Sobriety provides a great foundation for individual therapy

Vania provides psychotherapy for clients who are looking for additional support in their recovery. You’ll experience the benefits of attending therapy tenfold if you’re able to gain some time in sobriety and are no longer regularly using substances.

Vania can help you learn and implement effective new coping skills, set boundaries, and uncover what a fulfilling life in recovery looks like for you.

WHAT IS ADDICTION?

A key sign of addiction is continued use of a substance despite negative consequences

Individuals who have an addiction experience an intense focus on using certain substances such as alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs. This preoccupation and the use itself may make it difficult to function effectively in daily life. Someone with an addiction may try to stop using on their own without success, or keep using a substance despite awareness that their use is causing harm to themselves and their relationships. 

While drug or substance use may start out as recreational or in the context of social situations, for some people the use becomes more frequent. For others, especially opiates like heroin, drug addiction begins with exposure to prescribed medications. Eventually you may need the drug just to feel normal. You may experience intense cravings or withdrawal symptoms if you try to stop using the drug on your own, which makeS it increasingly difficult to stop without support.

COMMON SIGNS ASSOCIATED WITH ADDICTION

• Strong desire or urge (craving) to use the substance

• Substance is taken in larger amounts and over a longer period of time than intended

• Persistent desire or unsuccesful effort to cut down or control substance use

• Important social, work, or family activities are given up or reduced because of the substance use

• Failing to meet occupational or relationship committments or duties due to substance use

• Relationships are strained or damaged because of continued use

• Tolerance or the need for larger amounts to get the same effect, or experiencing little effect with continued use of the same amount

• Experience of withdrawal symptoms or continued use of the substance to avoid withdrawl symptoms

• Substance is used in risky settings; continued use despite known problems