

This therapy treats substance abuse, sex addiction, overspending, overeating, gambling and internet shopping addictions. Working in collaboration with other 12-step programs in the community, together we will develop a plan to help you and your family through the difficult decisions and process of change of defining, understanding, and coping with addiction. We also offer toxicology screening, breathalyzer readings, and liaison services for those who are court mandated to treatment.

There are many forms of addiction and I specialize in those that are considered a "Process Addiction" This is an addictions to an activity or process, such as gambling, eating, spending, sex, and work. Not to be confused with Substance Abuse Addictions. I do not treat people for substance abuse problems but will refer clients to others if that is the primary problem. Process addictions are compulsive behaviors that get in the way of peoples lives.

Although substance abuse issues are primarily recognized as addictions, I am aware of the many other forms of addiction, such as gambling, sex, and internet. My philosophy is that any form of addiciton is simply a way for the individual to cope with their stressors. I would encourage the use of positive coping techniques; I would not be judgmental in any way. I believe that seeking assistance is a show of strength.

My current caseload is heavily focused on alcohol addiction, sex addiction, and partners of said addicts. If you or someone close to you is suffering with addiction and you need support in dealing with it individual therapy can be extremely beneficial in learning coping techniques, reducing anxiety, letting go of control if you're a partner, and helping with accountability if you're suffering from addiction.

I work with what is called process addictions including food, gambling, work, sexual, and relationship addictions. My hope is to help the person become healthy and understand the need that is leading to the addiction and constructive ways to meet those needs. Often it is about balance and learning limits and coping with those limits. The goal is to help the client move from addiction to freedom from addiction.

One of the most amazing things is witnessing people free themselves from the depths of addiction. I use multiple treatment approaches to first help an individual stabilize the addictive process. Then I help them work to fully understand the underlying reasons as to why they are addicted in the first place to help avoid relapse. Stopping is only one part of the process - understanding is another.

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.

Making the decision to tackle an addiction (substances, sex, gambling, food) is one of the most difficult decisions any of us ever makes. I can help you to examine how your thinking and behavioral patterns may undermine your success in breaking free from an addictive habit and assist you in establishing new, more adaptive ways to work through your addiction. Families who are struggling with an addict are not only critical to the addict's recovery, but most often are behaving in ways that support the addiction. It is important for everyone in a family system to work together to honestly reflect on their role and begin to develop new coping mechanisms to be successful.

Addiction comes in many shapes and sizes. Often when one stops one addition, it starts up somewhere else. Once sobriety has been achieved, then the individual can begin the work on developmental issues, relationships and codependency. Addiction may never be "cured", but, the client can practice recovery for the rest of their lives without all the deleterious effects of addiction.