Therapy for Addiction Recovery
Evidence-based therapy for recovery and relapse prevention
When sobriety is established, but the work is not over
Many people seek therapy after they have already stopped using substances and are committed to sobriety. While early recovery can bring clarity and relief, it can also surface emotions, patterns, and questions that were previously managed through use. For others further along in recovery, challenges may arise around sustaining change, navigating relationships or integrating sobriety into a coherent sense of identity and daily life.
Therapy is less about stopping a behavior and more about understanding what comes next. More specifically, how to live, cope, and relate without relying on strategies that once helped, but are no longer aligned with your life and values.
How early to long-term recovery can show up
Patterns and symptom presentations at this stage in your treatment may involve the following:
Emotional intensity or mood shifts now that substances are no longer buffering feelings
Anxiety, irritability or restlessness that feels unfamiliar or persistent
Ongoing urges or fears about relapse, despite commitment to sobriety
Identity questions or uncertainty about who you are in recovery
Relational patterns becoming more visible without substances in the background
A desire for stability that is sustainable over time
Why this stage is challenging
Substances often served important functions, such as regulating emotions, managing stress or creating relief. When sobriety is established, the nervous system and emotional world need time and support to recalibrate. Patterns that were once protective may linger, even when they no longer serve your current goals.
Recovery-focused therapy honors the role those patterns once played while supporting the development of responses that are perceived to be safer, more flexible, and more aligned with long-term recovery.
How therapy supports recovery over time
Therapy for individuals in early to long-term recovery focuses upon strengthening the internal skills that help sobriety last. The work emphasizes emotional regulation, increased awareness, and intentional responding to stressors, rather than relying on willpower or rigid rules. Throughout the course of treatment, therapy supports the integration of recovery into daily life to support stability, initiative, and meaning.
Therapeutic targets
Depending on your needs and stage of recovery, therapy may involve any of the following:
Strengthening emotional regulation and distress tolerance
Understanding triggers and vulnerabilities after sobriety is established
Exploring identity, values, and meaning in recovery
Addressing anxiety, shame or self-criticism that can emerge over time
Supporting relapse prevention through awareness, rather than fear
Building routines and discipline that reinforce long-term stability
Approach
In our work together, therapy will emphasize building awareness, strengthening emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills, and identifying more sustainable ways to respond to urges, triggers, and stressors. We work on reconnecting with personal values and supporting intentional, values-aligned choices.
Is this a good fit?
Addiction recovery therapy with me would be a good fit if you are sober and seeking support in early or long-term recovery. This work is designed for individuals who are committed to maintaining sobriety and want to strengthen the emotional and relational foundations that support lasting change.
If you are currently using substances or need detox or stabilization support, a higher level of care may be more appropriate.
Individual therapy for adults | telehealth for California residents | secure HIPAA-compliant platform | free consultation availability
If addiction recovery has been taking up more space than you would like, a consultation can help determine whether this approach resonates with your personal development goals.
Book consultation here.