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Substance Abuse and Addiction Therapy In Los Angeles
How to Find Addiction Help For
Someone You Think Has a Problem
If you're reading this, chances are you suspect something’s wrong.
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Maybe your family doesn't call as much;
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Problems keep appearing like an army of invisible villains sent to suck the life out of you;
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Annoying friends keep commenting about how much you party;
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You find yourself spending hours on social media or surfing porn instead of focusing on your job;
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You awake angry and confused again after a casual evening drinking with friends spiraled into another catastrophe.
Frustrating since you used to be so in control! You enjoyed close relationships, thrived at work, and lived with a sense of purpose and contentment. Now you’re left wondering:
Why does everyone else gets to blow off steam without problems?
Are my problems really that different from anyone else’s?
How can I tell if I’ve crossed the line into alcohol, drug, or porn addiction?
Fair questions. Read on!
Seeking Addiction Help Can Be Confusing
I get it. It’s easy for anyone to get sucked into an emotional downward spiral.
We are all more stressed out, overworked, and under-appreciated than ever before.
Moreover, compulsive behavior isn’t always a sign of addiction; it could point to other mental health issues—or nothing at all.
And it often feels like everyone turns to alcohol, recreational drugs, social media, or Internet porn to de-stress anyway.
Consider these recent U.S. statistics:
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Over 60% of people as young as 12 years old reported drinking alcohol within the past year;
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Nearly 30% of that same population say they used recreational drugs;
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At least 58% of adults surveyed said they've watched porn at some point in their life, with 27% saying they did so in the past month; and
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83% of U.S. adults have used social media in their lifetime.
I Can Help
As an addiction therapist in Los Angeles, I have years of formal and informal experience helping people navigate the confusion and embarrassment that often accompany addiction.
My goal is to help you feel and function better so you can reclaim the happy and meaningful relationships you deserve.
Whether you call it substance abuse counseling, substance abuse therapy, addiction therapy, or just plain help...
Three Key Principles guide my treatment approach:
First Key Principle
Addiction Is Only One of Many Counterproductive Tactics People Use to Cope with Mental Distress
Yes, it’s baffling when someone continually turns simple social activities into chaos and conflict—more if the person might be you.
But focusing on the addictive behavior itself, or its chaotic consequences is rarely helpful. Millions of people use alcohol, drugs, and social media without significant problems.
Likewise, it’s misguided to view addiction as a moral failure, emotional weakness, or a lack of willpower—because it’s none of those.
It's better to explore the specific thoughts, feelings, and emotions that repeatedly bring someone to manage stress with compulsive behaviors that rarely end well.
"Addiction...is just one of many human mechanisms for dealing with emotional life."
Dr. Lance Dodes, Breaking Addiction, p.36
Second Key Principle
Addiction Can Impact Anyone
You don’t need to label yourself an addict to start healing, any more than someone needs to admit to having depression, anxiety, diabetes, or the common cold.
Research studies show individuals with substance use disorder are no sicker than anyone coping with comparable emotional distress.
And, you are not alone! Thousands seek substance counseling or addiction therapy in Los Angeles every year.
“I just want to be normal”!
Every client in Philip Lewis Therapy addiction counseling
Third Key Principle
Addiction Can Be Conquered
In our weekly sessions we suspend judgment and collaborate to:
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Understand how your brain can trick you into thinking excessive alcohol, drugs, sex, or porn will solve your emotional problems – even though it never has.
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Identify the unique patterns of negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions feeding this destructive cycle; and
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Pinpoint the key emotional triggers that keep this addictive cycle going.
As clarity about your specific mental processes develops over time, we can then formulate a workable plan to:
(a) safely free you from the grip of addiction; and
(b) equip you with effective strategies to manage difficult emotions in the future without destroying your relationships in the process.
Numbing Out Only Hides Problems Temporarily
I won’t sugarcoat it – this work often involves uncovering painful memories from the past that you’ve desperately tried to avoid. But those buried pains won’t disappear just because they’ve been hidden from conscious awareness. In fact, suppressed negative thoughts tend to fester and eventually resurface in other ways, like symptoms of depression and anxiety.
3 Simple Steps Point You to Relief
1. Schedule a call
Choose a convenient time for a free 15-minute, no-pressure phone consultation.
2. Get Help
I help you make a plan to understand the unconscious blocks that have been keeping you from your best life.
3. Discover Freedom
We find the best ways to get unstuck so you can start enjoying the life you deserve.