Substance Abuse Counseling
Finding It Hard To Fight Substance Abuse On Your Own?
Do you feel like you constantly crave some form of release, especially when you’re stressed or burnt out? Is it easier for you to “let loose” and network after a few drinks? Have you experienced some form of trauma that you never really healed from, and the only way to quell the feelings when they become overwhelming is to drink or use?
Perhaps drinking alcohol and using drugs in excessive amounts has caused your relationships with your partner or family to suffer. Other people may be exhausted and frustrated, waiting for you to change. Maybe your substance abuse has made it hard for you to function normally at social events, causing you to become withdrawn and isolated. As a result, you might be wondering if you need extra support.
Substance Abuse Is More Complex Than You May Think
You may be experiencing racing thoughts, restlessness, anxiety, and changes in your sleep patterns. Perhaps you’ve been experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, cravings, loss of appetite, headaches, and nausea.
Maybe you’ve lost interest in participating in social activities and hobbies you once enjoyed. Or perhaps you’ve been dealing with mood swings and feel ashamed, or hopeless, about your substance abuse.
You just want to feel good about yourself and your life again, without battling urges to drink or use. At Elevation Behavioral Therapy we want the same for you, too. Our gentle and compassionate therapists can help you manage your substance abuse well by guiding you toward regaining control of your life.
Substance Abuse Can Happen To Anyone
Substance use disorders are extremely common. During COVID-19, while everyone was at home, substance use increased exponentially, as many people struggled to adjust to a scary new world. You are not alone in your fight to control substance abuse.
Many people believe that substance abuse only affects those who are from a certain socioeconomic background. But the truth is, substance abuse takes on many forms and affects people of all shapes and sizes, from all walks of life.
Society Normalizes Substance Use
In our culture, drinking is considered an integral part of parties, events, dinners, and get-togethers. It is a common belief for many that without being intoxicated, you can’t enjoy yourself. Moreover, there is a focus on drinking as part of certain professions, such as in sales or business roles, the law profession, and the service industry, amongst others. It is also common practice to binge drink in college and sometimes grad school programs, as well as during your 20s.
Colorado was one of the first two states in the U.S. to legalize marijuana. Its legalization has helped to normalize its use. People now perceive it as less harmful and associate it with its ability to alleviate pain, anxiety, or depression. While marijuana can provide these benefits, it can also become very emotionally abusive and can be detrimental if it becomes a way to regularly check out, and begin to impact functioning, as well as personal relationships.
Additionally, nicotine and vaping are becoming increasingly popular. Vape pens have increased the usage of nicotine. Vaping products are widely available and viewed as safer because they don’t produce tar or smoke. The wide range of flavors available also makes this even more appealing to young people.
Life can be demanding, and for many, the way to cope is to drink or use. However, seeking counseling for substance abuse helps identify healthy ways to cope, and provides the opportunity for a happier life.
Counseling Can Help Heal Your Substance Abuse
It can be hard to talk about your history of substance abuse, but at Elevation Behavioral Therapy, we want you to know that your experiences are valid, and you don’t need to feel guilty or ashamed.
Our sessions provide clients with a safe place to be completely unfiltered when discussing substance use. You will be met with zero judgment and total acceptance. Our understanding therapists are dually licensed as substance abuse counselors, and have many years of experience in working with abuse.
Substance Abuse Counseling- What To Expect
During sessions, you can expect to better understand the driving forces behind your drinking or use, and to learn why you have a hard time stopping or controlling intake amounts.
We’ll teach you how to handle triggers when they arise, including thinking about the people, places, and things involved in your substance use. These insights allow you to plan for and anticipate triggers, which ultimately greatly impact a person’s likelihood to drink or use. Along your substance abuse therapy journey, we’ll talk about what you would like your life to look like, and put tangible strategies into place, so you can achieve the life you’ve always wanted.
Have any questions? Send us a message!
Substance Abuse Counseling Approaches
While some of our clients would like to become fully sober, others would like to learn how to reduce their drinking/use, and better manage it. We are very experienced in working with clients striving towards a sober life, as well as implementing a harm reduction approach, where we actively work on reducing your drinking use. We’re also very supportive and understanding if you’re not sure yet that your substance use is a problem. If you’d simply like an outlet to learn more and process what you’ve been going through, we would be happy to offer that.
The treatment methods we use for alcohol and drug substance abuse include:
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Motivational Interviewing which is instrumental in developing your own motivation to change, rather than being coerced into treatment. By exploring feelings of doubt or fear, your therapist can help you resolve conflicting thoughts and emotions. During therapy, you can become more invested in the process of recovery, and confident in your ability to make positive changes in your life.
