When “Just Getting Through the Day” Becomes the Pattern
Compassionate, non-judgmental therapy for alcohol and drug use in New York, New Jersey & Massachusetts
If you’re struggling with alcohol, drug use, or gambling, questioning your relationship with substances, or trying to maintain recovery, you don’t have to do it alone.
Substance use often isn’t about a lack of willpower—it’s usually connected to stress, emotional pain, trauma, or patterns that have become hard to break. Therapy can help you understand what’s driving the behavior, build healthier coping tools, and move toward a life that feels steadier and more in your control.
You’re Not Alone (And You’re Not Broken)
Many people live in silence for far too long—trying to “handle it,” cut back on their own, or push through the shame.
In therapy, you’ll have a safe space to:
Talk openly without judgment
Understand why substance use became a coping strategy
Reduce shame and build self-trust
Create a plan that feels realistic and sustainable
What Substance Use Therapy Can Help With
Substance use therapy can support you if you’re:
Using alcohol or drugs more than you want to
Feeling stuck in cycles of stopping and restarting
Managing cravings, urges, or relapse triggers
Trying to rebuild stability in early recovery
Working to maintain long-term recovery
Navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, or chronic stress alongside substance use
Wanting support that feels compassionate, not punishing
Fighting the cycle of gambling-losing-gambling to make the money back
Areas of Focus
With over 12 years of experience in substance use counseling, treatment is tailored to your needs and your stage of recovery—whether you’re in active use, early change, relapse prevention, or maintenance.
Support may include work around:
Alcohol use
Opioid dependence
Prescription medication misuse
Illicit drug use
Relapse prevention and long-term recovery support
Gambling dependence and online sports betting
A Personalized Approach to Recovery
There is no single “right” way to heal. Some clients are working toward full abstinence. Others want to reduce harm and make gradual changes that improve safety and stability.
Therapy is collaborative and individualized, with goals shaped around:
Your values
Your lifestyle
Your level of readiness
What you want your relationship with substances to look like
Practical Tools + Deeper Healing
Substance use therapy isn’t just about stopping a behavior—it’s about creating a life where you don’t need that coping strategy in the same way.
In sessions, you may work on:
Identifying triggers and high-risk situations
Working through relationship patterns and conflict
Building coping strategies for stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm
Exploring trauma and underlying emotional pain
Strengthening emotional regulation and decision-making
Replacing shame with clarity and self-compassion
Evidence-Based Approaches
Therapy may include:
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Trauma-informed therapy
Strengths-based counseling
Support for Loved Ones
Substance use and gambling excessively impacts the whole family. Therapy can also support partners and loved ones with:
Boundaries and communication
Reducing conflict and burnout
Support without enabling
Prioritizing your own mental health
Who This Is For
Substance use therapy may be a great fit for:
Adults seeking therapy for alcohol, drug use, or gambling issues
People in early recovery or maintaining long-term recovery
Clients working on relapse prevention and coping with triggers
Individuals who feel stuck, ashamed, or unsure where to start
Loved ones impacted by a partner or family member’s substance use
What to Expect in Substance Use Therapy
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No. Substance use therapy can help whether you’re actively using, cutting back, or in recovery.
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Yes. Therapy focuses on triggers, coping skills, and long-term recovery support.
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Yes. Relapse doesn’t mean failure—therapy helps you understand patterns and strengthen your plan.
Compassionate, Experienced Substance Use Therapy
I have over 12 years of experience providing substance use counseling and recovery support for adults impacted by alcohol use, opioid addiction, prescription drug misuse, and illicit drug use. I support clients in all stages of change—including active use, early recovery, relapse prevention, and long-term maintenance.
Specialty: Substance use & recovery — I work with people who feel stuck in cycles of using, quitting, and starting over—often while carrying stress, trauma, anxiety, or burnout underneath it.
Nonjudgmental, stigma-free space — You don’t have to “prove” your struggle to deserve help. Therapy is a place to be honest without shame, fear, or lectures.
Harm reduction or abstinence-focused goals — Your treatment plan is individualized and collaborative. Some clients want full sobriety, while others want safer choices, fewer consequences, and sustainable change.
Practical, evidence-based tools — I use CBT, Motivational Interviewing (MI), trauma-informed therapy, and strengths-based counseling to help you manage cravings, reduce triggers, and build healthier coping skills.
Support for relapse prevention — Together, we identify high-risk situations, build a realistic plan, and strengthen your ability to respond differently when urges show up.
Family and relationship support — Substance use affects the whole system. I also help partners and loved ones set boundaries, reduce enabling patterns, and protect their own mental health.
Virtual sessions available in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
Ready to Get Started?
You don’t need to hit “rock bottom” to reach out. If you’re ready for support, Life Balance Psychotherapy is here to help.