“Providing a distinctive, effective approach to recovery.”

At Robin Toler and Associates, we believe in the individuality of every person. No single recovery program or intervention will fit all individuals. The goal of recovery is to allow the individual full responsibility for their values, goals, and choices. Healthy people make choices to create and inform their own future.

Addiction Counseling

As a licensed addiction counselor, Toler is dedicated to providing high quality counseling services with integrity regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, religious affiliation, ethnicity, class, ability, age or status.  Health, well-being, and quality of life is our top priority.  Recovering from substance use, abuse or dependence is not easy. We believe recovery is possible for those who want to make it happen. However not everyone desires recovery.

Identifying the Signs and Symptoms

Change in personality, defensiveness, anger outbursts, changes in thinking, emotions, behavior and exhibiting an inability to stop thinking about using, or obsessing are the hallmark signs of addiction. Individuals experiencing the cycle of pain and suffering have the near constant urge to use, experience the direct pain of withdrawal, and often experience ongoing personal dysfunction. These are tell tale signs.

• negative thinking
• grandiosity
• labile emotions
• change in values
• irresponsibility
• poor insight
• impaired thought processes
• poor judgment
• poor impulse control
• poor concentration
• loss of self respect
• ineffective relationships
• secrecy and lying

• anger outbursts
• irresponsibility
• negative consequences
• health problems
• motor vehicle accidents
• financial issues
• social losses
• legal problems
• employment problems
• relational conflict
• increased tolerance
• overwhelmed with life
• problems continue to grow

For many, this is the ongoing painful daily reality. The substance using/abusing individual is not able to see these destructive patterns. They often use props and supports to sustain their version of the truth. This provides only a temporary reprieve. For families, friends and professionals, this is often heartbreaking to watch. This can last a few weeks, a few months, or years. In some extreme cases even a lifetime.

What is Addiction Counseling?

• Individual Screening
• Comprehensive Assessments
• Educational Programming
• Accountability
• Relapse Prevention
• Client-Treatment Program Matching
• Treatment Planning
• Second Opinions
• Freedom to explore alternatives to Twelve Step Programs

What Can You Expect in a Session?

Clients explain their situation, including where they would like clarification or assistance. The counselor will ask questions and review normal consumption and compare this with what the client is consuming. The client will be screened and assessed to determine what is the next best action to take based on many different factors.

Some people do not want to get sober, others don’t see themselves as having a problem. Others realize on their own, they have a problem, but are not clear about the next step toward recovery. Where the client is willing a thorough assessment will be completed, a  Plan of Care will  be carefully put into place. After that, the client and therapist will make plans to address the client’s needs.  When the Plan of Care is followed, the sessions are optimal. Long term and short terms goals are set up for the individual and these goals are monitored regularly–changed and updated. All goals are based on the individual’s age, sex, ability, health, race, and culture.

How Does Addiction Counseling Work?

Addiction counseling works best when counselor and client discuss expectations and map out a Plan of Care after having completed a Comprehensive Assessment which often includes an Autobiography. In this way, the clinician has the information and can construct an effective Plan of Care based on the information provided.

When clients are honest and willing to provide accurate  information, a trained clinician can make sound clinical decisions regarding assessment,  care, and treatment. If the client is not honest, then the clinician’s intervention will be based on false information. This is often ineffective.

It is always best to have several sources of information so the clinician can review and check out what is being reported by the client.  If the client is consistently unable to offer a truth based version of their experience, then they less likely to receive quality care and accurate interventions. If the individual with the substance use problem is not ready to get help usually they will less likely have long term effectiveness at least in the beginning of the recovery process. In the beginning the client is asked to tell their story regarding their use history.

Often in the beginning, the therapy sessions are focused on building trust between the client and therapist. It is important for the client experience comfort in being honest.  A trained clinician will be able to assess the client’s stage of motivation and build a treatment plan based on the client’s level of motivation. This can be the first step in long term recovery but not always.

Is Addiction Counseling Necessary?

Addiction counseling is a highly specialized service provided by trained professionals. Licensed addiction counselors are professionals who have met  specific criteria established by the regulatory authority in the state where they are licensed to practice.

Who Needs Addiction Counseling?

Substance addiction is a chronic progressive, relapsing disorder that can have permanent negative effects on the life of the individual, their families and the communities in which these individuals live. The person with the substance issue has the potential to directly and indirectly cause chaos and havoc with others. Family, friends, loved ones and society at large are most often negatively affected by the actions of that one substance-using individual who causes problems and conflicts for others through their behavior, consequence or a combination of factors.  Addiction counseling benefits everybody involved.

How Does Addiction Counseling Help?

• Relief from Suffering
• Communication Strategies
• Explore and Express Emotions
• Assessments
• Screenings
• Learn Coping Techniques
• Promote Change and Development
• Evaluations
• Confidentiality
• Build and Outline Measurable Goals
• Personal Competence
• Environmental Analysis
• Second Opinions
• Assertiveness Skills
• Boosts Creativity
• Problem Solving
• Art Therapy

• Journal Writing
• Orientation to Different Choices
• Educational Resources
• Limit Setting and Boundaries
• Anger Management
• Treatment Planning
• Referrals
• Case Management
• Evidence Based Practices
• Accurate Documentation
• Crisis Intervention
• Counseling Services
• Consultations
• Alternatives to Twelve Step Programming
• Professionalism
• Family Interventions

When They Refuse Help?

Yes, even though the family member, friend or loved one refuses help for themselves, all is not lost. Family members, friends, and loved ones can get help by learning techniques and developing a set of skills that prepares them for coping with the difficulties of having a loved one use and suffer the consequences of using mind altering drugs or alcohol. Learning how to talk about issues in a confidential setting is the very first step in recovery.  It is the first step!

What if I Need More Help?

Just sitting with a trusted and well-educated counselor can often bring clarity, understanding, and a new perspective. Help is a phone call away.  Working with an expert can open the doors to solution based compassion and self- care. If you would like to sit down with a clinical expert on addiction and discuss your specific situation click below to schedule an appointment. Get relief now.

Remember: “You can’t change people. They change themselves.”

What is the next step?

Contact Us or call 225-505-3124

If you are ready to make changes in your life, request an appointment now.

Request Appointment

Initial Session

Follow Up Session

Family Session