Recovery Isn’t Just About Stopping—
It’s About Healing
For those of us in recovery, we know healing is more than willpower.
It’s not just about breaking a habit or resisting temptation—it’s about understanding what’s beneath it​.
Maybe you:
Struggle with substances, food, relationships, or work as a way to cope.
​
Find yourself in cycles of overindulgence and restriction—
whether with eating, spending, or screen time.
Feel like your compulsive behaviors help you escape,
even when they create their own stress.
Have been in recovery for a while but still feel emotionally stuck.
Wonder if life will always feel like a battle against urges and cravings.
​
Recovery isn’t about being strong enough to resist—
it’s about understanding what’s driving the behavior so you can find real freedom.
Understanding Compulsive Behaviors
Compulsive behaviors don’t happen in isolation. They are often deeply rooted in survival mechanisms—ways to escape discomfort, avoid painful emotions, or feel a sense of control.
Types of Compulsive Behaviors:
SUBSTANCE USE
Drugs, alcohol, and even prescription medications can be used to numb pain, manage stress, or escape difficult emotions. The cycle of use and regret can feel impossible to break without addressing the deeper wounds underneath.
How Therapy Can Help
True recovery means moving beyond resisting the behavior and toward healing the pain beneath it. Together, we will:
​
Identify the Root Causes
Explore the emotions, patterns, and past experiences driving your compulsive behaviors.
​
Develop Healthier Coping Strategies
Learn tools that support your nervous system, not just temporary relief.
​
Break the Cycle of Shame
Healing isn’t about judgment—it’s about self-compassion and understanding.
​
Rebuild a Healthy Relationship with Yourself
Shift from over-functioning and people-pleasing to balanced, healthy relationships.
​
Find a New Way Forward
Recovery isn’t just about stopping behaviors—it’s about creating a life you don’t need to escape from.
​
My Approach
Healing is not a one-size-fits-all process. I integrate 12-Step Recovery, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and somatic therapy to help you navigate your unique journey.
​
12-Step Recovery & Spiritual Exploration
Addressing the parts of you that seek comfort in compulsions—without shame or self-judgment.
​
IFS (Internal Family Systems)
Helping you connect with the parts of yourself that have been stuck in survival mode.
Somatic & Nervous System Healing
Because recovery isn’t just mental—it’s physical and emotional too. ​
Freedom Is Possible
If you’ve been feeling stuck in cycles of compulsive behaviors or struggling in recovery, know this: You are not broken.Your patterns make sense based on what you’ve been through—but they don’t have to define you.
Therapy can help you break free—not through willpower alone, but through understanding, self-compassion, and real healing.
FAQs: Recovery & Compulsive Behaviors
1. Do I have to be “in recovery” to work with you?
​
No. Whether you’re in a 12-step program, exploring recovery on your own, or unsure if you even have an issue, you are welcome here. Therapy isn’t about labels—it’s about helping you understand your patterns and find freedom in a way that works for you.
​
2. What if I don’t think my behaviors are “bad enough” for therapy?
If you’re asking yourself this question, it probably means something doesn’t feel right. You don’t have to hit rock bottom to deserve support. If your relationship with substances, food, work, or relationships is causing stress, exhaustion, or emotional discomfort, therapy can help—before things get worse.
​
3. I’ve tried to quit or cut back on my own, but I always end up back in the same patterns. Why?
​
Recovery is about more than willpower. Many compulsive behaviors are rooted in emotional pain, trauma, or unmet needs. If we only focus on stopping the behavior, we miss the deeper healing work that makes lasting change possible. In therapy, we look at why these patterns exist—without shame or judgment—so you can create real, sustainable change.
​
4. I don’t have a substance addiction, but I do struggle with food, relationships, or workaholism. Is this still for me?
Yes. Recovery isn’t just about drugs and alcohol. Many people struggle with compulsive behaviors—patterns that feel hard to stop even when they don’t serve you. Whether it’s overeating, perfectionism, toxic relationship cycles, or mindless scrolling, these behaviors often serve as coping mechanisms for deeper wounds.
​
5. What if I’m not sure I want to stop my behavior?
That’s okay. Change doesn’t happen overnight, and therapy isn’t about forcing you to stop something before you’re ready. The goal is to understand the behavior—what purpose it serves, what it’s protecting you from, and whether it still aligns with the life you want. You’re in control of your healing process.
​
6. I already go to 12-step meetings. How is therapy different?
12-step programs provide community, accountability, and spiritual guidance, but they don’t always address deeper emotional wounds, trauma, or attachment patterns. Therapy gives you a safe, individualized space to explore the root causes of your behaviors, work through past experiences, and develop personal strategies for healing. Many people find that therapy and 12-step recovery work well together.
7. I’ve been in recovery for a while, but I still feel stuck. Can therapy help?
Absolutely. Many people in long-term recovery still feel emotionally blocked, disconnected, or stuck in unhealthy patterns. Maybe you’ve stopped the behavior, but the underlying wounds—shame, fear, self-doubt—haven’t been fully processed. Therapy helps you go deeper, so recovery isn’t just about abstinence—it’s about true emotional freedom.
8. How do I know if therapy with you is the right fit for me?
​
If you:
-
Feel like you’re constantly battling urges, cravings, or unhealthy patterns.
-
Struggle with overworking, overeating, toxic relationships, or emotional numbing.
-
Want to explore the root causes of your behaviors instead of just trying to control them.
-
Are looking for non-judgmental, trauma-informed support from someone who understands recovery…
Then we might be a good fit. The best way to know is to schedule a free consultation so we can talk about what you need.