MI also involves asking thoughtful questions to motivate change within you. We believe you already have the answers you are looking for, and we are your guides, providing support as you develop greater self-awareness. With MI, we set goals and develop a plan for change that is tailored to your specific needs.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is helpful for distress tolerance, emotion regulation, mindfulness, and relapse prevention. You will learn techniques like identifying and labeling emotions, challenging thoughts and beliefs that contribute to negative emotions, and changing the way you respond to emotional triggers.
Self-soothing and distraction techniques are also integral parts of DBT. You might benefit from listening to calming music, practicing deep breathing exercises, guided meditations, and other relaxation skills for combating substance abuse triggers.
Additionally, we often use a container exercise from a type of therapy called EMDR, where your therapist helps you create a mental container to store overwhelming thoughts, feelings, and sensations that may arise in your life. We will help you imagine yourself placing any distressing experiences or emotions that may fuel your substance abuse into the container, and closing the lid to hold them in.
We also encourage community support. Building a supportive community is vital for those working on their substance abuse. While we recognize 12 step programs are not for everyone, some of our clients find tremendous benefits from programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). These programs involve group meetings where individuals share their experiences and support each other in recovery. Whether you would like to get involved in a 12-step program or not, we are fully supportive of your decision. If you’d like, we can help you explore the possibility of joining a recovery program, or help you find less structured community support for your recovery.
No matter the method used, our ultimate goal in substance abuse counseling is to drastically improve your physical and emotional well-being, so that drinking or using is not controlling your life.
You May Be Considering Substance Abuse Counseling But Have Concerns…
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Do you accept my insurance?In order to provide the highest quality therapy, our practice is not directly in-network with insurance, however, we work with a company called Mentaya Health, that will submit clients out-of-network claims for them. When you are eligible for reimbursement for sessions, you will directly receive a check in the mail from your insurance provider. We are also happy to provide you with a superbill, which you may submit to your insurance company directly for reimbursement. A superbill serves as a “receipt” of therapy sessions, and is very commonly accepted. We can answer any questions you may have in regards to Mentaya Health, or superbills.
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I’m confused about my insurance coverage. Can you help answer my questions?We are happy to answer any questions about Mentaya submitting claims. You can also use our Mentaya Health widget above to verify your out-of-network therapy benefits within seconds. Since each client’s health insurance coverage is different based on your individual plan, it is easiest for clients to directly reach out to their insurance provider with questions regarding coverage. We find most phone calls for this take less than 10 minutes. Many insurance companies also offer the option to live chat with a representative, if you prefer not to call.
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Can I use my FSA or HSA card to pay for therapy?Absolutely! You’re able to use either an FSA or HSA card to pay for therapy services.
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Do you offer an initial free consultation?Yes! Elevation offers a free 20 minute initial consultation. Click here to schedule
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Do you offer online scheduling?Our practice offers online scheduling for all new and current clients. This means you can book, cancel or reschedule appointments all through our website. Click here to schedule an appointment or free initial consultation.
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Do you have evening appointments?Absolutely. We offer evening & night appointments, as well as daytime appointments, to accommodate clients varying scheduling needs.
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How often can I meet with my therapist, and are longer session lengths available?Our practice is very flexible in how often you are able to meet with your therapist. We can accommodate clients having sessions multiple times a week, once a week, every other week, etc. The traditional session length of time is 50 minutes, however, we also offer sessions for 75 minutes, or longer. Longer sessions are very beneficial when doing EMDR and ERP therapy, as well as for clients who feel 50 minutes is not enough time to meet.
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Where are therapy sessions offered?We offer therapy sessions in person at our Cherry Creek, Denver office, via teletherapy (video) and ERP for OCD is also offered in your home or the community. Whenever weather permits, we also offer walk and talk therapy, where your therapist can meet you at a local park or somewhere outdoors, and you can do your session while walking.
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What is the cost of therapy? How does this compare to the cost of therapy in Denver?Our therapy sessions are $155-230 per 50 minute session, based on the individual psychologist or therapist. Private practice therapy in Denver with licensed psychologists or therapists costs $140-$275 per session. All of our psychologists and therapists are very experienced and considered specialists in their designated areas of practice.
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What is your cancellation and no show policy?There is no charge for therapy appointments canceled with more than 24 hours notice. Appointments that are canceled with less than 24 hours or no showed will be charged the normal session rate of $155-230, based on your individual psychologist or therapist’s rate.
We Can Help You Live The Life You’ve Always Dreamed Of
Whether substance abuse is interfering with your relationships, health, or happiness, counseling with Elevation Behavioral Therapy can help you live a life where YOU are in control.
Substance abuse does not have to consume your life. To get the support you need, schedule a free initial consultation or first appointment using our online booking link below. Or if you’d like to address further questions or concerns, please email us at support@elevationbehavioraltherapy.com or call or text us at (720) 295-6566.
A brighter future is on the horizon.
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