Individuals, Couples & Families Welcome
Addictions and Recovery
Is your family suffering because of your addiction? Are you struggling with alcohol abuse? Drug abuse? Gambling addiction? Do you need counseling support in Denver to help understand your role in your loved one’s recovery?
Why do addictions happen?
Defining Addiction
Addictions are listed in the DSM-5 as substance-related and addictive disorders. Addictions become a disorder when an individual becomes blinded by a substance or engaging in an activity that gives them an immense amount of pleasure. Unfortunately for many, the addiction or substance abuse becomes detrimental to their everyday life. Compulsive behaviors and addictions can temporarily provide confidence, control, validation, numb negative emotions, or fill the areas in their life that are lacking. The behavior may not stop until the underlying causes of the addictions are addressed which often stem from trauma from childhood or negative experiences later in life which must be discovered and addressed in counseling.
Addiction and the Brain
Addictions change the brain through the limbic system, also known as the “brain reward system”. This part of the brain is responsible for producing feelings of pleasure and will manifest thoughts such as, “I deserve this,” or “Let’s do that again." Clients and their families may be affected by society’s lie about many addictions and use of substances telling themselves, "It helps me or my loved one relieve stress." or "I don't have a problem." The abuse of addictive substances or compulsive behaviors trigger the limbic system which can prolong the continuous cycle of destruction.
Metro Denver Family Therapy and Hypnotherapy is here for you
There is Hope
People who have developed an addiction or who are abusing a substance may be unaware the behavior is out of control. Counseling is an essential part of working through and managing the condition. An addiction of any kind is exhausting and individuals and families should never go through the recovery process alone which is where family therapy becomes very important. Individuals may need time alone to process their addiction examining causes, developing alternative behaviors, and finding solutions to overcome the addiction or eliminate the need for the substance. Counseling with the family is essential to address the addictions and aid recovery by creating a support system, learn how to set boundaries, and learn new healthier patterns of interacting.
Treatment Methodologies
Individual therapy treatment plans for addictions focus on talking and listening; examining behaviors; setting goals; establishing boundaries; understanding needs of self and others; and analyzing the reasons why the abuse happens and the reasons why it needs to stop. Counseling clients learn skills to help them control the impulses and craving to use the substance. Individual therapy can include hypnosis with a well-trained hypnotherapist such as Daria Mann, advanced clinical hypnotherapist, in one-on-one sessions in Denver, Colorado. Family Therapy treatment plans involve the family system or subsets of the family system providing a safe place to express needs, resolve conflicts, access and eliminate family triggers. The family may be a huge support to assisting with recovery and preventing relapse. Daria Mann is specifically trained as a marriage and family therapist to facilitate these family counseling sessions. Daria is currently taking additional classes to become a licensed addiction counselor (LAC) as well.