Addiction Therapists in Pacific, MO.

I have fifteen years of experience working as a professional counselor in the field of addictions. As a recovering addict myself I bring a level of empathy and experience that I believe greatly increases my effectiveness in connecting and working with folks struggling with addiction and with loved ones who struggle to how best to express love and support while they avoid enabling the addiction. Addiction cannot be dealt with alone. It is impossible to calculate the value of seeking experienced help when facing addiction.

Addiction can take many different forms in our lives. From career to pornography, addiction can be all consuming and if left unchecked can destroy families and lives. By helping you to think differently about how you see yourself and the possible reasons you are struggling, I want to help you work through the issues at the core of your addiction and help you learn to cope in a new way.

While I am willing and capable of treating those with substance abuse, I specialize in the treatment of sexual addiction and affair recovery. I enjoy working with men who desire to change their behaviors when it comes to unwanted or even harmful sexual acting out. I have worked with men who have been addicted to pornography, escort services, strip clubs, dating sites used for casual sexual encounters, voyeurism, exhibitionism, S&M, fetishes, serial affairs, and more. I take a trauma model stance when helping these men and their spouses. Wives: This is not your fault. His porn use is not because of you. I also work closely with a female in my practice who specializes in helping spouses/S.O.'s

Many providers work with individuals who have addiction issues. My concern is not only with the individual but those who love and support them. Family, friends, and work associates can either make or break someone who suffers from alcohol, drug, and other substances. Other addictions include process addictions like being addicted to shopping, gambling, work, or pornography/sexual addictions. Addiction effects relationships, and I believe unless the therapist works with the entire system, they are doing their clients a huge disservice. If you have been in treatment or seek to support someone who has been in treatment, please take this next step toward relationship counseling.

We currently are living in a world in which the word "addiction" is cast about carelessly. Addiction, simply put "is an ongoing, out-of-control pattern of compulsive...behavior that is causing problem in...life (Sex Addiction 101, Weiss. p.1). As the definition indicates almost anything can become an addiction - food, gambling, substance abuse, alcohol, sex, and work to name just a few. My approach as a therapist is to get to the root desire or wound that drives addictive behavior. Once identified, this is where the real work and real change take place.

Substance Abuse often times occurs when there is unresolved pain and feelings of aloneness. Fortunately, with help there is hope. Together we will work to understand what drives you to use, gain insight into the powerful drug you are up against, strengthen your skills for managing difficult situations and feelings, develop and list of resources for help in those trigger moments and create a plan to keep you on track with your goals.