Addiction Counseling in Roseville, CA

Addiction is an unhealthy attachment to a mood altering substance (alcohol, meth, opiates, etc.) or experience (sex, love, gambling, etc.). There are many self-help groups available that can assist you in your growth and recovery, however, many clients still benefit from therapy by addressing underlying issues. 

If you feel like therapy could help you in your recovery, I would be honored to support you.  Counseling can also be a great way to help you apply the principles of recovery in your relationships.  Whether you are new to recovery, or you've been in recovery for years, counseling can help you address emotional traumas and difficult experiences in a safe and compassionate environment.

I have worked with hundreds of people suffering from addiction and alcoholism over the years, and feel privileged to have shared the challenging but rewarding journey toward healing and wholeness. Rehab can be a great way to get some momentum in your recovery, but typically, short term residential treatment is not enough for lasting recovery.  

For those who have worked the steps with their sponsor, and have been painstaking about the development of their recovery, it's not uncommon to still have traumas and wounds lurking in the shadows.  Counseling can help unpack those experiences in a compassionate and non-judgmental setting.  

It can also help to have support with building trust in a relationship with your significant other or family members who may not understand addiction and alcoholism.

Whatever form of self-help recovery you connect with, support from a fellowship that understands you and can provide acceptance, strength, and hope is essential.  There are various self-help groups that can be supportive on your journey home toward wholeness. 

Some of those self-help groups include Celebrate Recovery, Recovery Dharma, Refuge Recovery, Life Ring, and SMART Recovery which are just some of the main self-help support options available in the community.  

The important thing to know is that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.  As you connect with others in recovery and find a new strength, you'll know a new freedom and a new happiness.  No matter how far down the scales you've gone, you will know peace (paraphrased from Alcoholics Anonymous p. 83-84).

Finding meaning and purpose through the suffering of addiction is possible. And if you'd like some professional support on your journey, call today. 

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Understanding the neuroscience of addiction can be very useful in the course of starting your recovery journey.  Addiction alters brain function, primarily affecting the reward system. Substances or behaviors trigger a surge of dopamine, reinforcing pleasurable experiences and creating cravings. Over time, the brain's natural dopamine production diminishes, requiring more of the substance for the same effect, a process called tolerance. Structural changes occur in the prefrontal cortex, impairing decision-making and self-control. Stress and environmental cues further activate brain pathways, heightening relapse risks. These neuroadaptive changes make addiction a chronic condition. Understanding these mechanisms highlights the importance of therapy, medication, and behavioral interventions to rewire the brain and restore balance in addiction recovery.  If you would like more in-depth information about the neuroscience of addiction, I would recommend watching the video below.

Is Alcohol (Drugs) Taking Control? A Simple Self-Check Questionnaire

Alcohol and Drug Use Self-Assessment Questionnaire
Instructions: Answer the following questions honestly. If the answer is "yes" to any of these questions, it could indicate a need for professional help. If you struggle with a substance other than alcohol, the same questions can apply to whatever substance you use.

1. Frequency and Amount:
   • Do you often drink more alcohol than you intended to?
   • Do you drink alcohol more frequently or in larger quantities than others around you?
2. Control and Cravings:
   • Have you tried to cut down or stop drinking but found it difficult?
   • Do you feel strong cravings or urges to drink?
3. Impact on Responsibilities:
   • Has your drinking interfered with your ability to fulfill responsibilities at work, school, or home?
   • Do you prioritize drinking over other important activities or relationships?
4. Consequences:
   • Have you continued to drink even after experiencing negative consequences (e.g., health issues, problems in relationships, or legal troubles)?
   • Have you had memory blackouts or forgotten events while drinking?
5. Tolerance and Withdrawal:
   • Do you need to drink more than before to feel the same effects?
   • Do you experience withdrawal symptoms (e.g., shakiness, sweating, anxiety) when you stop drinking?
6. Social and Emotional Effects:
   • Have friends or family expressed concern about your drinking habits?
   • Do you drink to cope with stress, anxiety, or depression?​

​Next Steps:
If you answered "yes" to two or more questions, it may be worth seeking professional help or attending support groups like options mentioned above to start your recovery journey. Early intervention can help you take control of your health and well-being.  In recovery, they say "work it because you are worth it." 

"And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation-some fact of my life-unacceptable to me, and can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.”

Alcoholics Anonymous pg.417