Specialized Counseling for Substance Use & Addictions in Greensboro, NC
When Numbing the Pain Becomes the Problem.
You never intended for a drink, drug, or pornography to take over, but somewhere along the way, seeking relief turned into a constant cycle. You use to cope with stress, anxiety, or loneliness, and while the relief is instant, it’s temporary. Soon, the underlying pain returns, now compounded by overwhelming guilt, secrecy, and shame.
Whether you are struggling personally, or you are a family member feeling overwhelmed and exhausted by a loved one's struggle—I know how hard it is to take the first step. But I’m here to tell you there is a way out, and I will walk beside you every step of the way.
Healing the Root, Not Just the Symptom
As a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS), I offer specialized guidance that goes beyond just focusing on abstinence. Addiction is often a symptom of deeper wounds, whether that's unresolved trauma, complex emotional challenges, or spiritual emptiness. My work focuses on uncovering and healing these underlying causes so that you don't feel the constant need to numb or escape.
Together, we will work to:
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Break Cycles: Identify the triggers and deeply rooted patterns that lead to substance use.
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Heal Underlying Trauma: Process past painful experiences contributing to dependency, addressing issues like self-worth and emotional regulation.
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Develop New Coping Skills: Learn strong, healthy strategies to manage stress, intense emotions, and anxiety without turning to substances:
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills focus on managing intense emotions (e.g., practicing Distress Tolerance to ride out cravings).
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) skills help change thinking patterns (e.g., identifying and challenging the rationalizations that lead to use).
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Cultivate Self-Worth: Address underlying feelings of worthlessness and cultivate a stronger, more authentic sense of self.
Support for Those Who Love Someone Struggling
Living with or loving someone struggling with addiction is an isolating, draining experience. When a loved one is engaging in addiction—be it substances, pornography, or other behaviors—it often creates a profound lack of trust and emotional injury often described as betrayal trauma.
As a family member (parent, partner, or adult child), you may feel consumed by worry,
frustration, and the desire to control an unpredictable situation.
You deserve support too.
In sessions for family members, I focus on helping you:
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Establish Healthy Boundaries: Learn how to detach with love, set firm limits, and stop enabling destructive patterns.
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Process Trauma: Address the grief, anger, and anxiety related to the addiction and betrayal so you can reclaim your own emotional stability
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Reclaim Your Life: Develop effective communication strategies and re-focus on your own well-being outside of your loved one's struggle.