Drug & Alcohol Counseling in California

Understanding Addiction in a Real, Human Way

Addiction doesn’t happen overnight. It happens quietly — through stress, coping, overwhelm, emotional pain, isolation, or trying to manage more than anyone can see.

Many people use alcohol or substances to:

• Unwind after long days

• Numb anxiety or depression

• Cope with trauma

• Manage burnout

• Socialize or “fit in”

• Escape overwhelming emotions

But eventually, what once helped starts to take more than it gives.

If you're noticing that your relationship with alcohol or substances is becoming harder to control, therapy can help you understand what’s underneath and build healthier, safer ways to cope — without shame, judgment, or pressure.

I’m Erin Oden, LCSW, and I offer online drug and alcohol counseling for adults across California, including Los Angeles, Orange County, the Bay Area, San Diego, and beyond.

You Don’t Need to Hit “Rock Bottom” to Seek Help

A lot of people assume drug and alcohol counseling is only for crisis-level situations. In reality, most clients come to therapy long before things get severe.

Drug & alcohol counseling may help if you’re:

• Drinking more often than you intended

• Struggling to cut back

• Using substances to cope with stress

• Feeling guilt or worry after drinking

• Hiding or minimizing your use

• Struggling with motivation or burnout

• Feeling stuck in an unhealthy cycle

• Wondering whether your use is still “normal”

• Thinking about sobriety or moderation

• Worried about dependence or cravings

Therapy gives you a structured, supportive place to explore what’s really going on — without shame.

What Addiction Counseling Looks Like

Addiction isn’t a character flaw or a lack of willpower. It’s a complex mixture of emotional, biological, and environmental factors — and recovery requires meaningful, personalized support.

In therapy, we’ll work on:

Understanding Your Triggers

We’ll explore what drives your drinking or substance use, including:

• Anxiety or chronic stress

• Trauma or unresolved memories

• Grief or loneliness

• Depression or emotional overload

• Low self-worth

• Burnout

• Relationship stress

Understanding your “why” is the foundation of sustainable change.

Building Healthier Coping Tools

We’ll create alternatives that actually help, including:

• Stress-regulation techniques

• Nervous system tools

• Emotion management skills

• Self-soothing strategies

• Grounding exercises

• Behavioral planning

These tools help reduce cravings by giving your body and brain healthier outlets.

Setting Your Goals

You decide the direction — therapy supports:

• Harm reduction

• Controlled drinking

• Cutting back

• Sobriety

• Healing underlying emotional wounds

There’s no one right answer — only the path that works for your life.

Relapse Prevention & Stability Planning

We’ll build a safety net that includes:

• Strategies for high-risk situations

• Boundary-setting

• Managing emotional triggers

• Early-warning signs

• Recovery-support routines

Prevention is about empowerment — not fear.

Healing Underlying Causes

Substance use is often a response to deeper emotional pain. Therapy helps address:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Trauma

• ADHD overwhelm

• Perfectionism

• Low self-esteem

• Relationship wounds

When the root is supported, cravings often lose power.

Trauma, EMDR & Addiction

For many adults, addiction and trauma go hand-in-hand.
If emotional pain or unresolved memories are fueling your substance use, I offer EMDR, an evidence-based approach that helps your brain reprocess trauma safely and effectively.

EMDR can help you:

• Reduce emotional intensity

• Lower reactivity and cravings

• Heal shame and self-blame

• Build internal confidence

• Break long-standing patterns

You don’t need to revisit every detail — we move gently, at your pace.

Addiction in High-Achieving Adults

Many Californians use substances to cope with:

• Work pressure

• Academic stress

• Performance expectations

• Caregiving burnout

• High-stress environments

• Social or industry norms

It’s extremely common among adults who appear “high functioning.”
Therapy helps you unwind these patterns and create healthier internal stability.

How Online Counseling Makes Recovery Easier

California traffic is a beast — online therapy removes the barriers that keep many adults from getting help.

Telehealth makes counseling more accessible if you need:

• Flexible scheduling

• Privacy

• Support from home or office

• Consistent weekly sessions

• A judgment-free space

• Ease during periods of stress or overwhelm

All sessions are held through a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform.

Who I Work With

I provide drug & alcohol counseling for adults across California, including those who are:

• Reassessing their relationship with substances

• Wanting to reduce drinking

• Considering sobriety

• Managing cravings or compulsive patterns

• Addressing trauma connected to addiction

• Balancing mental health struggles

• Seeking long-term emotional stability

You don’t have to have everything figured out to start.

Insurance & Payment (California Clients)

I am in-network with:

• Aetna (California)

• UnitedHealthcare and subsidiaries (California)

• Lyra Health (EAP)

Private pay is available in all states using debit, credit, or HSA/FSA cards. Superbills are available for out-of-network plans.

Start Drug & Alcohol Counseling in California

Whether you're cutting back, re-evaluating your relationship with substances, or committing to sobriety, therapy can help you feel supported, grounded, and capable of change.

The first step doesn’t have to be big — it just has to be yours.