Substance use counseling in Arvada, CO
SUBSTANCE USE SUPPORT FOR BEHAVIOR CHANGE
If you’re questioning your relationship with alcohol, marijuana or other substances, that’s often the first sign something needs attention.
You might be:
drinking or smoking more than you want to
using substances to cope with stress
trying to cut back but struggling
wondering if your habits are becoming a problem
I provide substance use and addiction counseling support in Colorado focused on helping you change patterns and build healthier ways of coping.
It’s not just about the behavior.
Substance use is often connected to:
stress and overwhelm
emotional avoidance
habit patterns
disconnection
If you only focus on stopping, without understanding the why, change can be hard to sustain. We’ll look at what’s actually happening and build a plan that works for you - whether that means cutting out, cutting back or changing patterns.
What we work on in substance use counseling
Understand your substance use patterns → Looking at when, where and how you use.
Identify triggers → Recognizing emotional and situational factors driving the behavior.
Address underlying emotion → Working with needs, fears and vulnerabilities that may be contributing to use.
Create behavior change → Developing realistic strategies to reduce or change use.
My approach to substance use counseling
Substance use can feel like a cycle that’s difficult to break, and many people struggle with shame, isolation, or guilt around their behavior. Substance Use Counseling provides a safe, supportive space to explore not just the use itself, but the deeper emotional and relational factors that contribute to it. My approach combines attachment-informed therapy, relational approaches, and Motivational Interviewing (MI) to help you understand your patterns, build awareness, and create lasting change.
Attachment-informed work helps us explore how early relationships and connection, or lack of it, impact how you cope with stress, discomfort, or emotional pain. Often, substance use serves a function, such as numbing anxiety, managing loneliness, or regulating overwhelming emotions. By understanding these underlying needs, we can develop healthier ways to meet them without relying on substances.
Relational approaches focus on connection in the here-and-now. I work with you to notice patterns in relationships - with partners, family, friends, or even yourself - that may be reinforcing use. Therapy is collaborative and experiential: we practice building trust, expressing needs, and navigating conflict safely, so that connection becomes a source of support rather than stress.
Motivational Interviewing is integrated throughout, helping you clarify your personal goals, explore ambivalence, and strengthen your motivation for change. Rather than telling you what to do, I guide you in discovering why change matters to you, creating a sense of ownership and empowerment that drives sustainable growth.
In sessions, you’ll develop insight, emotional regulation, and practical strategies to interrupt cycles of use, handle triggers, and respond to cravings with intention. Substance Use Counseling is for anyone ready to move toward a deeper understanding of how you relate to yourself and others - building connection, resilience, and freedom from patterns that no longer serve you.
THERAPY FOR COUPLES
Stuck in the same conflicts, feeling unheard and more like roommates than partners? Ready to break those patterns, communicate more effectively and reconnect? Reach out today to get started.
THERAPY FOR MEN
Feeling stressed, shut down or stuck in your head? Struggling with your relationship or at work? Therapy for men can help you gain the skills you need to show up confidently and effectively.
THERAPY FOR EMOTIONAL CLARITY
Stress and overwhelm can lead us to overthinking, overreacting, or shutting down completely. Find emotional clarity through mindfulness and regulation.
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