Substance Use Treatment

Navigating Change with Wisdom & Compassion

In my practice, I offer outpatient substance use treatment—a supportive, non-judgmental space for teenagers and adults who are:

  • Curious about their relationship with substances

  • Feeling the desire to change their use

  • Struggling with recreational or problematic use

I don’t provide inpatient care, but I do specialize in working with both adults and teens. Outside of my private practice, I provide substance use treatment for teenagers on probation in Marin County. In this work, I utilize the MBSAT curriculum developed by Sam Himmelstein—a structured, evidence-based approach tailored for youth behavior change.

Why It’s an Important Time to Talk About Substance Use

In the past decade, the substance use landscape has shifted:

  • Surge in prescription medication misuse, especially stimulants and opioids

  • Cannabis legalization and the rise of higher-potency products in dispensaries

  • Blurred lines between recreational use and dependency in digital/social media cultures

This changing context makes open, strengths-based treatment more vital than ever—especially before problems escalate.

Some Core Challenges & Impacts

Through both research and clinical experience, substance use often brings:

  • Disrupted daily functioning: work/school, relationships, mood swings, employment, legal, social, etc.

  • Family stress: trust breakdowns, financial strain, and emotional volatility.

  • Mental–physical health consequences: heightened anxiety, low motivation, sleep issues, and self-medication cycles

  • Stigma and shame: preventive barriers to seeking help, fear of judgment, and reluctance to admit patterns

What Makes My Approach Unique

  • Outpatient, personalized care for those who want awareness, change, or growth

  • Holistic Methods:

    • Motivational interviewing to meet your inner readiness

    • Psychodynamic Exploration to uncover the emotional roots of substance use patterns, including unconscious motivations and early relational dynamics

    • Somatic Approaches that help reconnect mind and body, reduce anxiety, and process urges and trauma through physical awareness

    • Trauma-Informed and Strengths-Based Lens to foster resilience, agency, and sustainable transformation

    • Relational and Systems-Aware: Supporting healing within the broader contexts of family, community, culture, and development

    • Family and systemic lens: we explore how substance use affects—and is affected by—relationships and culture

What You Can Expect

  • Open exploration: Understand your substance use—what triggers it, what keeps you using... no judgment.

  • Personalized goals: Whether you’re exploring reduction, harm reduction, or abstinence, we define what meaningful change looks like for you.

  • Concrete tools: Build coping strategies to manage cravings, stress, and triggers.

  • Stronger relationships: Address hurt, repair ruptures, and rebuild trust with loved ones.

  • Long-term wellness: Practice self-care, improve balance, and integrate new habits into your everyday life.

Who This Is For

  • Teens (13–19) curious or struggling

  • Adults (20+) seeking to explore, shift, or heal their substance use

  • Individuals who are not seeking inpatient or detox-level care, but want outpatient support rooted in respect, research, and real relationship