Addiction Therapists in North St. Paul, MN.

I have experience working with people on all types of addictions. I am comfortable working from an abstinence or a harm reduction model. People struggling with addictions benefit from my use of Solution Focused Therapy and Narrative Therapy to reduce the influence of shame and to increase the level of agency they feel they have over their addiction.

"Sexual addiction" (Out of Control Sexual Behavior) is a common thing many people struggle with in their lives. It can feel that their attractions, behaviors, thoughts, satisfaction levels, and/or relationships revolve around their sexuality, often causing struggles within important relationships(i.e., primary committed relationship) or aspects (i.e., job) of their lives. Working with my clients thru a sex-positive lens we process what ways a person can honor their sexuality without causing harm or stress to those around them, in their life or on different aspects within it.

Addictions can overtake your life and pose a signficant barrier to success in multiple areas of living Whether the addiction be to shopping, alcohol, or even food, these addictive objects can be used as tools to numb your sense of feeling. My experience indicates that people battling addictions tend to be highly sensitive by nature and thus, when overwhelmed, may seek ways to lessen this intensity of feeling through means outside of themselves. Our work together can focus on building healthier ways for you to manage and cope with strong emotions, lessen both your fear and/or avoidance of emotions, promote healing and trust building, and limit the influence of addiction on your life.

This is a strong are of specialization for our clinic. Addiction is becoming one of the number one issues of this country. There is often a genetic potential and can be greatly influenced by early development in dysfunctional families. Addiction is often a coping mechanism to deal with mental health or other issues. Any coping mechanism that is taken to the point where it becomes a problem (out of control), can become a problem, including alcohol, substances, gambling, food, anger, and sex.

I use a harm reduction/collaborative model for dealing with addiction and substance abuse. Abstinence may be your goal but if it's not, I'll support you in structuring your life to see if you can successfully reduce your use. I'll help you process the shame and negative experiences that are part of addiction and overuse. I'll work with you to identify your needs are and how to meet them in ways that increase feeling connected and cared for, and give you a sense of pride and purpose.

I work with a wide variety of addictive and compulsive behaviors. These include chemical, sexual, eating, shopping, Internet, gambling and relationship addiction problems. I have 35 years clinical & teaching experience in the field and I’m the founder of the Addiction Psychology PhD program at Capella University. Not all addictions are the same, there is no one size fits all approach that is always effective. I’ll take time to understand the true nature of your problems and work with you to design a plan that will help you in make the changes that are needed. I will use a collaborative vs. confrontive approach to working with you. Contact me with your questions about how i can help.

At Center for Mental Health and Wellness we provide counseling for individuals who have recovered from addiction and substance use issues. Often mental health issues may surface once substance use has ceased. Thus, individual therapy can be a helpful way to work on some of those underlying concerns. Working with a therapist after recovery from addiction can reduce the likelihood of relapse.

Do you control it, or does it control you? This is the question I ask when investigating addiction. I am a Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist (CSAT) Candidate. I have had special training in the treatment of sexual addiction, including addiction to pornography. The severity of some sexual addictions is better treated in a treatment program, but often it is something that you can gain control of in a setting such as ours. I can also serve as a resource after treatment. I do in-office and online counseling. You can self-register and self-schedule at mnonlinecounseling.com.

Do you find yourself preoccupied and out-of-control with your sexual thoughts and desires? Do you hide or feel shame as a result of your sexual behaviors? Have you been hurt or hurt others as a result of your sexual behaviors? If yes, you may be struggling with a sex or love addiction. The goal of recovery treatment is to set a foundation for healing from betrayal, shame, lack of intimacy and the destructive behaviors of sex and love addiction.

Substance Abuse and Addiction impacts many areas of a person’s life (physical, social, mental, spiritual, occupational/educational, and family). We have several therapists experienced in helping individuals and families with addictions and co-occurring mental health disorders. We work with individuals, family members, adults, adolescents, and parents in guiding them toward health and wholeness. Our therapists use several therapeutic modalities including CBT, motivational interviewing, 12-step, and family systems theory to connect and provide support for growth and change. Visit our website at http://www.centerlifecounseling.com for more information or to contact us for scheduling.