Substance Use Recovery Therapy
Substance use can quietly or loudly reshape a person’s life— impacting work, health, relationships with others, and most importantly, your relationship with yourself. Substance use is not a moral failing. Substance use is a mental health disorder.
Substance use recovery therapy is not just about stopping a behavior—it’s about rebuilding a life that feels meaningful, stable, and connected.
Once in recovery, maintenance is often the next step. Freedom is possible through a variety of supports— therapy can help with deeper trauma work and more.
I offer substance use counseling in conjunction with substance use services, for those in long term recovery seeking emotional sobriety and trauma support, or any loved one seeking support, with or without their loved one.
How Therapy Supports Recovery
Rather than focusing only on the substance itself, therapy explores:
Underlying emotional pain or trauma
Stress, anxiety, or depression
Behavioral patterns and triggers
Relationships and environment
Learning how to live a sober life
Releasing shame while taking accountability
Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all journey. Effective substance use therapy adapts to each person’s needs. The Rising Sun Counseling offers support that is holistic and individualized, combining various approaches to support.
Key goals of therapy include:
- Developing coping strategies that are not going to ruin your life through compulsive use of a substance.
- Strengthening emotional regulation.
You can handle sadness and anger, watch! - Identifying the trauma that fueled the illness.
What happened before you started drinking? - Replacing harmful patterns with healthier outlets
Substance use therapy with me is action based, helping individuals find and live in alignment with their values, identity, and sense of purpose—essential elements of lasting recovery.
Therapy for Affected Others: Healing the Whole System
It’s an awful thing to love someone struggling with active substance use. If this applies to you, you may need therapy too. I’m incredibly passionate about therapy for affected others, whether a parent or a spouse.
Common Experiences for Affected Others:
- Anxiety, fear and constant worry
- Emotional exhaustion or burnout
- Confusion about how to talked to your loved one or how to help
- Resentment, guilt, or grief
Therapy offers a structured space to work through these experiences—without judgment.
What Happens in Therapy for Affected Others?
Supporting affected others focuses on helping loved ones, first:
- Process their own emotional experience
- Understand substance use disorder and recovery
- Develop healthy boundaries
- Stop cycles of enabling or conflict
- Reducing conflict and emotional stress
Then:
- Rebuild trust
- Gaining courage to practice supportive (not enabling) behaviors
- Improve long-term outcomes for everyone involved
- A new, more balanced life
Alcohol and substance use disorders is something that impacts—and is influenced by—the entire family system. There’s a traditional saying in the Al-Anon world, “addiction is a family disease.”
What Happens in Therapy for Affected Others?
Supporting affected others focuses on helping loved ones, first:
- Process their own emotional experience
- Understand substance use disorder and recovery
- Develop healthy boundaries
- Stop cycles of enabling or conflict
- Reducing conflict and emotional stress
How You Know You Are Healing as An Affected Other
Then:
- Rebuild trust
- Gaining courage to practice supportive (not enabling) behaviors
- Improve long-term outcomes for everyone involved
- A new, more balanced life
Alcohol and substance use disorders is something that impacts—and is influenced by—the entire family system. There’s a traditional saying in the Al-Anon world, “addiction is a family disease.”
Recovery is possible. You deserve it. You are worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Substance Use Recovery Therapy
Do you offer substance use counseling in Maine?
Yes. I offer substance use recovery therapy for individuals and families across Maine, including virtual sessions for flexibility and privacy.
Do I have to be sober to start therapy?
No. You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. Therapy can support you wherever you are in the process—whether you’re actively using, early in recovery, or maintaining long-term sobriety.
Is this therapy meant to replace treatment programs like rehab or AA?
No. Therapy works alongside other supports like rehab, 12-step programs, or medication-assisted treatment. It helps address the deeper emotional, relational, and trauma-related aspects of recovery.
Can therapy help with relapse prevention?
Yes. A big part of our work is identifying triggers, understanding patterns, and building coping strategies that support long-term recovery.
Do you work with family members or partners of someone struggling with substance use?
Absolutely. Therapy for affected others is a key part of this work. You deserve support, clarity, and tools—regardless of whether your loved one is in recovery.
What if I feel stuck, ashamed, or overwhelmed?
That’s incredibly common. Substance use often comes with shame and isolation. Therapy creates a space where you can be honest, understood, and supported without judgment.
You Can Find Freedom
Substance use recovery therapy is a space where you can start to untangle what’s been happening, understand yourself more clearly, and build something different—something more stable, more connected, and more sustainable.
Whether you’re looking for:
- Addiction therapy or substance use counseling
- Support in early or long-term recovery
- Help processing trauma connected to substance use
- Guidance as a partner, parent, or loved one
We can work through it—together.
You don’t have to feel this lost or alone in substances anymore.
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Make an appointment
If you’d like to meet with me, fill out all of the information on the form, so I can provide you with no pressure, specific answers about your care.
Please note, email is the easiest way to reach me.
Location
The Rising Sun Counseling is based out of Portland, Maine.
My varied licenses, however, allow me to practice therapy online across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Florida. Telehealth sessions allow for a continuity of care.
Online therapy allows me to meet with moms while they are nursing, busy professionals on lunch break, and students between classes. No more excuses! 🙂
Contact
207.560.5758
veronica@therisingsuncounseling.com