Substance Abuse Services

Congratulations! You’ve made one of the best decisions you can make in seeking help. Whether you’ve decided to get help to control or moderate your use of alcohol or substances, want to be entirely abstinent, or just want to explore the role that addiction might play in connection to an issue, you are being proactive in trying to find someone who can help you. 

At Transformational Journeys we have experience in working with clients who have struggled with alcohol and/or substance abuse issues and we believe that the usage of substances is symptomology of underlying issues that need to be resolved. We are here to help you. 

Certain psychological and social factors can be powerful triggers that lead to initial usage of substances and relapse for those in recovery. Triggers can include stress, especially sudden life stresses, environmental cues such as visits to certain places, and social networks, like spending time with friends who continue to use. 

Triggers such as these can create a strong ongoing urge to begin to use, or use again. Counseling can help you to identify these triggers and manage them in a healthier way. 

Transformational Journeys uses a variety of therapy approaches to treat substance abuse. The right treatment plan will be tailored to your addiction and individual needs.

At Transformational Journeys we are passionate about helping you overcome addiction and improving skills that help you develop the tools to reduce the likelihood the alcohol and substances will be problematic in your future. We provide both individual treatment as well as groups. At Transformational Journeys we can help you navigate through the shame and vulnerability that can often accompany addiction. We will also explore patterns in your life that may result in your problematic usage, and we will explore new ways of coping with difficult feelings and take steps toward your life in recovery. 

Overcoming addiction may take work and involve doing things differently. Sometimes people who are overcoming addiction relapse and feel like they are a failure. You are not a failure. Recovery can take time as you are transforming yourself and this is a process. We welcome the opportunity to support you during this transformational journey.

On the surface of a person’s life, addiction can look varied and different, but what is happening below the surface is the same. Addiction changes the chemistry in one’s brain. Individuals experience an influx of reward hormones when they use the substance or participate in the activity, but make it difficult to maintain the level of release of reward hormone naturally.

Addiction fundamentally affects the brain and the impact to the brain are internal, but outward signs in a person’s life can draw attention to the issue. Certain behaviors, physical signs, or emotional states are particularly telling that an addiction may be developing. As you read through these red-flags for addiction, think about your own life or the life of a loved one. Do you recognize any? 

Behavioral Red-Flags of Addiction

• Lying to hide one’s behavior, especially to loved ones. 
• Disconnecting from relationships and activities—isolating oneself.
• Relational problems—fighting, tension, strain, worry, and more.
• Regularly missing school, work, or personal engagements.
• Work or school challenges—low grades, poor review, or being fired.
• Hiding and keeping secrets.
• Financial difficulties, especially consistently needing or asking for money.

Emotional Red-Flags of Addiction

• Lacking awareness about one’s behavior: denial, minimizations, blame, rationalizations, and/or diversions.
• Loss of interest in people/activities that were once valued.
• An inability to handle stress or challenges in life.
• Irritability.
• Defensiveness.
• Being obnoxious, silly, or easily confused.

Physical Red-Flags of Addiction

• Weight loss.
• Repetitive speech.
• Excessive sniffing while not ill.
• Being undernourished or pale.
• Red eyes, dilated pupils.
• Being hyperactive or lethargic depending upon the drug.
• Body odor that is unpleasant or different.

If you recognize any of these signs within your own life or in the life of a loved one, know that seeking help sooner rather than later is often important while treating addiction. It is easy to see from these red-flags that addiction can cause significant destruction within people’s lives. Early treatment may mean some of the more serious consequences of addiction can be diverted and offset. The counselors at Transformational Journeys are here to guide our clients on their own transformational journey.