WHAT WE HELP WITH
Counseling for Addictive Disorders
in person for Lubbock, TX and virtually for all of Texas
Addictive disorders rarely start as a choice to destroy your life — they usually start as a way to cope with pain, stress, or something you didn't know how else to handle. Whether the struggle is with substances, pornography, or other compulsive behaviors, recovery isn't about willpower. It’s about finding better tools and the right support.
Accepting new clients --- Most Insurances Accepted
RECOGNIZING WHEN AN ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR IS A PROBLEM
Does This Sound Like You?
Addictive disorders exist on a spectrum, and there's no single profile of who struggles — substances, pornography, gambling, gaming, or other compulsive behaviors can all follow a similar pattern. You might recognize yourself in some of these:
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You use alcohol, substances, pornography, or another behavior more than you intend to — or more often than you’d like
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You've tried to cut back or stop — and found it harder than you expected
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Your use is affecting your relationships, your work, your health, or your sense of self
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You use substances or behaviors to manage anxiety, stress, emotional pain, or to feel normal
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You feel shame or secrecy around your use — hiding it from people who matter to you
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The things that used to matter to you — hobbies, relationships, goals — have taken a back seat
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You're not sure if your use "counts" as a problem, but something keeps bringing you back to that question
If you’re asking the question, it’s worth talking to someone. That takes courage.
OUR APPROACH
How We Help with Addictive Disorders
Addictive disorders — whether involving substances like alcohol or drugs, or behaviors like pornography use, gambling, or compulsive gaming — share a common core: the brain’s reward system becomes hijacked, and what started as a coping strategy becomes something that controls you. Effective treatment addresses the whole person, not just the behavior. Our therapists approach every form of addiction with compassion and without judgment, understanding that change is a process and that setbacks are part of recovery — not evidence of failure.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is one of the most evidence-based approaches for substance use, helping you identify the thoughts, triggers, and situations that drive use — and build practical skills to respond differently. DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) is especially effective when emotional dysregulation is at the root of substance use, providing skills in distress tolerance and emotion regulation that reduce the pull toward substances in difficult moments. ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) helps you build psychological flexibility — learning to experience cravings and difficult emotions without acting on them, and reconnecting with what truly matters to you.
Many people who struggle with substance use have also experienced trauma — and untreated trauma is one of the most significant drivers of continued use. EMDR can address the traumatic roots that fuel substance use, in a way that talk therapy alone often can't reach. We also recognize that substance use affects families, not just individuals. When appropriate, we incorporate relationship-focused work to help repair the trust and communication that substance use can damage. We take a harm-reduction informed approach, meaning we meet you where you are — whether you’re aiming for full abstinence or working toward reducing harm. Your goals guide the work.
Pornography use and behavioral addictions are treated with the same evidence-based tools and the same non-shaming approach. Pornography use disorder can affect self-image, intimate relationships, sexual function, and daily life in significant ways — and it often carries more shame than substance use, making it harder to reach out. Other behavioral addictions — compulsive gambling, gaming, shopping, or social media use — follow similar neurological patterns and respond well to the same treatment approaches. CBT and ACT are particularly effective at targeting the thoughts and avoidance cycles that maintain behavioral addictions. When shame and relational damage are part of the picture, EFT can help repair connection and rebuild trust.
Recovery is possible.
Substance use disorders are treatable, and most people who get support see real, lasting improvement in their lives.
1 in 7 Americans will struggle with a substance use or behavioral addiction disorder in their lifetime — yet fewer than 1 in 10 ever receive treatment. Recovery is possible.
THE PROCESS
What to Expect
Step 1: Reach Out
Fill out our short contact form or call us. We'll follow up within one business day to answer questions and get you scheduled.
Step 2: Your First Session
Your therapist will take time to understand your history, what's been hard, and what you're hoping to get out of therapy. No pressure, no homework — just conversation.
Step 3: Start Making Progress
Together, you'll build practical tools to interrupt thought and behavior patterns. Most clients notice a shift in how they respond to stress within the first few sessions.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to want to quit completely to come to therapy? − No. We work with people at all stages of readiness — including those who aren't sure they want to stop entirely, but know something needs to change. A harm-reduction approach means we work with your goals, not against them. Some people move toward abstinence over time; others focus on reducing use and its negative impact. What matters is that you're willing to explore.
Is substance use counseling covered by insurance? − Yes — substance use disorders are recognized mental health conditions, and treatment is typically covered by insurance under mental health and behavioral health benefits. We accept most major insurance plans. Coverage varies, so reach out and we'll help you understand your specific benefits.
What's the difference between addictive disorders counseling and rehab? − Rehab (residential or intensive outpatient treatment) provides a higher level of structured, daily care — appropriate for more severe substance use disorders or when someone needs to step away from their environment. Outpatient counseling like ours is a strong fit for mild to moderate substance use disorders, or as a follow-up step after a higher level of care. Your therapist can help you assess what level of support is the right fit.
Do you treat behavioral addictions like pornography use, gambling, or gaming? − Yes. We work with the full range of addictive disorders — substances (alcohol, cannabis, prescription medications, stimulants, opioids, and others) as well as behavioral addictions including pornography use, compulsive gambling, gaming disorder, and problematic social media or technology use. These behavioral addictions involve the same neurological reward pathways as substance use and respond well to the same evidence-based treatments. Pornography use disorder in particular is an area we treat with significant experience and without shame — it affects people across all backgrounds and is far more common than most people realize.
What if I also struggle with depression, anxiety, or trauma? − Co-occurring mental health conditions and substance use are extremely common — in fact, most people who struggle with substance use also have an underlying mental health condition that's driving it. Our therapists are trained to treat both simultaneously, which produces significantly better outcomes than treating them separately.
What if I've tried to get help before and it didn't work? − Relapse and multiple attempts at recovery are the norm, not the exception. Research consistently shows that most people who achieve lasting recovery have had several attempts first. What didn't work before doesn't mean nothing will work — it may mean you need a different approach, a different level of support, or different timing. We'll work with your history, not against it.
Can addictive disorders counseling help my family member, even if they won't come to therapy? -- Yes. Family members are significantly affected by a loved one's substance use, and therapy for you — regardless of whether they participate — can make a real difference. We can help you set healthier boundaries, reduce enabling patterns, process your own pain, and figure out how to support your loved one in ways that actually help.
Do you offer telehealth for addictive disorders counseling? − Yes. Telehealth is highly effective for addictive disorders counseling and removes barriers that can make attending in-person sessions difficult — especially early in recovery. For those struggling with pornography or behavioral addictions, telehealth can also feel safer and more private. We offer telehealth to clients anywhere in Texas.
Is pornography use disorder a real clinical condition? − Yes. While formal diagnostic classifications continue to evolve, clinicians widely recognize pornography use disorder as a real and significant condition when pornography use becomes compulsive, distressing, and difficult to control despite negative consequences. It often affects intimate relationships, sexual function, self-image, and daily life in ways that parallel other addictive disorders. Shame is one of the biggest barriers to getting help — many people suffer in silence for years before reaching out. Our therapists treat pornography use disorder with the same evidence-based tools and non-judgmental approach used for substance use. You don’t have to keep struggling alone.
How do I get started? - You can reach out through our contact page or click the Get Started button to request an appointment. Taking that first step is often the hardest part — I'm glad you're here.