Substance Use Counseling

Some life challenges can be difficult to cope with—stress at work or school, familial conflicts, divorce or separation, or trauma. Sometimes, it’s the everyday ups and downs that seem impossible to deal with, which can make certain substances appealing if they appear to help individuals manage throughout the day. Substances like alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, prescription medications, and illicit drugs are addictive and can hurt your mind’s capability to overcome adversity and heal from trauma. Recognizing that substance use cannot afford someone the ability to cope with certain stressors is the first step away from dependence, substance misuse, and addiction.

How Do I Know if I’m Dependent on Substances?

You rationalize that you’re not addicted because you can stop whenever you want; you’re in control, not the substance. However, you may notice your body doesn’t feel as healthy when you drink or smoke. You may recall a time when you lost your temper, forgot an important event at work or your child’s school, or almost caused a collision on the highway after self-medication.

Substance use can create issues in your physical health, familial relationships, friendships, work environment, and even your hobbies. They control the things you do, say, and think.

While some clients may feel uncomfortable, recognizing that you may have substance use concerns is the first step to receiving support professionally and personally. Our therapists at Rise provide a comfortable space for you to speak openly and honestly about what you’re going through and how you’ve been trying to cope. We analyze how your decisions may be impacting you and the people around you and establish next steps. We can help you transition your dependence on substances to effective coping skills for a healthier mind, body, and resolution in your relationships.

Next Steps

Substance use is often paired with deep shame. We don’t feel comfortable thinking about the ways we’ve hurt ourselves and others. However, coming to counseling for substance use can explore the reasons why you use certain substances to cope and the best care we can implement to start regaining your sense of purpose. Wherever you are in your journey towards health, we can help you explore your triggers and identify where your issues lie to establish healthy coping skills and help prevent those issues from becoming worse.

Our Assessments

Our therapists use the below formal assessments to help in the diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) and substance use-related issues.

Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventories (SASSI)

  • is a self-report screening instrument designed to accurately identify adolescents and adults with high probability of having a substance use disorder.

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Screening Instrument (AUDIT)

  • is a screening method for unhealthy and hazardous consumption of alcohol or any alcohol use disorder.

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

  • is a self-report instrument to screen, diagnose, and monitor depression severity.

Burn’s Depression Inventory

  • is designed to alert users to the possible onset of depression.

Perceived Stress Scale

  • measures the degree to which situations in one’s life are appraised as stressful.

SAD PERSONS Rating Scale

  • helps medical professionals with screening suicide risk in adults.

Please note that Rise Therapy Center does not offer a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) nor an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for substance use disorders. Our therapists have worked with people with substance issues related to alcohol, prescription and recreational drug misuse. We have helped people both in the early stages of addiction and those who have suffered for years.

Our Substance Use Counselors: