Addiction, Numbing & Medicating Holistic Therapy
Are you numbing and medicating with substances or behaviors to cope with trauma? Addiction therapy at The Healing Collective can help.
Trauma and addiction are deeply intertwined, often manifesting in a complex relationship that can be challenging to address. Here's how they're related:
Trauma, whether it's from unmet childhood needs, abuse, a significant loss, or other painful experiences, can lead to emotional turmoil, shame, and suffering. Addiction can develop as a coping mechanism to numb or medicate these painful feelings. Drugs, alcohol, or other addictive behaviors provide effective and temporary relief from the overwhelming emotions associated with trauma. When the substance or behavior successfully alleviates the suffering, it engages a powerfully reinforced cycle that ultimately results in less relief and more suffering over time. We want our clients to walk away with both experiences and tools that allow them to use other coping mechanisms that are safe and have long-lasting effects.
Many of our clients come to us realizing that they feel ill-equipped to process and cope with life’s stressors and/or the effects trauma has had on them. Trauma can alter brain chemistry and function, particularly in areas related to stress response and a distorted awareness of needs. These changes can increase susceptibility to addiction by disrupting the brain's ability to regulate emotions, impulses effectively. It is important to us that our clients understand what is happening in their brain, why it is happening, and how to use safe techniques to create new pathways - and behaviors. Over time, in the same way that substance use can further strengthen the cycle of addiction, creating new pathways can provide us with options to access when struggling with painful experiences.
Oftentimes, we are using substances or behaviors to numb, medicate, or escape the discomfort we are feeling. Our survival responses are designed to keep us safe and in turn encourage us to avoid things that cause us discomfort or pain. Understanding the root and antecedents of our numbing and medicating behaviors helps us to identify what we are attempting to seek safety from. It’s important to recognize the power of the survival responses we have to reduce some of the shame we may experience around the numbing, medicating, or escaping behaviors. At The Healing Collective, we believe that you have to “feel it to heal it”, so our approach is to guide and be witness to your healing. Our therapists supporting addiction recovery would focus on understanding the individual's underlying emotional pain and coping mechanisms, often referred to as "medicators." By exploring these medicators, which can include substances or behaviors used to numb or escape from distressing emotions, our therapists help the individual identify the cycles of addiction they're trapped in.
We will use various modalities to support you in moving through a healing experience so that numbing and medicating are no longer the only answers.
Do you find yourself unintentionally recreating your own trauma because of your numbing and medicating?
Another way that substance use may show up is through our tendency to recreate or seek out situations that feel familiar to us. We may unconsciously recreate or seek out situations reminiscent of our traumatic experiences, known as trauma reenactment. This phenomenon can contribute to addictive behaviors, as we may put ourselves in risky, harmful, or unpredictable situations that mimic the original trauma. For those who also experience anxiety disorders, there is a tendency to recreate patterns (even when harmful) in order to feel safe in the predictability of the outcome. In both cases, assessing the trauma root and the behavioral loop supports us in developing the new coping skills and behavioral loops.
Addressing trauma and addiction or problematic substance use often requires a comprehensive and integrated approach that addresses the underlying psychological, emotional, and physiological factors contributing to both. This may include a number of holistic interventions aimed at promoting healing and recovery.
How does inner child work intersect with numbing and medicating?
Inner child work is a therapeutic approach that focuses on healing unresolved childhood wounds and addressing the emotional needs that were not met during early development. In the context of addiction recovery, inner child work can be a powerful tool for exploring the root causes of addictive behaviors and promoting healing and growth. Here's how inner child work can support addiction recovery:
Inner child work encourages individuals to explore their past experiences, including childhood trauma, family of origin culture, or emotional wounds that may be contributing to their addictive behaviors. By understanding the underlying triggers and patterns that drive their addiction, individuals can develop greater self-awareness and insight into their behavior.
Inner child work provides a safe space for individuals to connect with and nurture their inner child—the vulnerable, emotional aspect of themselves that may have been neglected or wounded in the past. Through guided visualization, journaling, or dialogue techniques, individuals can offer compassion, validation, and healing to their inner child, addressing the core emotional wounds that fuel their addiction.
Inner child work involves reparenting oneself by providing the love, care, and support that may have been lacking during childhood. This process encourages individuals to cultivate self-compassion, self-acceptance, and self-nurturing behaviors, which are essential for building resilience and coping with triggers without resorting to addictive substances or behaviors.
