Swank Counseling  21 Robin Hood Lane   Troy, OH      (937) 339-9876
We have moved to 21 Robin Hood Lane off North Market in Troy. We are the first office on the right facing Robin Hood. [Directions]

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            We specialize in getting you an appointment quickly.  We offer most people an appointment in less than 48 hours.
 

Problems we help solve:

• Feeling Stuck
• ADD/ADHD
• Marriage/Relationships
• Parenting
• Depression
• Stress and Anxiety
• Anger Management
• Addictions
• Bipolar Spectrum
• Alcohol /Substance Abuse
• Repetitive Behaviors
• DIY/Self Therapy  

• Challenging Kids

Alcohol Abuse

Quitting or "Cutting-Down"

I am not a certified addiction specialist, but I frequently deal with people who struggle with alcohol abuse.  Many people tell me that my approach is different from others counselors or psychotherapists that they have talked to.

I find that most people feel put down, told what they are doing wrong, and how they ought to change. They often tell me that they feel like they are being scolding and treated like a child by other counselors, especially substance abuse counselors. The session leaves them feeling that the therapist is more like a scolding parent than a sympathetic and understanding listener. And they frequently tell me that when they leave they feel like a "rebellious kid."  They are not going to be told "what to do, and how to do it."

My approach is to not be judgmental, nor to decide for anyone else what their lifestyle should be like. For most people there is a sense that their use of alcohol is making some negative impact on their lives.  Someone is unhappy with them, they are involved with the court, they are arguing a lot, or they are drinking more than they intend.  But most people who drink to excess are often very independent and sometimes prone to being rebellious.  They don't want anyone else running their life.  But they also recognize that they are not always doing a great job of running their own life at times. They often already feel guilty, and do not need someone else reminding them of their failures.

Many times people with problems with alcohol are told that abstinence is the only way to go.  However, many people are not sure that they want to go that far.  My approach is to help people evaluate whether they can continue to drink, and what is the cost-benefit of doing so. Most people are able to drink some at times with little problems, but other situations leaves them drinking much more than they find helpful. 

Unfortunately, most people who are having trouble with alcohol have already had loved ones telling them what to do, what they are doing wrong, and how they should change. A therapist who does more of the same is bound to meet with resistance. And it really doesn't help the person take better charge of their lives. 

My approach is to help the person find out what is working, what is not working so well, and also address the underlying frustration and shame associated with it.  Often people need to find alternative ways to handle stress, anger and frustration, especially ways that don't add to the stress in the long run. Many times they have not really learned how to handle their anger or frustration.  It is sometimes so overwhelming that drinking seems the only way to manage it.

Or often the person has a brain that "just won't stop racing."  Alcohol helps it slow down. And they have not found other ways that work.

I try to always focus on what is working, what the person has learned from their experiences. I encourage people to experiment with new strategies and then evaluate how those work.

12 Step Programs have worked for many people, but probably more people have learned to manage their own alcohol-related problems in other ways. The only effective strategies are the ones that the person themselves develops, discovers or feels comfortable with. Some people can continue to drink in some situations, others discover that no alcohol is what is best for them. Either way, they determine what works for them.

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