Cornerstone Counseling 

Addiction is a broad set of mental health conditions in which an individual has difficulty controlling their use of a substance or behavior, resulting in compulsive behaviors and potentially harmful consequences. While substance abuse – including the misuse of alcohol and other drugs – may be the most commonly recognized form of addiction, other forms of addiction include behavioral addictions, such as compulsive gambling, shopping, or sex addiction.

Addiction treatment requires specialized and knowledgeable therapeutic care, often for both the individual in recovery and their family or loved ones. The following therapists have been vetted for their expertise in addiction, including their use of harm reduction and motivational interviewing techniques. They can help individuals who struggle with addiction understand the role of the addictive behaviors in their life, lessen the impact of these behaviors, and connect to local recovery communities or resources.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (commonly referred to as PTSD) In short, PTSD is an anxiety disorder resulting from exposure to intensely dramatic events. Following exposure to trauma, individuals suffering from PTSD can experience recurrent painful thoughts or dreams, flashbacks, difficulty with sleep and anger, and other intense feelings including anxiety and hopelessness.

Sexual addiction can simply be seen as a coping mechanism (much as alcohol is to the alcoholic, food to the overeater, etc.).  However, as with many mental health issues, the causes of this addiction are complex.  I often see some common themes such as abuse in childhood, lack of adequate nurturing as a child, intimacy problems, depression, anxiety, and certain ingrained personality factors.  Another significant contribution is the way men are socialized.

The National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity has defined sexual addiction as “engaging in persistent and escalating patterns of sexual behavior acted out despite increasing negative consequences to self and others.”  In other words, a sex addict will continue to engage in certain sexual behaviors despite facing potential health risks, financial problems, shattered relationships, or even arrest.

Asperger’s syndrome sufferers may have a delay in the development of motor skills. Children who suffer from Asperger’s syndrome may engage in rituals or highly repetitive routines. Language and speech oddities — for example, speaking in a highly formal manner or in a droning voice — may also be common among Asperger’s sufferers. Children who suffer from Asperger’s may exhibit inappropriate social behaviors or may feel uncomfortable with social interactions. Many children who have Asperger’s syndrome also have issues with non-verbal communication; for example, they may have limited facial expressions or may stare at other people in a very fixed way. Many children with Asperger’s syndrome have normal or even high intelligence, but their unusual behaviors may lead people to believe that they are less intelligent than they truly are.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common behavioral condition affecting 11 percent of school-age children.  Symptoms continue into adulthood in more than three-quarters of cases. ADHD is characterized by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

Individuals with ADHD can be very successful in life. However, without identification and proper treatment, ADHD may have serious consequences, including school failure, family stress and disruption, depression, problems with relationships, substance abuse, delinquency, accidental injuries and job failure. Early identification and treatment are extremely important

In family therapy, members work together to reconnect, harness, and strengthen existing resources and find inventive solutions to tough problems. Family therapy can be useful in any family situation that causes stress, grief, anger, or conflict. Issues that may bring a family to therapy could include: a problem a child is having in school, mental, behavioral, or physical illness of a family member, loss of a family member, siblings not getting along, or dissatisfaction or dissolution of marriage.