Harm-Reduction & Buddhist-Based Therapy for Addiction
Serving clients virtually in California and Washington and locally in San Rafael
Breaking the Cycle of Addiction
You may have been to rehab, tried AA or other programs, or find yourself concerned about your use of substances, porn, sex, or screens. Part of you may want to stop or cut back, while another part keeps pulling you back into the same patterns.
I support people in first getting a handle on the addictive behavior—reducing harm, managing cravings, and creating more control and structure around use. From there, we begin to identify what’s driving the behavior—whether it’s a way of managing overwhelming emotions, escaping certain feelings or memories, or coping with underlying trauma or mental health challenges.
My approach is shaped by my experience working in an addiction treatment center and grounded in harm reduction, Dharma Recovery, and Gabor Maté’s understanding that addiction is rooted in something deeper than the behavior itself. I offer addiction therapy via telehealth in California and Washington, with in-person sessions available in San Rafael.
If You’re Actively Struggling with Addiction
You may feel stuck in a cycle of using, trying to stop, and starting again. There may be moments of relief, followed by shame, frustration, or a sense of losing control.
We’ll be direct about what’s actually happening and what needs to change. Some people are not able to use without it taking over—moderation isn’t realistic for them. Others can reduce and stay in control. We figure that out together based on your patterns, not what you hope is true.
From there, we build a plan that fits—whether that’s harm reduction or full abstinence—and we stick to it. This can include setting limits, identifying triggers, and replacing the behavior with something that actually works when urges hit.
We also get clear on your reasons for wanting to stop or reduce—whether addiction is impacting your relationships, family, or work, or you’re simply tired of the cycle.
This process involves taking a real look in the mirror and facing the protective patterns that keep you in addiction. I take a compassionate but direct approach—I’ll name what I see, including minimization or denial, so you’re not staying stuck in the same loop.
To learn more about how I work with the underlying trauma driving addiction, click the button below.
Building New Ways to Cope
Stopping isn’t just about cutting something out. It’s about replacing it with something that actually works when urges hit.
Addictive behaviors usually serve a purpose—numbing, escaping, coping, or getting relief in the moment. If that need isn’t addressed, the urge will keep coming back.
I support people in building alternatives that meet the same need in a healthier way. That might look like developing real support and connection if loneliness is driving the use, finding ways to regulate the nervous system when emotions feel overwhelming, or learning how to stay with difficult feelings without needing to escape them.
At the same time, we work on what’s underneath—whether it’s trauma, stress, or patterns that haven’t been processed—so you’re not relying on willpower alone to stay out of the behavior.
Over time, this creates more options in the moment. The urge may still show up, but you’re not stuck with only one way to respond.
A Buddhist-Based Approach to Addiction
Addiction is often driven by the cycle of seeking relief and avoiding discomfort—reaching for something to change how you feel in the moment.
I use a Dharma Recovery approach to support you in working directly with this pattern. Drawing from the Buddha’s teachings on the cycle of suffering, I help you understand how craving, avoidance, and attachment to pleasure keep the cycle going.
Rather than trying to suppress urges, I support you in building awareness of them—learning how to sit with discomfort, notice cravings without immediately acting, and relate to your experience in a different way.
Over time, this creates more space between urge and action, so you’re not automatically pulled into the same pattern and can respond with more clarity and steadiness.
This approach supports:
seeing clearly what’s happening in real time
developing steadiness in the face of urges
reducing reactivity to thoughts and emotions
cultivating a sense of meaning and direction in recovery
Over time, this creates a different relationship to craving. The urge may still arise, but it doesn’t have the same control. To learn more about my Buddhist-based approach and spiritual background, click the button below.
If You’re in Recovery
You may have already stopped or reduced your use, but still find yourself navigating cravings, emotional intensity, or a sense of restlessness or disconnection.
Recovery isn’t just about not using—it’s about learning how to live without relying on the behavior when things get difficult. It also means dealing with the fallout, repairing relationships with others and yourself, and working through shame and self-criticism so you can reconnect with who you are.
I support people in building stability in their day-to-day life, working with urges as they arise, and developing ways to cope that don’t pull you back into the same patterns.
Slips and relapses can be a part of recovery. We use them to understand what led to the use in that moment and what needs to shift, while also taking a compassionate stance so you’re not stuck in shame.
Over time, the focus shifts from just avoiding the behavior to building something more sustainable—greater self-trust, steadiness, and the ability to stay present even when things feel difficult.
Ready to Dive In ?
I offer a free 20-minute consultation to learn more about my approach and services, and see if its a good fit.