Addiction & Relapse Prevention

Completing detox or residential treatment is an excellent first step, but the real challenge often begins afterward. Maintaining sobriety requires ongoing effort and support, which is where I come in. With over three decades of experience in the recovery field, I understand the complexities of addiction and the challenges of long-term recovery. My approach helps individuals not only stay substance-free but also rebuild their lives with confidence, taking proactive steps to ensure lasting success. I'm here to help you navigate this ongoing journey and provide the support needed to sustain positive change.

During treatment, your brain is still in the early stages of healing from the damage caused by substances. You likely participated in group therapy and psycho-educational sessions, but it’s possible you were still in a haze. A lot of that information might not have stuck with you, and in some cases, those treatment programs might have left out critical insights needed to fully grasp the nature of your most formidable adversary: addiction itself.

Addiction Counseling:

The humanistic-pragmatic principles I follow in addiction therapy include:

• Therapeutic Alliance: It is important to have a caring relationship, one of mutual respect and free of judgment. Trust is necessary for us to explore any ambivalence you may have about change.
• Assessment and Screening: I will use some standardized tools to assess the severity of your substance use, co-occurring mental health issues, and the impact they have on your daily functioning. I will also collect a personal and family history to identify risk factors. Social or environmental stressors that contribute to substance use will also be taken into consideration.
• Education: Addiction isn’t a moral issue. You are not “bad” or “weak”. It’s a disease of the brain and those afflicted need medical treatment, support and time to heal. Addiction alters the brain circuits involved in reward, motivation and self-control, making it difficult to stop using even when you really want to.
• Practical Strategies: It is important to understand how addiction (attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors) manifests in you after you’ve stopped using. You must identify the recovery-based symptoms before you can figure out how to stabilize and/or interrupt them. We will work collaboratively to identify goals and develop strategies to empower you to take an active role in your recovery and healing.
• Crisis Management: We will create clear protocols for managing crises. These include frank conversations about overdose risks, self-harm behaviors, high risk behaviors, or acute withdrawal symptoms.
• Relapse Prevention Strategies: We will identify triggers and high-risk situations and develop coping strategies to prevent relapse.
• Underlying Issues: Addictions are often the result of medicating underlying issues. We will explore and address any underlying psychological or biological factors in a supportive, non-judgmental manner.
  • Trauma and Stress: Trauma, chronic stress, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) play a role in the development of addiction.
  • Mental Health Disorders: Co-occurring mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD, that can lead individuals to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol.
  • Chronic Relapsing Condition: Addiction as a chronic relapsing brain disease and requires long-term recovery strategies.
• Family Involvement: I will encourage family participation in your treatment process, when appropriate. I will provide education and support to help them understand the disease of addiction and recovery dynamics they might anticipate.
• Community Support: The role of community and support systems is important for sustained recovery. Recovery requires change. It’s about learning how to live a sober life, rebuilding trust, and regaining a sense of purpose and meaning in life. With the right help, people can recover, find freedom from addiction, and reclaim their lives.

Addressing addiction as a disease rather than a moral failing is not only compassionate, but also necessary for a more successful recovery journey.

Relapse Prevention: 

I draw from the introduction I got to relapse prevention through the works of G. Alan Marlatt, Ph.D., however, my approach is more closely aligned to the CENAPS® Model of Relapse Prevention developed by Terence T. Gorski, M.A.

• Relapse as a Process: Relapse is not a sudden event. It is a gradual process the unfolds over time. You need to recognize and interrupt the process before your addiction prevails.
• Relapse Warning Signs: Early warning sign identification is important because they are often minimized. They include increased stress, emotional instability, isolation, unhealthy thought patterns, and neglect of self-care and recovery.
• Stages of Relapse: The process unfolds in stages.
  • Emotional Relapse: Emotions and behaviors can unwittingly set you up for relapse. You won’t be actively thinking about it or planning it. Clues are anxiety, mood swings, and neglect of self-care.
  • Mental Relapse: This is what I call “addictive preoccupation”. Even though you want to stay sober, you may think about using again, you may condemn your sober experience or romance the past.  You may magically think you are cured and can safely use again.
  • Physical Relapse: This is the stage where actual substance use occurs, either as a lapse (a brief return to substance use) or a full relapse (a return to uncontrolled use).
• Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS): Some withdrawal symptoms can persist for weeks or months after you stop using. They make it difficult to cope with life and increase your risk for relapse. PAWS is common but requires using healthy coping strategies to deal with symptoms.
• Relapse Prevention Planning: Relapse is considered one of the stages of change. With addictions, relapse is not mandatory. A Relapse Prevention Plan involves creating practical steps such as daily self-assessments, regular therapy, involvement in recovery support groups (e.g., 12-step programs), and lifestyle adjustments to reduce stress.
• Stabilization: You need to apply practical steps to create a consistent foundation where emotional and mental healing can be maintained. Creating a balanced lifestyle makes relapse less likely.