Substance Abuse Therapy

Addiction is a complex issue that goes beyond the substance itself. It often stems from a need to cope, relax, or get through difficult situations, ultimately leading to reliance on the substance. Over time, using can feel automatic rather than a conscious choice. We offer therapy designed to help you identify and break the patterns that contribute to substance use, allowing you to regain control of your life.

Understanding Substance Use Disorder

Substance use disorder (SUD) refers to the continuous use of a substance despite substance-related problems. An important aspect of SUD is that the use of alcohol or drugs has caused underlying changes in brain and nervous system circuits.

Signs and Symptoms of Substance Use Disorder

Signs of SUD include:

• Continued substance use despite negative consequences
• Neglecting responsibilities due to use
• Relying on substances to relax, sleep, or function
• Craving the substance
• Inability to control use
• Withdrawal symptoms

Symptoms of SUD include:

• Changes in mood or personality
• Changes in sleeping and eating patterns
• Loss of activities that were once enjoyable
• Legal issues
• Memory problems
• Financial problems

If you feel substances are occupying too much space in your life, it’s important to examine what it’s helping you achieve. Doing so can guide you in finding healthier ways to cope with the underlying nervous system patterns that lead you to use substances.

By learning to regulate your nervous system and using your feelings and bodily signals as sources of information, you can begin to release the factors that are holding you back. This can help decrease the need for substances.

How Substance Use Disorder Develops

Substance abuse is not random; it often stems from a need to cope with feelings or negative beliefs. Living with insecurities and ingrained patterns of responding to situations can be challenging, especially when these patterns were developed early in life. Therapy can assist you in identifying and changing these patterns, enabling you to handle life and its challenges more effectively without relying on drugs.

Diagnosing Substance Use Disorder

A therapist diagnoses substance use disorder. Your therapist will ask you a series of questions to help understand the nature of your substance use and how it’s affecting your life.

Therapy for Substance Use Disorder

Treatment options for substance use disorder include:

• Individual Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
• 12-Step Programs

At Evolve, we provide individual therapy for those who have already stopped using substances. If you are still using, we recommend that you first seek a higher level of care, such as a detox or inpatient rehab facility, to ensure that you can safely come off the substance.

Once you are ready, we will assist you in staying substance-free without substituting it for something else.

We utilize the Sovereign Body Method, which focuses on working with your nervous system. This approach helps you feel more comfortable overall and equips you to handle challenging situations without relying on external coping mechanisms.

When to Get Drug Addiction Therapy

If you are currently using substances, you may require a higher level of care to stop.

Some signs that you might be ready for therapy include:

• You have stopped using and want to make sure you can stay drug-free.
• You are still experiencing cravings.
• You want to understand what led to your substance use so you can address it effectively.

Engaging in this type of work can empower you to live a more fulfilling and authentic life.

It allows you to transition from feeling as though you’re constantly escaping from yourself and relying on external sources for support. Instead, you can become a person who is strong and grounded, one who is not overwhelmed by emotions.

You’ll develop a deeper understanding of yourself, gaining the ability to let go of what no longer serves you and to focus on doing what’s genuinely best for you. 

Types of Therapy for Drug Addiction

Therapy for drug addiction can include interventions such as:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

The goal of therapy at Evolve Therapy & Counseling, located in Brickell, Downtown Miami, and West Palm Beach, is to help you understand yourself, feel safe in your body, let go of what drives your need to use substances, manage feelings or negative thoughts that arise, and ultimately be true to yourself.

How Effective Is Drug Addiction Therapy?

This type of therapy is effective because your therapist does not tell you what to do; you already know what you “should” do. You don’t need someone else directing your actions. The challenge is that your nervous system often responds automatically to certain situations, and therapy can help you gain better control over these responses.

Through therapy, you will:

• Learn to listen to yourself and tap into your internal knowledge of what is right for you
• Become more capable of dealing with situations and feelings without avoiding or dwelling on them
• Gain more control in your daily life

This process is not about forcing you to change but rather about helping you feel comfortable being your authentic self.

What to Expect During Therapy

You will usually meet with your therapist once a week. Initially, you will learn about the nervous system and understand how substance use occurs and why it has affected you. After that, you will begin practicing methods to feel safer in your body. You will also learn to acknowledge your feelings and let them go, so they don’t control your actions.

Next, you’ll work on rewiring patterns that no longer serve you. Finally, you will create a sense of safety within yourself, allowing your nervous system to expand and enabling you to live in alignment with what is truly right for you.

The duration of therapy is entirely up to you and how quickly you can navigate the process. The goal is not to remain in therapy indefinitely. Instead, the aim is to discover what strategies work best for you, so you won’t have to depend on your therapist forever.

Evolve Therapy & Counseling in Brickell, Downtown Miami and West Palm Beach offers structured nervous system-based therapy. We also offer specialized treatment for addiction, such as CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.