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Addiction Therapy in Sacramento, CA

A supportive, judgment-free space to rebuild trust in yourself, strengthen resilience, and create a recovery path that genuinely fits your life.

therapist's couch against a white wall
man in addiction recovery stares at sunset

Addiction therapy isn’t about judgment, punishment, or forcing change. It’s about understanding what the substance has been helping you cope with, and building new ways to meet those needs with dignity, safety, and support. Healing is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone.

Understanding Addiction

Addiction doesn’t happen because someone is weak or failing. It happens because something became too painful to carry alone. Many of our clients describe living two lives: the part others see, and the silent struggle beneath it.

 

You may feel stuck between wanting to change and not knowing how or exhausted from trying on your own.

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Addiction therapy can help you:

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  • Understand the role substances have played in coping or survival

  • Build emotional regulation and resilience without shame

  • Heal the relationships, identities, and confidence that addiction impacted

  • Create a recovery path aligned with your values—not fear or pressure

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Change isn’t about perfection. It’s about support, safety, and small, grounded steps forward.

Who We Help

We offer addiction therapy in-person in Gold River, CA and via telehealth for clients throughout California.

At Humanistic Counseling Collective, we provide addiction therapy for adults in Sacramento and surrounding areas. We also offer virtual addiction therapy statewide in California.

 

We support adults who are navigating:

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  • Early recovery or new sobriety

  • Relapse or repeated cycles of trying to quit

  • Shame, guilt, or fear tied to use

  • Cravings or loss of control

  • Substance use tied to trauma, grief, stress, or identity-based harm

  • Co-existing mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, or PTSD

  • Long-term recovery maintenance

 

You don’t have to know what recovery will look like yet. You only need a starting place, and you’re already here.​​

Our Approach to Addiction Therapy

Our therapists work from a humanistic, person-centered foundation: you lead the pace, the goals, and the process. We walk alongside you with respect, curiosity, and evidence-based support. Depending on your needs, therapy may include:

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

exploring ambivalence and strengthening internal motivation

SMART Recovery or 12-Step Integration

program integration if those align with your values

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

understanding thoughts, triggers, patterns, and behaviors

Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA)

rebuilding life skills, structure, and meaningful routines​​​

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Skills

emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness

Family or relational support

(if helpful), work to rebuild trust and secure connection​​​

We believe in flexibility, not a one-size-fits-all model.
Your recovery should reflect your life, identity, and values.

Therapy Session

Common Goals in Addiction Therapy

While every person’s story and needs are different, many clients seek addiction therapy hoping to:

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  • Reduce or stop substance use in a way that feels supportive—not punitive

  • Build coping skills that replace shame-driven or survival-based patterns

  • Repair relationships and rebuild trust (internally and externally)

  • Strengthen identity, confidence, and self-worth

  • Understand and address trauma or difficult emotions connected to use

  • Develop community and supportive systems

  • Create a values-aligned future they’re not afraid to step into

 

Your goals may shift as you grow, and that’s not failure. It’s healing.

What to Expect in Addiction Therapy

Sessions are typically 50–53 minutes and can be held in person at our Gold River office or virtually anywhere in California. Therapy sessions are structured to feel safe, predictable, and relational, not clinical or intimidating.

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Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, especially when addiction has been met with judgment, misunderstanding, or pressure in the past. Our goal is to make your first session feel grounded, respectful, and safe.

 

Here’s what the process generally looks like:

The First Session: Getting to Know You

Your first appointment isn’t about proving anything, making declarations, or committing to a plan you’re not ready for.

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Instead, we’ll talk gently through things like:

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  • What brings you here now

  • What feels hardest

  • What you hope life could look like without shame, fear, or substance dependency

  • Any concerns or hesitation you have about therapy or recovery

 

You set the pace. You do not need to share everything at once or even know how to put things into words yet.

 

Some clients say the first session is the first time they’ve felt heard without being judged.

What Healing Can Look Like Over Time

Healing isn’t linear, and we don’t define progress by perfection.
 

Clients often begin to notice:​​

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  • Less shame and self-criticism

  • Fewer cravings or relapses and softer self-talk when they happen

  • More choice instead of automatic reactions

  • Improved relationships and communication

  • Greater emotional balance and regulation

  • A return to curiosity, hope, and possibility

 

There is room for setbacks, learning, and compassion here.

Special Considerations in Addiction Therapy

Every recovery journey is unique, and your therapist will work collaboratively with you to determine the best level of support. For some clients, therapy alone is enough; others may benefit from medical care, psychiatric evaluation, or community-based recovery programs such as SMART Recovery, AA/NA, or harm-reduction supports.

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We do not require abstinence to begin counseling. Many clients come to us while still navigating ambivalence, relapse cycles, curiosity about sobriety, or mixed feelings about change. Your therapist will meet you exactly where you are, without pressure, shame, or expectations you’re not ready for.

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In situations involving:

  • Risk of medical withdrawal

  • Severe co-occurring mental health concerns

  • Safety concerns for self or others

  • Unstable housing or crisis-level life circumstances

...we may recommend a higher level of care (such as intensive outpatient programs, medication-assisted treatment, detox support, or inpatient stabilization) either short-term or ongoing. If needed, we will help you explore options, coordinate referrals, and stay part of your support system.

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You never lose your place here. Your pace and readiness guide the process.

Woman Enjoying a Cup of Coffee

Why Clients Choose Humanistic Counseling Collective

Addiction Therapy in Sacramento, California

Clients often tell us therapy here feels different.

 

Instead of feeling monitored or micromanaged, they feel respected. Instead of being reduced to a diagnosis or behavior, they feel seen as whole, complex people. They feel supported in making choices that align with their values, encouraged rather than coerced, and safe to be honest, even when things feel messy or uncertain.

 

We don’t believe in quick fixes or rigid rules. We believe in sustained, compassionate, deeply human healing.

ready to receive support?

Whether you’re worried, curious, or just wondering if therapy might help, reaching out is a meaningful first step.

Therapy Session Discussion
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