Addiction and Recovery Counseling Online in New York
Drinking, drugs or other compulsive habits often start as a way to cope. They take the edge off anxiety, quiet painful memories or help you get through a hard stretch. Over time the habit can start to cost more than it gives.
I’m Scott Whipple, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York with over 20 years as a clinician. Addiction and recovery is one of the areas I work in. I offer outpatient talk therapy by video for adults across New York State who want support with recovery.
What this is, and what it is not
This is outpatient therapy. I am not a detox program, a medical program or a residential treatment center, and I do not prescribe medication.
Stopping some substances, including alcohol, benzodiazepines and opioids, can cause withdrawal that needs medical care. If you may need help with withdrawal, please talk to a physician or a medical treatment program first. Therapy with me can be part of your support once you are medically safe, or alongside other treatment you are already in.
How I work with addiction and recovery
I look at what the substance or behavior has been doing for you. For many people it has been a way to manage anxiety, depression, loneliness, trauma or shame. When those needs get attention in other ways, the pull of the habit often changes.
Alongside talk therapy and practical feedback, I use somatic awareness from Somatic Experiencing and mindfulness to help you notice cravings and stress in your body and let them pass without acting on them. When past trauma is driving the use, EMDR therapy or clinical hypnosis may help. We build on the strengths that have kept you going.
- Early recovery and staying steady after you stop
- Cravings, triggers and stress that lead back to use
- Trauma, anxiety or depression underneath the habit
- Repairing relationships and rebuilding trust
- Working alongside 12-step or other recovery supports you already use
Who this is for
I work with adults in New York State, by video, who are thinking about change, are newly in recovery or have been sober for years and want to deal with what is underneath. I work with people of all gender expressions and sexual orientations.
To begin, request an appointment or call (917) 570-0053.
Questions about addiction & recovery
Can outpatient therapy help with addiction?
Outpatient therapy can be a helpful part of recovery for many people, especially for working on triggers, stress and the reasons behind the use. It is not a substitute for medical detox or a higher level of care when those are needed. If you are unsure what level of care fits, a physician or addiction treatment program can help you decide.
Do I need to be sober before starting therapy?
Not always. Some people start therapy while they are still deciding what to change. If you may need medical help to stop safely, though, please get that care first. In our first session we will talk about where you are now and what you want, and set goals together.
Is online therapy good for addiction recovery?
Online therapy can make it easier to keep regular appointments, which matters in recovery. You can meet from home without travel. It works best as outpatient support for people who are medically stable, and it can sit alongside groups, meetings or other treatment you already have.
Ready to talk about starting therapy?
Call (917) 570-0053 or send a short message. Sessions are by video for adults in New York State.