Addiction Therapy in Trussville and Birmingham, AL

Addiction or substance use problems are not always depicted accurately in the media. You don't have to be drinking every morning or on the job to be experiencing negative consequences of substance use:

Having "just one more drink" but it leads to much more
Saying you won't smoke/drink tonight, but you do
Spending a lot of time thinking about using or planning your day around using or drinking
Feeling irritable, anxious, or “off” when you’re not using
Needing more of the substance to get the same effect
Using to cope with stress, sleep difficulties, or uncomfortable feelings
Having trouble keeping up with responsibilities at work, school, or home
Spending more time with people who use and less with those who don’t
Feeling guilty or disappointed in yourself about your use, but using anyway
Feeling like life is less enjoyable or “flat” without the substance

Your are starting to become concerned. You may not feel like an "addict" or "alcoholic" but you don't have to be to make positive healthy changes.

Therapy for Substance Use/Addiction in Trussville and Homewood, AL

At Psychotherapy Services of Alabama, we use science-backed approaches like Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people take control of their substance use. MI helps you explore your own goals and motivations, so you can make changes that really matter to you. ACT teaches you skills to handle cravings, stress, and uncomfortable emotions without turning to substances, and helps you live in line with your values. Together, these approaches support you in making healthier choices, building resilience, and creating a life that feels meaningful.

What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?

ACT is a therapeutic approach that combines elements of mindfulness, non-judgement, and behavioral change. It encourages individuals to embrace their thoughts and emotions without judgement rather than avoiding or battling them. Many times, people are using substances to feel better. Through ACT, we guide you to learn how to first tolerate emotion and not be afraid of it and then develop better control over it such that it does not prevent you from doing what matters to you.

How You Will Benefit from ACT for Substance Use/Addiction:

Reduced psychological pain and substance use to cope over time as you stop fighting your emotions and learn to approach them with compassion and curiosity.
Increased emotional resilience that helps you navigate future stressors with greater ease.
Improved self-awareness and understanding of how your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions interact, leading to greater clarity in decision-making and therefore reduced unhelpful coping skills (such as smoking and drinking).
Greater alignment with your values, helping you live a more meaningful and fulfilling life, even in the face of pain.
Enhanced ability to cope with uncertainty and uncomfortable emotions without being overwhelmed by them and needing to turn to substances to cope.

What to Expect in Therapy Sessions for Substance Use or Addiction

In our therapy sessions, we will first take a look at how often you are using a substance to see if it falls within recommended guidelines for lower-risk use. We will also examine whether individual, outpatient therapy is recommended. Then, we will examine what the reasons are for using. These reasons vary across people and can include things like 1. coping with physical pain, 2. coping with emotional pain, 3. bonding with peers, 4. it's just a habit, and/or 5. I need it to feel normal. We will help you develop coping skills to reduce the need for the substance and then work towards reducing the substance use in a doable, safe, and meaningful way.

Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation. Together, we can work towards achieving your goals of reducing the impact of substance use on your life.