Top addiction therapists in 98221: Anacortes, WA.

I consider myself an expert in addiction therapy. My focus is not the addictive substance or activity. I focus on the root cause for why you engage in the various activities for the purpose of self-medication. As we flesh out the emotional and traumatic scars from past life events, you will find that your desire to self-medicate reduces significantly.

In his persuasive TED talk, Johann Hari explains, "the opposite of addiction isn't sobriety, it's connection". Whatever we're addicted to, we have a love relationship with (albeit a destructive and unhelpful one). As humans we need connection like we need food and water. Some of us find it in gambling, pornography, drugs, alcohol, workaholism or video games. The new science of addiction empowers me to help clients do more than abstain from addictions. It reveals how begin transforming your relationship to addiction, freeing you to turn toward, and fully invest in healthy and rewarding interests and relationships.

Addiction is a mental health condition and I treat addiction by a multi-pronged process predominately from a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) model. I help my clients understand the reasons they use a substance or engage in an addictive behavior, teach them skills regulate their emotions and tolerance distress that might otherwise lead them to engage in their addiction, and address any underlying issues that contribute to their addiction. I also help clients with with concerns about their substance use or compulsive behavior to avoid developing addictions.

The comedian Russell Brand wrote; “Drugs and alcohol are not my problem — reality is my problem. Drugs and alcohol are my solution.” It really doesn't matter if your addiction is pornography or cocaine or work or your cell phone- we all have solutions that we use to cope and deal with life. The problem is they often rob us of the good and beautiful things in life. I offer a helping hand in escaping addiction and working with the issues that our addictions mask.

What sometimes starts as alluring, intriguing and fun...can grow into a habit or behavior that leads to mounting consequences for yourself and those around you. When you continue to engage in something that continually results in pain and problems...it can be really tough to find your way out of the snare of the behavior. Our counselors at Mill Creek Family Services are experienced and trained to help you loosen the grip of addiction. With compassion and commitment we work with you to create the shifts needed to leave the damaging habits in the past and move into a life of freedom.