Addiction Counseling

SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR | ADDICTION COUNSELING IN SANDY, UT

Together with a substance abuse counselor in Sandy, UT you can take the first step towards revolutionary self-improvement. One of the most empowering ways you can take control of your life is to choose therapy. Tim Allen, CMHC and provider at Changing Lives Counseling, is an expert substance abuse counselor with years of experience in various therapy methods. Start a new journey of healing and recovery and book an appointment with Changing Lives Counseling today. Call (801) 332-9838 to get started.

Benefits of a Substance Abuse Counselor

Direct support
Peer support
New behavioral strategies to prevent relapse
New strategies for long-term recovery
Learn to regulate emotions
Process and release trauma
Learn skills to enhance quality of life

How does Addiction Therapy Work?

Addiction can be treated successfully with addiction therapy. About 46.3 million people over the age of 12 (16.5% of Americans) suffer from a substance use disorder (SUD). In 2021, about 94% of those people did not receive any treatment.

A substance abuse counselor uses research-based methods to help individuals begin ‘recovery’. Many people have turned to addiction therapy to take back control of their lives.

Although extensive research and studies have been done, there is no absolute cure for addiction. Addiction therapy is a way to learn the necessary skills to manage addiction, which is often a life-long condition. Addiction counseling can involve different types of therapies. Including group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, twelve-step facilitation (TSF), motivational enhancement therapy, contingency management and more.

The Penn-VA Center for Studies of Addiction and The Treatment Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania recently published “The Treatment of Addiction: What Can Research Offer Practice?”. In this comprehensive report, they state:“... research has shown that the benefits obtained from addiction treatments typically extend beyond the reduction of substance use, to areas that are important to society such as reduced crime, reduced risk of infectious diseases, and improved social function. Finally, research findings indicate that the costs associated with the provision of substance abuse treatment provide 3- to 7-fold returns to the employer, the health insurer, and to society within approximately three years following treatment”.

two hands making a heart for addiction counselor in utah

Why is Addiction Therapy so Helpful?

Addiction counseling can be an extremely helpful tool in the long, complex journey of recovery from substance abuse. Finding a drug or alcohol counselor can significantly improve a person’s life. Addiction often carries serious consequences affecting every aspect of a person’s life. With the right substance abuse counselor, affected individuals will receive personalized treatment for all their needs (social, family, mental, etc.).

Recent research findings state: “outcome expectations for substance abuse treatment should not be confined simply to the reduction of alcohol and drug use since the public, the payers of treatment, and even the patients themselves are interested in a broader definition of 'rehabilitation'". Further, we have argued that for substance abuse treatments to be "worth it" to the multiple stakeholders who are involved in treatment, the positive effects of addiction treatment should be sustained beyond the end of the treatment period and carry on at least six to twelve months. Most researchers in the addiction field have taken a similar, broad view of outcome expectations in the addiction treatment field”.

Addiction counseling is often used with medication treatments for optimal, prolonged recovery. Medications can treat symptoms of withdrawal, help the brain adapt to the absence of substance use, and prevent relapse.

Addiction Therapy in Sandy, Utah

As a leading addiction counselor in Sandy, Ut, Tim Allen uses a variety of proven therapies to help his patients to work towards recovery and mantain their sobriety.

Also known as “talk therapy”, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a preferred treatment for mental health. CBT treatments allow individuals to identify cognitive distortions, self-defeating thoughts, and inaccurate beliefs. Together with your therapist, you learn skills to regulate emotions, improve communication, form new habits, and so on. CBT can treat a variety of mental health conditions such as addiction, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), anxiety, depression, and more.
CBT is a very common therapy treatment and is scientifically backed and proven to be highly effective. Substance abuse is often linked to traumatic experiences in a person's past and present. CBT replaces negative behaviors by treating and processing those linked memories and emotions.
EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, helps individuals reframe traumatic memories. Treatments typically involve replacing negative feelings and responses with positive ones as a therapist produces a REM-like state of rapid eye movement through side-to-side hand motions.
EMDR is a widely accepted and highly effective therapy for PTSD and trauma. Addiction to drugs and alcohol is often closely related to traumatic experiences. EMDR alleviates addictive tendencies and behaviors by healing underlying trauma.

Addiction therapy can seem daunting, however, studies show that healing is possible for those willing to commit to treatment. In order to know which therapy is best for you, speak with our licensed substance abuse counselor at Changing Lives Counseling.

Why Choose Changing Lives Counseling in Sandy, Utah ?

Tim Allen, CMHC, is the provider at Changing Lives Counseling. His journey towards becoming a mental health therapist began in 2007. Having gone on his own journey of recovery, Tim recognizes the significant impact addiction counseling can have on a person. His credentials include a Bachelor’s Degree as a Substance Use Counselor, a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, intensive outpatient programs, inpatient rehabilitation programs and more.

Changing Lives Counseling offers dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and Motivational Interviewing (MI). No matter your mental health condition, we can help. Leave negative, debilitating habits behind and live more out of intent with therapy treatments.

Addiction Therapy Near Me

If you suffer from substance use disorders, addiction therapy may be the path towards long-term healing. Don’t wait to take back your life. Tim Allen is the trusted substance abuse counselor in Sandy, UT. He can help you transform your mental well-being with expert therapy treatments. Contact Changing Lives Counseling today to start your journey. Call us at (801) 332-9838 to schedule your first appointment.