Addiction Treatment

My practice supports individuals and families where addiction is a concern.

If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one having an addiction, I can help. My practice supports individuals and families where addiction is a concern. From alcohol and drugs, to food, gambling and sex addictions, all forms can become life-threatening if the addiction is not treated.

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My approach is holistic and compassionate. It’s not easy to live the life of an addict nor is it easy to love one. But that said, treatment means getting honest and making new choices so you can treat the underlying pain and trauma in new ways that don’t require hiding or numbing out from your past or past shame.

My program is called transformative recovery. I help people learn to take accountability and then work on forgiveness and positive, healthy coping so addiction isn’t the only choice to deal with the pain. I look at the underlying causes of so we can remove the hold your addiction has on you. From that place, we can discover what are the best next steps for your life and your family.

Some clients want to work on the 12-steps and I do that too, for many people the ongoing support of AA, NA, Al-Anon and others are incredibly supportive. However you choose to work on your addiction, whether it’s your own or someone you love, we can find a way to not let addiction swallow you up and take your life away.

Addiction is particularly difficult on marriages and children. Children often become very confused about the hostile, unstable environment they live in and this can lead to exploring drugs, sex and alcohol much younger than normal. Addiction can cause marriages to end and the constant worry that a loved one may end up behind bars or dead from overdose is traumatic for everyone involved. For this reason, the whole family requires a holistic approach to healing in order to overcome the effects of addiction.

Let’s talk about how to spot an addiction. Here are several signs that something is wrong and addiction treatment may be necessary:

  • After some time, the same amount of drugs, sex, gambling or alcohol isn’t enough. In order to reach the desired high, the addict needs more.
  • When the addict tries to stop using the substance or discontinue the behavior, undesirable withdrawal symptoms start to occur including: anxiety, insomnia, isolation, anger, decreased appetite, fatigue, frustration with life that seems to never end, mood swings and depression/sadness are all common withdrawal effects.
  • The user starts to spend excessive amounts of time preparing for, thinking about, or obtaining the substance or activity they desire.
  • The addict starts hiding or lying about the amount of time and money spent on the activity.
  • As the addiction deepens, the addict starts to neglect relationships their spouse, kids and other friends in order to hang out with other individuals who share the same interest.
  • Many people experience difficulty making it to school or work and when they go, they don’t perform as well and have difficulty with classmates or coworkers.
  • Some people are considered “high functioning” meaning that on the outside to their boss or extended family, they look “good” but at home, it’s clear they are losing their battle to their addiction.
  • Unexplained financial difficulties. Money may go missing, bills go unpaid, vacations can’t be taken, normal expenses can’t be handled because the money has been spent on the substance of choice.
  • As it comes to light that there is a problem, the addict continues to use in spite of knowing it’s bad for them, their well-being and their overall health.
  • And for many, they have attempted to quit several times but continue to fall off the wagon and fail to be successful.

On their own, one of these symptoms should serve as a warning sign, but if you add more than one to your list, it’s a genuine sign that addiction is having a toll on your life and the lives of the people you love. Addiction treatment is an option and I can help. My practice is in Jupiter Florida and I treat addicts, their spouses, their kids and families.

Don’t let addiction stop you from living the life you most desire. Help is available. The hardest step is picking up the phone and making the first call. You CAN do it. I’m here when you’re ready.

To begin the healing process, I can be reached for a free 30-minute consultation at (201) 621-2160 or email me at brentberms@gmail.com.