Addiction treatment
We provide compassionate, evidence-based addiction treatment to help you break free from harmful patterns. Our approach addresses both the emotional and behavioral aspects of addiction, guiding you toward lasting recovery and a healthier future.
Understanding Substance Addiction
The word “addiction” has come to mean different things to different people. In essence, it which boils down to someone persistently engaging in a substance or behavior despite the not-so-great outcomes that tag along. We’ll focus on substances here but please see our blog post on process addictions for more information on that topic.
Addiction is complicated. On the physiological side, the body develops more and more tolerance for a substance, so that you need more to get the same effect. Emotionally, people get caught up in an emotional rollercoaster where people don’t know how to feel ok again.
So, when we talk about addiction, it’s not just about the substance itself—it’s an intricate dance between the body and the mind. Trauma, anxiety and depression often play a role as well.
Humanistic Addiction Treatment
The goal of effective addiction treatment isn’t simply to put an end to the substance use. Instead, it’s about gaining a deeper understanding of the role that addiction has played in your life. When clients begin talking about their addiction or overuse issues, the picture quickly becomes more complex. Anxiety, depression, loneliness, anger, and trauma are major players in the addiction narrative. Trying to tackle addiction without recognizing it’s psychological function is a recipe for failure.
Simultaneously, individuals grappling with addictions need practical tools in order to find new, healthier ways to get their needs met. They need to learn to combat cravings and the disorientation that comes with breaking free. Empowerment should take center stage in therapy. It’s the antidote to shame, laying the foundation for individuals to confront and overcome their addiction challenges. In this space, understanding and practical empowerment work hand in hand, ensuring a holistic approach to addiction treatment that respects the individual journey.
Addressing a spectrum of substance addiction issues
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People use alcohol, cannabis or other drugs for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes, there are feelings and thoughts that the person would prefer to avoid. Other times, it may be a way for people to deal with comorbid conditions like chronic pain, depression and anxiety.
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Process addictions may include gambling, video game use, sex addiction, compulsive shopping and some eating disorders. A therapist skilled in working with these issues can help you to regain control.
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Some signs of addiction include feeling like your habit takes too much time and energy, having regret or shame about your consumption or behaviors, and continuing to engage despite negative consequences.
Addiction is Often Comingled with Trauma
People who have had traumatic histories can be profoundly motivated to numb or escape the feelings associated with trauma. Sometimes this is conscious and intentional. Other times, the role of trauma does not become clear until the person enters recovery. Furthermore, sometimes the addiction and the environments that addiction thrives in further the trauma. To name a few you might encounter medical trauma from physiological consequences, moral injury from the behaviors a person has resorted to as a part of their addiction, interpersonal/relational trauma.
Addiction Also Has a Reciprocal Relationship with Anxiety & Depression
When a person is physiologically geared towards anxiety, they may self-medicate with substances that help them to feel calmer. If they are physiologically geared towards depression, they might be attracted to stimulants. The physiological and psychological effects of most addictive substances, however, actually compound these issues in the long-term. A person experiences temporary relief, but the baseline is altered and the body eventually feels that it cannot act normally without the drug.
Take the next step toward healing right now
Schedule a confidential twenty-minute video or phone consultation. This service is free and you are not committed to moving forward.
Our Treatment Philosophy
There is a reason that this substance, or process, has come to play such a large role in your life. And, there’s a reason you are ready to look at that! Monarch’s addiction treatment philosophy is that people do whatever they have to in order to meet their emotional needs. You might be an anxious person who has trouble relaxing. You might have a submit/collapse trauma response that you are trying to compensate for. You may be self-medicating depression, failed relationships, or loneliness.
Once you are able to understand the root causes that are involved in your substance use, you are able to start trying to meet those emotional needs in a real and sustainable way. A Monarch therapist can help you to understand how to meet your actual emotional needs so that the need for the substance becomes less intense.
Building Skills for Lasting Change
You will need real skills. You will have to learn how to feel better when you are down, without turning to your substance or process. You will have to break habits that have formed around your substance. You will have to find other ways of having fun. A Monarch therapist can help you to handle these challenges. You do not have to do this alone.
Ready to start your healing journey?
Schedule an appointment with Monarch Wellness and Psychotherapy today. We’re here to support you every step of the way toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.