Do I have to be abstinent to start therapy?

No. You can begin wherever you are. We look honestly at your use, its risks, and your goals — whether that is abstinence, reduction, or first deciding what you want.

Certified Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs Social Worker — a specialty certification in substance use treatment held alongside California LCSW licensure, so addiction work is handled clinically rather than referred out.

Is this confidential? I have a professional license and a career.

Yes. Private pay avoids routine submission of claims and diagnostic information to an insurance plan, while standard clinical recordkeeping and confidentiality requirements still apply. Sessions can also be billed in-network to Aetna when appropriate.

Do you treat compulsive behaviors that do not involve substances?

Yes — gambling, spending, screens, food, work, and avoidance patterns are addressed with the same approach, since the underlying function is usually relief.

What if I relapse while we are working together?

You come back and we look at it. Relapse is treated as information about what was unmet or unmanaged, and the plan is adjusted accordingly.

Addiction & Recovery Therapy

Addiction rarely announces itself. More often it looks like a life quietly organized around relief — the drink that makes the evening tolerable, the scrolling that eats the night, the vape that keeps calling to you, the pattern you have promised yourself you would stop. Maladaptive habits also tends to result in secrecy and shame and having accountability is integral for long term success. This work is confidential and led by a Certified Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs Social Worker (C-CATODSW), in person in Vista or by secure video anywhere in California. In recovery and looking for a therapist led support group? We meet Wednesday Nights (90 min) in Vista and would love to welcome you.

Working through burnout, pressure, or the demands of a leadership role? See therapy for professionals in North County for how addiction & recovery therapy fits into that work.

Session length: 45–50 minutes
Rate: $190 per session ($180 cash pay)
Format: In person in Vista or telehealth in California

Call or text 760-599-8680

Who this is for

Professionals whose drinking or substance use has become the way the day ends
People in recovery who want ongoing clinical support alongside or after a program
Anyone worried about relapse, or already in one, who wants a place to be honest
Compulsive patterns beyond substances — gambling, spending, screens, food, avoidance
Family members carrying the weight of someone else's use

What the work looks like

01
A free phone consultation to hear what is going on and decide on fit
02
An honest assessment of use, history, risk, and what you actually want to change
03
Work on the drivers underneath — trauma, anxiety, grief, pressure — not just the behavior
04
Relapse planning that treats a slip as information rather than a verdict
05
Coordination with higher levels of care or recovery communities when that is the right call

Approaches drawn on

Motivational interviewingRelapse preventionBrainspottingDialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Addiction & Recovery Therapy — common questions

Do I have to be abstinent to start therapy?: No. You can begin wherever you are. We look honestly at your use, its risks, and your goals — whether that is abstinence, reduction, or first deciding what you want.
What is a C-CATODSW?: Certified Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs Social Worker — a specialty certification in substance use treatment held alongside California LCSW licensure, so addiction work is handled clinically rather than referred out.
Is this confidential? I have a professional license and a career.: Yes. Private pay avoids routine submission of claims and diagnostic information to an insurance plan, while standard clinical recordkeeping and confidentiality requirements still apply. Sessions can also be billed in-network to Aetna when appropriate.
More on thisTherapy for professionals Rates & insurance
Do you treat compulsive behaviors that do not involve substances?: Yes — gambling, spending, screens, food, work, and avoidance patterns are addressed with the same approach, since the underlying function is usually relief.
What if I relapse while we are working together?: You come back and we look at it. Relapse is treated as information about what was unmet or unmanaged, and the plan is adjusted accordingly.

Other services

Individual Psychotherapy
45–50 minutes, in person in Vista or by telehealth across California.
Brainspotting Therapy
Body-based processing for trauma, grief, and events that talk therapy cannot reach.
Couples & Co-Parenting
50 minutes for partners, marital work, or structured co-parenting sessions.
Family & Court-Mandated Therapy
Family systems work and documented court-mandated treatment.
Group Therapy
Wednesdays at 6:30pm, 90 minutes, small and consistent.

Rates & Insurance FAQs California telehealth North County San Diego Therapy for professionals

Request an appointment

Online booking is coming to this page. In the meantime, call or text 760-599-8680 for a same-day response, or send a message and Natalie will reply within 48 hours.