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Addiction Counseling
You already know something has to change.
That knowing is exhausting to carry. It sits alongside the pull toward the thing you're trying to stop, alongside the shame of another attempt that didn't hold, alongside the part of you that isn't sure change is actually possible anymore. Addiction counseling at Courage to Be Counseling and Consultation isn't about convincing you to want something different. It's about working with what's underneath the pattern, the pain, the habit, the need it's been filling, and building something that actually holds.
What you might be carrying
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You've tried to stop or cut back before, sometimes more than once, and the fact that it hasn't lasted has started to feel like evidence about who you are
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The substance or behavior is doing something for you, numbing something, calming something, filling something, and you're not sure what you'd do without it
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Your relationships, your work, or your sense of yourself have been affected, and the weight of that is its own kind of pain
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Part of you wants help and part of you isn't sure you deserve it, or that anything will be different this time
What starts to shift
One of the earliest shifts in this work is the way you understand what's been driving the pattern. Addiction rarely exists on its own. It's almost always connected to something underneath it, a way of managing pain, anxiety, trauma, or a chronic sense of not being okay. When that connection becomes clearer, the pull toward the substance or behavior starts to make a different kind of sense. That isn't an excuse. It's a more accurate picture, and a more accurate picture is what makes real change possible.
From there, the work moves toward building something to replace what the addiction has been providing. That process is collaborative and honest about how slow and nonlinear it can be. Progress in early recovery looks different than progress further in, and both are real.
What tends to hold longest isn't willpower or the right information. It's a genuine shift in how you relate to yourself, your emotions, and the patterns that made the addiction feel necessary in the first place.
How we work with you
Addiction counseling at Courage to Be Counseling and Consultation draws from motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and supportive relational approaches. The work is collaborative, not prescriptive. There's no script about what your recovery has to look like or what the right path forward is. That gets figured out together, based on your history, your goals, and what you're actually ready for.
Sessions are 50 minutes. Early sessions focus on understanding your full picture, what the substance or behavior has been doing for you, what's been getting in the way of change, and what support looks like for you specifically. The work isn't limited to the addiction itself. If trauma, grief, relationship pain, or identity questions are part of the picture, those are part of the work too.
What to expect
The first session is a conversation, not an assessment checklist. You'll be asked about your history and what brought you in, and you'll have space to ask questions about the approach before committing to anything. There's no judgment about how long this has been going on or what you've tried before. Treatment goals are developed with you, not handed to you, and they get revisited regularly as the work progresses.
Sessions are typically weekly or biweekly. Between sessions, you can reach out by email or text.
Who this is a good fit for
Addiction counseling at Courage to Be Counseling and Consultation is available for adults working through concerns related to substance use, alcohol, and behavioral patterns that have become difficult to control. This practice works well for people who have tried other approaches without lasting results, people who suspect there's something deeper underneath the addiction, and people who want a therapeutic relationship rather than a program.
This is not a detox or medical withdrawal program. If medical support for withdrawal is needed, that conversation happens openly and referrals are provided. Courage to Be Counseling and Consultation works best as part of a recovery picture, not as a crisis intervention.
Fees
Sessions are $150 per session, with sliding scale options available based on financial need. Courage to Be Counseling and Consultation does not accept insurance. A free phone or email consultation is available before your first appointment.
Policies
Cancellations should be made in advance. Confidentiality applies to everything shared in session, within standard legal limits. There are specific confidentiality considerations that apply to substance use treatment, and those are explained clearly before work begins so you know exactly what applies to your situation.
FAQs
Do I have to be sober or ready to quit completely before starting?
No. You don't have to have a fixed plan or a firm commitment to abstinence before reaching out. Many people come in still ambivalent, still figuring out your relationship with substances, still determining what they actually want. That's a legitimate place to start, and the work meets you there.
Is this confidential? I'm worried about who might find out.
Yes, what you share in session is confidential. There are standard legal exceptions, and there are specific confidentiality protections that apply to substance use records specifically. Both are explained clearly at the start so you have a full picture before you share anything.
What if I've tried therapy for this before and it didn't help?
That history matters and it gets taken seriously. If previous therapy felt too focused on behavior change without addressing what was underneath, or if the relationship didn't feel safe enough to be honest in, that's worth naming early. The approach here is built around the relationship and what's driving the pattern, not just the pattern itself.
What's the difference between addiction counseling and just going to AA or another program?
They serve different purposes and aren't mutually exclusive. Group programs offer community, accountability, and peer support. Individual counseling offers a private space to work on the personal history, emotional patterns, and relational dynamics that group settings don't always reach. Some people find both useful at the same time.