Addiction

Counseling for Adults, Teens, Couples, and Families

Restoration Counseling of Atlanta provides Christian addiction counseling for individuals, couples, teens, and families throughout Georgia. Our therapists help clients address alcohol and drug use, substance use disorders, cravings, relapse triggers, trauma, family relationships, and the underlying emotional and spiritual concerns that can contribute to addictive patterns. We offer in-person counseling in the Atlanta area and online counseling for eligible Georgia residents and some surrounding states.

What Can Addiction Counseling Help With?

  • Alcohol use and alcohol addiction
  • Drug use and substance use disorders
  • Prescription medication misuse
  • Cravings and urges
  • Relapse prevention
  • Triggers and high-risk situations
  • Trauma connected to substance use
  • Anxiety, depression, and substance use
  • Family conflict related to addiction
  • Marriage problems related to alcohol or drug use
  • Adult children of alcoholics
  • Teen substance use
  • Shame and guilt
  • Rebuilding trust after addiction

How Do I Know If I Need Addiction Counseling?

It is not always easy to know when alcohol or drug use has become a problem. You may wonder whether your substance use is “bad enough” to warrant counseling, or whether you should simply be able to stop on your own. You do not have to wait until a crisis before seeking help.

You may benefit from speaking with an addiction counselor if you:

  • Have tried to cut back or stop using alcohol or drugs but have struggled to do so.
  • Find yourself using more often or in greater amounts than you intended.
  • Experience strong cravings or feel unable to control your use.
  • Continue using alcohol or drugs despite negative consequences to your health, work, finances, relationships, or family.
  • Use substances to cope with stress, trauma, anxiety, depression, loneliness, or other difficult emotions.
  • Hide or minimize your substance use from people you love.
  • Feel guilty, ashamed, remorseful, or concerned about your drinking or drug use.
  • Have experienced a relapse and want support in understanding what contributed to it.
  • Have had a spouse, family member, friend, or coworker express concern about your substance use.
  • Have wondered whether you should cut down or stop using alcohol or drugs.
  • Notice that problems or difficult emotions seem easier to ignore while using, but return when you are sober.
  • Are unsure whether your substance use has become a problem but want a safe, confidential place to talk about it.

You do not have to be certain that you have an addiction before reaching out for help. An addiction counselor can help you take an honest look at your substance use, understand the patterns and factors contributing to it, and determine what kind of support may be appropriate.

EMDR & Addiction Counseling

For some individuals, addictive behaviors are connected to unresolved trauma, painful memories, or overwhelming emotional experiences. EMDR therapy may help clients process traumatic experiences and reduce the emotional intensity associated with memories and triggers.

When appropriate, EMDR may be incorporated into a broader treatment plan to help address trauma, cravings, emotional triggers, and patterns that contribute to substance use.

Assessment Services

We have testing resources we can use to help you reflect on your alcohol or drug usage. We can help you identify the places where things might not be going the way you want and help you make positive changes. Contact us if you would like a complimentary 10-minute phone consultation or to make an appointment.

Counseling for Adult Children of Alcoholics

Growing up in a home affected by alcohol addiction can have lasting effects, even when you are no longer living with the person who drank. As an adult, you may find yourself struggling with patterns, emotions, or relationship difficulties that seem difficult to understand.

You may have learned to:

  • Take responsibility for other people’s emotions
  • Walk on eggshells to avoid conflict
  • Hide your feelings or avoid vulnerability
  • Struggle to trust others
  • Have difficulty setting healthy boundaries
  • Feel responsible for fixing other people’s problems
  • Fear making mistakes or disappointing others
  • Seek control when life feels uncertain
  • Experience anxiety, shame, anger, or difficulty identifying your emotions
  • Struggle with perfectionism or a persistent feeling that you are never doing enough
  • Find yourself repeating unhealthy patterns in romantic relationships or friendships

You may also carry questions about your childhood, such as: “Was it really that bad?” “Why am I still affected by it?” or “Shouldn’t I be over this by now?”

The effects of growing up with parental alcohol misuse are not always obvious. You may have had a parent who was loving and caring at times while also being unpredictable or emotionally unavailable when impacted by alcohol. You may have learned to adapt to your family environment in ways that helped you cope as a child but no longer serve you in your adult relationships.

At Restoration Counseling of Atlanta, our counselors can help you explore the lasting impact of growing up in a family affected by alcohol addiction and support you as you work toward greater emotional and relational health. You are not responsible for the choices your parent made. And you do not have to remain defined by what happened in your childhood.

Counseling for Teen Addiction

Are you worried that your teen may be experimenting with drugs and alcohol? If your teen is addicted, you may wonder where to turn for help. Teen substance abuse is on the rise. It is a disease that affects adolescents in every ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic group. You are not alone! Our therapists are able to serve you as your family works to recover from this battle.

Counseling for Sexual Addiction and Compulsive Sexual Behaviors

At Restoration Counseling of Atlanta, we believe you can address sexual struggles with honesty and compassion rather than remaining trapped in shame. Our counselors provide a safe, confidential environment where you can explore your behaviors, beliefs, relationships, and underlying struggles without being reduced to your past choices.

For clients who desire it, counseling can integrate Christian faith and biblical principles as part of the healing process. Meaningful change involves honestly confronting destructive patterns while also recognizing that your struggles do not define your identity or determine your future.

You do not have to remain trapped in secrecy, shame, or a cycle you feel unable to break. Counseling can be a first step toward greater freedom, integrity, and healthier relationships.

*Our Associate Clinical Director, Troy Snyder, is a Certified Clinical Sexual Addiction Specialist (CCSAS).

When Outpatient Counseling May Not Be Enough

Outpatient counseling can be an important part of recovery, but it may not be the appropriate level of care for everyone or for every situation. Some circumstances require more immediate or intensive support than weekly counseling can provide.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Our counselors can help you discuss your concerns, assess whether outpatient counseling is an appropriate level of support, and help you consider whether additional resources or a higher level of care may be needed. Seeking a higher level of care is not a failure. Sometimes, it is the safest and most appropriate step toward recovery.

You Don’t Have to Face This Alone

Whether you are struggling with alcohol or drug use, concerned about a loved one’s substance use, or trying to understand how addiction has affected your family, you do not have to navigate it alone. We can help you understand your options, and determine whether counseling may be the right next step.

Reach out today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward healing, freedom, and healthier relationships.

📞678-534-3824  ✉️admin@restorationcounselingatl.com

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