Addiction Therapists in Little Falls, NJ.

Cyber and video game addictions or abuse are a relative recent phenomena. This is a issue that effects youth and adults. It can cause loss of sleep, social isolation and result in neglecting basic and important responsibilities. Through psychotherapy we will explore the need for the escape, what is the secondary gain, as well as working on tools to help change the behaviors that have become routine and habit.

I help my clients become aware of how they protect against their feelings. These are called addictions We can use anything as an addiction if our intention is to avoid our feelings or to use something to make us feel worthy. I can help you manage the loneliness, helplessness and heartbreak that you may be avoiding with your addictions. Once you know you can handle your feelings then you no longer have to protect against them and can let go of your addiction.

There are all kinds of addictions, from substance abuse to internet pornography. In each case, the bottom line is that a person is dealing with feelings of depression, anger or anxiety in a destructive way. They drink, gamble or look at pornography whenever they feel stress, but do not face the feelings that are causing the stress and work through them. I encourage addicts to make use of 12-step programs in combination with psychotherapy. When they stop denying and commit themselves to both, they quickly make progress.

Individuals in the process of recovering from substance use can learn how to prevent relapse, identify and process triggers associated with substance use, learn interpersonal and emotion regulation skills to navigate life in recovery from using substances and assist in developing a positive support system. Individuals can learn about treatment and recovery from substances.

Overall, I treat addiction much like I would treat any other crisis. I would do addiction assessment to make sure I'm the right person to treat you. I'd identify triggers, what makes you more likely to repeat the addictive behavior. I can work with substance use and sex addiction. My general belief is that addiction is a way that people avoid dealing with other people and their problems. It can be a learned behavior. In order to stop doing the offensive behavior, it is important to focus on what you do want to do. This is the process of recovery, and I will do my best to facilitate this.

I am a licensed clinical social worker, licensed alcohol and drug counselor and have a sap credential. I have worked in a treatment facility, 27 years in a school district as a substance abuse coordinator and have also worked in a state prison. Through out all these years, I have worked with all populations and all addictions. There is not one approach. I tend to be eclectic. I am passionate about helping people and offer an environment that is supportive in implementing pathways to healing.

I focus on providing support for individuals in recovery from addiction, helping them maintain sobriety and build a healthy, balanced lifestyle. My approach involves equipping clients with effective coping strategies, fostering personal growth, and reinforcing the skills they gained during treatment. While I do not work with individuals actively battling addiction, I offer guidance to those in recovery, emphasizing relapse prevention, personal accountability, and long-term emotional well-being to ensure sustained progress and a fulfilling life post-addiction.

Addiction Counseling can include substances, alcohol, behaviors, eating, technology, gambling and others will be addressed in therapy sessions. Taking a look at current patterns in behaviors and how changes can occur will be explored and processed. Natural ways to target urges and cravings will be discussed in order to build confidence in the ability to tackle any challenge.

You went after work to hang out with friends. You had some drinks or you got high. Everything was fine in the beginning until you noticed that just stopping was no longer easy. I believe that people can reduce or completely stop. The choice is yours to make. There are consequences to working me; you may decide you don't need to be high or drunk to enjoy yourself.

Sometimes consuming drugs, food, alcohol, sex, among other things soothe anxiety or satisfy emotional hunger. However, when the roots of the anxiety and emptiness are not addressed, consumption and use have a fleeting effect, leaving you at a loss and in need of consuming or using more, and the cycle continues. As a therapist, I will help you look at the roots of your addiction: together we will do the hard work of searching underneath layers of denial and understand the wounds and pain that lie at the core of your addition. There is no magical wand that would make addictions disappears, but there is caring understanding that will help you find new ways of dealing with wounds and pain.

This is an area of treatment where I have seen many miracles. Successfully moving beyond substance dependence and abuse is not a matter of will power and character. Addictions are very 'sticky' and nine decades of research and experience confirms that attempting to keep them in check without help does not work. Twelve step programs (AA, NA, CA, etc) are the ‘gold standard’ of recovery, and are tried and true methods of achieving lasting abstinence. I possess a strong 12 Step program background, but know it is very helpful to be introduced to recovery properly to feel at home. Come for a consultation and see what is possible.

Drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, love, food, netflix etc. WORK! You would not use them to survive feelings that are otherwise unbearable, if they didn't. Unfortunately, there is simply never enough, or the consequences become dangerous and/or intolerable. Eventually the feelings of neglect, isolation, alienation, paranoia and loneliness return. Treatment for addiction will allow you to accept your feelings and your past so that you can regain control over your life and choices, heal relationships, and restore your sense of esteem, dignity and agency.

What is different about ART? Our mission is to improve the chances of staying away from illegal substances by identifying and applying successful coping skillsThe foundation of our success is a treatment approach that is rooted in professional excellence. ART thrives to empower youth and their families with the necessary skills to rebuild their lives and maintain it free of the conflict, violence, anger outburst, depression, and legal problems that addiction may cause a family to experience.