Addictions therapists in Rockville, Maryland MD

Addictions and Substance Abuse can provide a heavy burden on your life and impede your life journey. They present a false narrative to you while destroying everything you love and have worked hard to achieve. However, the good news about narratives is they can be edited and rewritten to tell the best story about a overcomer and survivor. Let's rewrite your narrative together!  

Washington Psychological Wellness is a boutique-style mental health practice located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. At Washington Psychological Wellness, our clinicians have specialized training and expertise in the outpatient treatment of mild to moderate substance abuse and addiction in adolescents, teenagers, and adults. Our clinicians provide a non-judgmental collaborative environment in which one can take risks and explore different ways of thinking, feeling, and being. We aim to help you gain clarity about the underlying causes of your current addiction, provide strategies to help you cope, and empower you to trust your inner voice and live each day authentically. Our therapists will tailor treatment to your unique needs. Treatment will include an integrative approach consisting of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, mindfulness meditation, solution-focused therapy, person-centered therapy, and other holistic and empirically validated therapeutic modalities. Our goal is to help you lead a life worth living. We are currently accepting new clients. Telehealth (online) therapy options are available. Call now to schedule your free 15-minute consultation!  

It is my goal to cultivate our relationship by providing a warm, supportive, and non-judgmental environment where you can feel understood and heard. To find the method that works best for each individual client struggling with addition, I draw from psychodynamic, humanistic, and existential perspectives. Additionally, I incorporate a variety of modalities into my work with clients including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, and Motivational Interviewing.  

I HAVE WORKED IN THE ADDICTION AND RECOVERY FIELD FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND ALSO HAVE DECADES OF PERSONAL RECOVERY MYSELF. MY BESTSELLING BOOK, "FROM ADDICTION TO RECOVERY: A THERAPIST'S PERSONAL JOURNEY" IS AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM. I ALSO WORK WITH TELEVISION AND OTHER MEDIA TO DISCUSS MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION ISSUES.  

For many years, I have offered Substance Abuse and Addiction program for individuals, couples & groups. The root of addiction often lies in dysfunctional family experiences in childhood. Whatever form an addiction takes- whether overeating, gambling drug or alcohol abuse, cigarette smoking, video-game or pornography or sex addiction, the addictive cycle often numbs feelings or serves as an attempt to fill an inner emptiness. I use various effective methods to help clients stop or decrease addiction and replace it with more functional ways of dealing with needs and feelings. I have developed a safe and effective approach using guided imagery movement and music leading to an altered state of consciousness, which can serve as a substitute for the high, that one gets with drugs. Adolescents as well as adults learn to say no to drinking, smoking, over-eating and drugs through my programs. They learn to recognize how they are putting their education, health, family ties, and social life at risk. Often they are “self-medicating” their depression or anxiety with addiction, and they find far better ways of dealing with these problems. My colleagues and I also facilitate family and friend interventions for drug and alcohol abuse. Over many years, I have worked with Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs) including presenting my work with ACOAs at a meeting for psychologists at the Maryland Psychological Association. Many ACOAs become alcoholics themselves or become involved in relationships with alcoholics or substance abusers. They are at risk for other dysfunctional or even abusive relationships, I see many clients for Stopping Cessation and present successful Smoking Cessation programs to organizations and law firms. I have also presented seminars at the Maryland, DC and Virginia Lung Associations on Breathing and Smoking Cessation. I help clients with Love Addiction and Gambling Addiction, and attend many seminars on Eating Disorders to stay up to date on the latest developments in the field. I have also helped many clients with Smoking Cessation and Weight Loss. My Stop Smoking Now and Lose Weight Now programs have been utilized by many organizations and law firms and I have CD’s, Tapes and Bandcamp on Weight Loss and Smoking cessation. I have also presented a radio program and led workshops on Mindful Eating. I regularly offer free zoom seminars, that can help individuals deal with Substance Abuse and weight loss. Please feel free to call for the latest schedule or for a consultation: 301-229-8000  

Discipline is required and real life, simple; not easy. We work on habits, love, food, awareness. We often work in communities or groups. We do not focus on diagnosis but the person. Strength and flexibility come from inner and other work. There is always room to expand, grow, learn, commune, and replace one thing with a healthier thing. We will also work on practices that support change and focus.  

I have worked with individuals for several years struggling with the grip of addiction. In my work with you, we will examine the triggering event that is often to related trauma.  

I can treat any addictive behavior with the same approach, including gambling, sex addiction, video gaming, drugs/alcohol, other non-suicidal self-harm like cutting, and eating disorder behavior. My view of addictions and treatment approach are different than that of other therapists. Rather than label certain behaviors as "problems" or "bad" or "wrong", I reframe them as coping strategies that unfortunately have caused problems in one or more areas of life. The behavior itself isn't the problem; there are underlying issues that need to be addressed such as unresolved trauma, grief/loss, social isolation, lack of tools to handle intense emotions, low self-worth, and/or lack of meaningful spiritual connection. Once clients access self-compassion and stop judging themselves for engaging in behaviors, they are able to appreciate the fact that they are just trying to cope with the challenges of life as best they can. When we can let go of the shame and stigma attached to addiction, it's much easier to be open to making healthy changes and developing alternative behaviors that actually help and don't cause more harm. Together we will decode and uncover what the underlying issues are that need to be addressed in order to be able to let go of the addictive behavior. I try to focus on what the behavior is communicating and what need the client is trying to meet by engaging in the behavior.  

At Pine Heights Comprehensive Treatment Center, we understand that the journey to recovery from opioid addiction can be a difficult one. That’s why our team of professionals is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care and treatment services. We offer medication-assisted treatment, individual and group counseling, and family therapy. Our treatment approach is based on evidence-based practices, and our compassionate staff is committed to helping you get your life back on track. Reach out to us today and let us help you get started on the path to recovery.  

Trained and experienced with both the Disease Model of Addictions and 12 step recovery Trained and Certified in SMART Recovery for addiction treatment