Drug and Alcohol Counseling
At Kind Recovery, drug and alcohol counseling is our passion. Recovery is the mission in every case. Each person held in the vicious cycle of addiction should believe at some level, no matter how miniscule, that recovery is possible. Lasting freedom is not just a lost dream in the back of your mind. You can experience it. That is why Kind Recovery was founded. Our mission is to lead those battling drugs and alcohol to lasting freedom. If you are in the grip of addiction and not sure where to turn, I encourage you to contact us. Help is here.
What We Do
Kind Recovery is a boutique therapy practice offering behavioral health services to those struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. We offer an ASAM level 1 Outpatient Program, individual counseling, group counseling, substance use assessments, and referrals. We specialize in providing concierge care, meaning we keep our treatment groups small, and our clients receive personalized care and attention.
We believe the most important question to ask is "What are you recovering to" rather than "What are you recovering from." Addiction treatment often fails to achieve lasting results because clients and providers only target ending substance use rather than building a life you don't need to escape from. We will identify and address all the biological, psychological, and environmental factors that contribute to your substance use and guide you on a holistic journey to healing.
We also have a specialty focus on the dual diagnosis of substance use disorder and trauma. We understand that nearly two-thirds of individuals who develop a substance use disorder have a history of trauma (adversities such as childhood abuse or neglect, toxic stress, and dysfunctional relationships.) We are specially trained to heal these wounds and promote health, engagement, connection, and vitality.
How We Do It
“Never underestimate the power you give someone by believing in them” -DDP
If you’re like most people, the minute you feel you’re being bad, making a mistake, or letting others down; the go to response is self-criticism. Maybe you’ve had the thought, “what’s wrong with me?” or “don’t be stupid!” First, you need to know this is very common. It’s usually an echo of our childhood experience when the big people used their authority to correct our behavior. It makes sense that in order to protect yourself from being bad, you would conjure up your own internal authoritarian. The promise of self-criticism is an outcome in which you are no longer at risk of being defective. Does it work? No. Calling yourself stupid will never make you smart. Self-criticism only increases our feelings of disconnection, powerlessness, and shame. Have you tried being kind to yourself? Maybe at one point in your life you had an understanding teacher or a really cool aunt? How did they treat you? I bet they were kind and you felt safe and more capable of trying hard things.
So what happens when you apply the same strategy to addiction treatment? The science tells us that outcomes improve. Traditional thinking in addiction treatment is that clients can’t be trusted, and you have to keep them in line in order for them to change. We completely disagree. The vast majority of client's we’ve worked with have a strong internal desire to change as well as a lack of faith that they will succeed. We give them hope by having faith in them until they are able to believe in themselves. If someone is showing up to treatment, they are exercising the willingness to do something really hard. At Kind Recovery we honor that and positively reinforce a person’s efforts to change rather than offering negative feedback where they may fall short.
Perhaps the best evidence available is the Community Reinforcement and Family Training Model (CRAFT) developed by Robert Meyers, PHD at the The Center of Motivation & Change. This model teaches families to use kindness and positive reinforcement to empower their loved one to seek treatment. Their success rate is 70%! We fully embrace these methods and have seen our clients recover with a very important sense of ownership. When clients are forced to attend treatment, they may do the work, but it doesn’t seem to stick. It becomes a response to external pressure rather than an internal drive. Cultivating client’s internal desire to change is what we do, and kindness is our most useful tool.
Our Core Values
Evidence-Based
As licensed professionals we have clear ethical guidelines. One of our core values is to rely on evidence-based treatments. Evidence-based means that therapeutic interventions have been scientifically researched and found to be effective. We subscribe to the philosophy of harm reduction which is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with substance use. Harm reduction calls for the non-judgmental, non-coercive provision of services and resources to clients seeking care. Our primary therapeutic interventions are Motivational Interviewing and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Motivational Interviewing is designed to assist you in moving through the process of change. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps you live by your values and feel less burdened by symptoms and stressors. In addition, every aspect of our treatment program is trauma-informed. That means, we understand the impacts of trauma and protect traumatized clients by providing care rooted in non-violence, safety, and consent.
Many Paths
There is no universally agreed upon definition of recovery. For some, recovery means complete abstinence from alcohol & other drugs. For others, it means moderation while reducing negative consequences. Still others rely on Medication Assisted Treatment. Considering making changes to your use is also an important part of the recovery process. We understand that this is a personal decision, and honor wherever you are in the process of change. One of the strengths of our treatment community is our diversity. We prioritize each individual’s progress towards their stated goals while refraining from judging or prescribing the “right” approach. At Kind Recovery, clients are given the information they need to make a personal choice about how to approach recovery. This stands in stark contrast to treatment centers that mandate 12-step participation and an abstinence only approach. These are valid approaches! They may just not be the right fit for you. We know that each individual choosing to change their relationship with substances brings with them a complex genetic, environmental, and social history. At Kind Recovery, there is space and acceptance to be a unique person recovering rather than feeling stuck in the “addict” box.
Positive
Kind Recovery offers a positive, strengths-based approach to treatment. We believe you are capable and moving towards contentment. One of the most important questions we ask clients is not “What are you recovering from?” but “What are you recovering to?” This simple question reorients recovery towards building a life full of health, connection, meaning, and fun instead of just not using. We know our job is not to program you with a list of should’s, need to’s, and have to’s. Our job is to unlock the potential that already exists, though it’s likely buried under a heap of guilt, shame, and feelings of otherness. We believe in your inherent worth as a person. There’s nothing you need to do to prove your worthiness to us other than show up for yourself. We find that when people are exposed to a culture where their value isn’t in question, they start to believe in themselves. They can finally let go of that gnawing fear that their might be something really wrong with them and start trusting others to see what an amazing human they are. This is our favorite thing! It is always an honor to see the transformation positive recovery brings.