I don’t believe in blanket rules. You don’t need to be fully sober to begin therapy with me. But if you’re regularly drinking or using substances, and it’s affecting your ability to engage in the work of therapy, I’ll likely ask you to stop.
Therapy is a commitment, and I want my clients to have the full opportunity to experience the possibilities without blurring goals or adding a hurdle we will have to approach later on.
Substances Can Muffle the Work
When we’re numbing or managing ourselves with substances, it becomes harder to feel what’s actually happening. And therapy, especially the kind I practice, relies on your ability to gain clarity and notice what’s going on.
If you’re always taking the edge off, it can be hard to tell what that edge is really about.
Even if you’re functioning well, using regularly can block the depth, clarity, and momentum that therapy depends on.
Substance Free Therapy Gives Us a Clearer Picture
Taking a break—whether it’s from alcohol, cannabis, or something else—can be a powerful diagnostic tool. It helps us see:
- How much of your anxiety or depression might be substance-influenced
- What cravings or emotions arise when you stop using
- What your body and mind feel like without something in the mix
- Create a fruitful discussion of what we have learned about the role of substances in our lives, including our family of origin
You might be surprised by what comes into focus with this change.
It’s Not Forever. It’s a Starting Point.
This isn’t about committing to lifelong sobriety. Also, I am not here to be a parent! But, I know that many of my clients see a real world benefit from evaluating their substance use. Together we get to create a different space for meaningful work. Yes, I want all my clients to build their own capacity to cope and to prove to yourself that you can manage your life, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Most clients I ask to stop using don’t do it because they feel pressured. They do it because they get curious about what their life might look like without that familiarity.
What about my Prescription Medication?
To be clear, I am not a physician and I would never tell someone, “You gotta stop taking your BLANK”. That is not my role, and I will never push that boundary. But many of my clients have started therapy with me wanting to reduce their medication reliance. That is somewhere I can help.
Together, under the medical guidance of a doctor, I have helped many clients explore tapering their use of prescription medications for anxiety or depression. It is a common request due to the side effects that some experience while taking medications, and with the side effects that come with stopping certain medications.
Many forget that many of the medications that individuals take today for anxiety and depression were originally intended to be used in conjunction with therapy. Medications can decrease symptoms that in turn make psychotherapy more effective and accessible. So my goal is always to see if we can re-establish someone’s ability to manage their own symptoms without the reliance on any substance or medication.
You Deserve to Know What’s Real
The decision to stop our dependence on substances of any kind is not a punishment. It is intended to be an opening. We want to discover a way to engage more fully with your life and with the parts of yourself you struggle with.
If you’re ready to try that, we’ll make a plan together. One that’s manageable, realistic, and grounded in the belief that you are capable of more than you think.
You don’t have to do it alone. But you do have to be willing to show up.
