Substance Abuse and Addiction

Substance abuse is a complex disorder that can involve virtually every aspect of an individual’s functioning—in the family, at work and school, and in the community. Because of addiction’s complexity and pervasive consequences, drug addiction treatment typically must involve many components. Some of those components focus directly on the individual’s drug use and learning to reduce or eliminate this behavior. Others, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, focus on understanding the complex thoughts, emotions, and compulsions that influence the spiral of addiction. Although abstinence-based models, such as AA, can be tremendously helpful for encouraging recovery and building community, more direct counseling and psychotherapy is often mandated to understand the motivations behind addiction and the reliance on avoidance for dealing with various interpersonal problems. In general, the combination of a 12-step program and psychotherapy is the most beneficial approach to treating substance abuse and addiction.

At Life Changes Group, we understand that addiction can often mask other painful realities that our clients are unable to face alone. Through our program of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing – two empirically validated forms of substance abuse treatment – we provide experienced techniques to support recovery.

If you are concerned about your own or a loved ones’ use of substances, please do not hesitate to call us (617) 354-4450 or complete our online intake form.