Substance Use Therapy
Compassionate support for the patterns that once protected you
Substance use often starts as a solution—a way to quiet anxiety, numb pain, or get through something that felt unbearable at the time. Over time, though, the thing that once helped can start to hold you back.
This isn't a space for judgment or a one-size-fits-all program. It's a space to understand what your relationship with substances is really about, and to build something different.
What this work looks like
We look at substance use in context—what it's doing for you, what it's protecting you from, and what's been underneath it all along. Rather than treating the behavior in isolation, we work with the fuller picture: anxiety, trauma, depression, or old beliefs that may be driving it.
This integrative approach means we're not just working on stopping a behavior—we're working on why it's there in the first place, so change has a chance to actually last.
Who I work with
I work with adults and adolescents navigating:
Substance use that's become a coping mechanism for anxiety, depression, or trauma
Ambivalence about use—wanting to change some parts of it, not all
Substance use alongside eating disorders or other patterns
Life transitions complicated by substance use
Support for maintaining recovery, in coordination with other providers as needed
My approach
I draw on psychodynamic and Internal Family Systems–informed therapy to understand the parts of you that turned to substances, and EMDR when trauma is part of the story and feels like the appropriate fit. My approach is collaborative and non-judgmental — you set the pace and the goals.
My training
I'm a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #MFT99953) based in West Los Angeles. My training includes a psychoanalytic exploration of addiction and eating disorders through the Los Angeles Institute of Psychoanalytic Studies, alongside EMDR and Internal Family Systems training.
Is this right for you?
If you're curious about your relationship with substances—whether you're ready to make changes or just want to understand it better—a free consultation call is a good first step.