Helps individuals identify and challenge limiting beliefs or negative self-perceptions that contribute to low self-esteem, shame, and self-destructive behaviors. By reframing negative thought patterns and internalized messages from childhood, individuals can develop a more positive self-image and greater self-efficacy in overcoming issues related to substance use.
Addiction often leads to a fragmentation of the self and inner child work facilitates the integration of these fragmented parts, fostering a sense of wholeness and self-integration. By acknowledging and embracing all aspects of oneself—the wounded inner child, the adult self, and the potential for growth and transformation—individuals can cultivate a stronger sense of identity and purpose beyond their addiction.
In addiction recovery, inner child work is often integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan that may include therapy, support groups, mindfulness practices, and holistic interventions. It offers a valuable framework for exploring the deep-seated emotional issues that underlie addiction and fostering profound healing and transformation at the core level.
Why is it important to heal in community?
Healing within a safe community setting is essential for trauma and addiction survivors for several reasons:
In a community of fellow survivors, individuals often feel understood and accepted without judgment. Sharing experiences with others who have gone through similar struggles can provide a sense of validation and belonging, reducing feelings of isolation and shame commonly associated with addiction.
Community support fosters a sense of empowerment through shared experiences and collective strength. Survivors can draw inspiration and encouragement from others who have overcome similar challenges, motivating them to continue their healing journey and pursue positive change.
Within a community, survivors have access to a diverse range of perspectives, resources, and coping strategies for healing. Therapeutic support groups, individual, couples, or family sessions, workshops, and holistic events offer opportunities for learning and growth, allowing individuals to explore various approaches to recovery and find what works best for them.
Being part of a community provides a sense of accountability and encouragement. Survivors will hold each other accountable for their recovery goals, celebrate milestones together, and provide gentle reminders or support during difficult times. This sense of collective responsibility fosters a supportive environment conducive to sustained healing and growth.
Addiction can often lead to social withdrawal and isolation. Connection-centered healing practices offer opportunities for survivors to rebuild social connections and develop meaningful relationships based on trust, empathy, and mutual support. These connections can serve as a vital source of strength and resilience throughout the recovery process.
Treatment for those suffering from Addiction
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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Motivational Interviewing (MI)
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Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
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Inner Child Therapy
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Connection Support (Community)
Do you find yourself stuck in numbing and medicating? Have you tried treatment but it doesn’t create change?
Our team of highly credentialed substance abuse clinicians utilize evidence-based approaches to help individuals overcome addiction and pursue recovery. These approaches have been extensively researched and proven effective in treating substance use disorders. Some of the commonly utilized therapeutic techniques that you will find at our practice include:
Inner Child Experiential Therapy
A modality used by the clinicians at The Healing Collective to identify core wounds that are creating barriers in one’s relationships (with self and others) resulting in use of numbing and medicating with substances or behaviors. The core wounds impact attachment, bonding, and the body’s ability to feel safe. By addressing core wounds, we can support awareness around how your backstory is impacting current relationships as well as utilize Re-Parenting to heal that wound and create new neural pathways.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
A person-centered approach that aims to evoke an individual’s motivation to change numbing and medicating behaviors that may result in addiction. It focuses on resolving ambivalence and capitalizing on the self-identified motivation, helping individuals actualize change. In this technique, our clinicians may compassionately explore the ambivalence toward change and help identify authentic and pre-existing internal motivations for addressing substance use. By fostering a supportive and non-confrontational environment, motivational interviewing enhances an individual’s readiness to make positive changes in their lives. Through open-ended questions, reflective listening, and affirmations, we use MI to encourage clients to articulate their own reasons for change, enhancing their commitment to treatment goals.
We feel this method respects the client's autonomy and self-direction, empowering them to take ownership of their recovery process. Research has consistently shown that MI increases engagement in treatment, improves treatment retention rates, and promotes positive outcomes in reducing substance use and related problems. Its focus on enhancing motivation and self-efficacy makes motivational interviewing a pivotal and effective approach in the realm of substance use therapy.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
A widely used approach in substance abuse counseling that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors associated with numbing and medicating. By challenging distorted thinking and promoting positive behavioral changes, CBT empowers individuals to develop healthier perspectives and coping strategies. In working collaboratively with one of our clinicians, you will learn to challenge and replace destructive thoughts and develop healthier coping mechanisms. CBT helps individuals develop essential skills to manage cravings, avoid triggers, and maintain sobriety.
With the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), our clinicians can help individuals develop new behaviors through several key techniques and principles: CBT starts by identifying specific behaviors that contribute to the person's difficulties or distress. These behaviors are often linked to negative thoughts and emotions. Our clinicians will use CBT to help individuals become aware of their thought patterns, particularly those that are automatic and negative. By identifying these thoughts, clients can recognize how they influence their behavior. Once negative thought patterns are identified, our clinicians can guide individuals to challenge these thoughts for accuracy and helpfulness. This process involves examining evidence for and against these thoughts, and then developing more balanced and realistic ways of thinking.
CBT often involves behavioral assignments that can happen between sessions to bolster progress. These are practical activities that help individuals test new behaviors and thought patterns in real-life situations. Through these experiments, clients can gather evidence about the outcomes of their actions and thoughts. We aim to teach specific skills and techniques that help individuals cope with challenges and manage their emotions more effectively. These can include assertiveness training, relaxation techniques, problem-solving skills, and communication strategies.CBT can also be used by our clinicians for issues involving anxiety or phobias by use of gradual exposure techniques to gradually confront feared situations or objects in a structured way, helping individuals to develop new, more adaptive responses.
Another key element of this technique focuses on increasing engagement in positive and fulfilling activities. By scheduling enjoyable or meaningful activities, individuals can counteract feelings of depression or low motivation. Our clinicians will emphasize reinforcing positive changes in behavior and thought patterns. This reinforcement can be intrinsic (feeling better as a result of improved coping skills) or extrinsic (praise or rewards from others or oneself).
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) promotes recovery from substance use by integrating several key strategies tailored to address the complex needs of individuals struggling with addiction. DBT combines elements of cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices, emphasizing acceptance and change simultaneously. Through skills training modules, such as distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness, DBT equips clients with practical tools to manage cravings, cope with emotional distress without resorting to substance use, and improve interpersonal relationships.
DBT also emphasizes the importance of validation and dialectics, helping clients recognize the validity of their experiences while working towards behavior change. When we validate someone’s experience, we are using an empathetic approach that communicates “I believe your experience and it matters”. In our treatment plans, DBT is used to enhance emotional regulation and interpersonal skills and foster resilience to reduce the likelihood of relapse, supporting long-term recovery efforts. Its structured approach and focus on building tools and mindfulness to the present make DBT a powerful framework for addressing substance use disorders comprehensively.
Connection-oriented support
Connection-oriented support aims to increase engagement in healing with the support of others. Vulnerability can often be the antidote to the shame and isolation that substance use can create. Through being with others and practicing asking for accountability, we strengthen motivation for continued recovery, and decrease the need for numbing and medicating. It provides individuals with a supportive community and structured guidance to help them navigate the challenges of recovery by creating a family of choice.
There are specific community-based programs that are geared towards types of recovery. In addition to the connection-oriented groups, workshops, and community we have within the Healing Collective, below are some examples of other types of resources we may recommend.
12-Step is based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and aims to increase engagement in self-help groups, strengthen motivation for recovery, and promote abstinence from numbing and medicating (drugs or alcohol). This resource helps individuals develop a sense of community and support by actively participating in 12-step programs. By embracing the 12-step philosophy and working through each step, individuals can achieve and maintain sobriety. These programs include; AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), NA (Narcotics Anonymous), CODA (Codependency Anonymous), Al-Anon (Loved ones of Alcoholics), ACA (Adult Child of Alcoholic & Dysfunctional Families), SAA (Sex Addiction Anonymous), GA (Gambling Anonymous), and many more.
These therapeutic and evidence-based approaches, including Inner Child Experiential Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Community Support/12-Step, form a comprehensive toolkit for our clinicians to support individuals on their path to recovery. When we develop an individualized treatment plan centered around evidence-based approaches, individuals can develop a deeper understanding of their trauma story, the need to numb and medicate, and create lasting changes. Each approach offers unique benefits and can be tailored to meet the specific needs and preferences of individuals seeking help for recovery.The treatment plan would involve a goal of acquiring essential skills for breaking the cycle (relapse prevention) by working to heal the core or root and gain freedom from dysfunctional patterns and cycles.
