Drug Abuse Therapists in Palo Alto, CA

Struggling with addiction & feel rehab isn’t an option? Want to adjust your relationship with a substance instead of being told you must quit? Leaving your family, job, school or responsibilities for an extended period of time is not always needed to get yourself healthy & on track. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, I know the challenges of this lifestyle. Being caught in the cycle of addiction is hard-feelings of anxiety, guilt, & shame. You may have tried cutting back or stopping on your own, only to find yourself engaging in the same unhelpful behavior. I specialize in Moderation & abstinence based approaches.

As a seasoned licensed psychologist focusing on relationship issues, I work online with couples, individuals and families of adult children who want to improve their intimate relationships at home as well as their relational skills at work. I believe therapy is most effective when it provides both a safe space for reflection as well as a challenge. Additionally, I think good therapy calls for collaboration, sensitivity, honesty, and most of all having your best interests at heart.

Life can feel impossible to avoid struggling and we often don't feel we have the skills to cope successfully through. Unfortunately, sometimes we don't have all the resources we need for a given situation. Parts of us take on desperate roles trying to help us to survive. This might look like anxiety, depression, PTSD, addiction, and relationship/family issues. I aim to help you process unresolved issues and feelings and find solutions.

Do you find difficulties with feelings of depression, anxiety, relationship/family problems, and trauma? These emotional disruptions can have a significant impact on our lives. Coping with these events requires various approaches, and I can assist you in recognizing your emotions and identifying possible patterns in your relationships. I can also help you develop resilience and acceptance towards challenging emotions, and support you in setting meaningful goals. I utilize EMDR, CBT, trauma-informed care, mindfulness, & person-centered therapy to reduce anxiety and trauma symptoms, foster resilience, and enhance the quality of life.

Dr. Rayna Hirst is a licensed clinical neuropsychologist conducting neuropsychological evaluations, including dementia, psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, ADHD), and medical/neurological diagnoses (e.g., multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, neuro-oncology). Dr. Hirst is an Associate Professor and Director of the Neuropsychology Program at Palo Alto University, providing didactic and supervisory education to doctoral students who are training in clinical neuropsychology.

The good news for you… I am Dr. Shellye Sledge, LCSW, CEAP, with considerable experience working with individuals, couples, and families for many years. My education and training include a PhD in Social Work from Norfolk State University, a Master of Social Work in Administration from San Diego State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Counseling/Psychology from Christian Heritage College in El Cajon, California.

Do you find yourself struggling? Hurting? I can help you feel better! You have the ability to THRIVE regardless of your circumstances armed with my support & many new tools in your arsenal. I can help you tap into your own resilience & ability to heal. Wherever you are at in life, whether satisfied but looking to improve, struggling daily & feeling as if the floor is about to fall out, in crisis-mode, on a journey of self-discovery, or simply looking for support from a fully present empathetic skilled partner in your personal, interpersonal & professional goals. I AM HERE FOR YOU!

WELCOME BEAUTIFUL! If you haven't already, please take this present moment to tune in to your innate wisdom, to see if I might be the inner-guide you've been looking for. As a modern-day healer and spiritual guide, I compassionately and mindfully guide you to feel, experience, hear, trust and embody your wisest inner guidance, around some of the most important decisions and relationships in you life. Together, we will welcome very part of your light and dark, the spoken and unspoken, the named and unnamed, the tamed and untamed--and discover pathways to connect with the intelligence, wisdom & medicine, they all have to offer.

I have worked for over 25 years with folks who have struggled with a range of internal, interpersonal, relational, and environmental challenges and questions. This includes: difficult thoughts; "stuck" patterns of behavior, including addictions; persistent sadness and depression; relationship and family difficulties; loneliness; thoughts of life-and-death; trauma; identity and sexuality questions; experiences of madness; and other difficult life situations. I focus on working with adolescents (16+), young adults (18-25), and adults of all ages. I also work with men of all ages on questions of masculinity and "manhood".

Are you struggling to process depression, anxiety, relationship/family issues, and trauma? These emotional ruptures can cause major disruptions in our lives. The work to process these types of life events is multifaceted, and I can help you identify your feelings and potential relational patterns, build tolerance and acceptance around challenging ones, and set meaningful goals. In order to do so, I utilize various therapeutic approaches consisting of ACT, CBT, and Problem-Solving Therapy, and somatic interventions.

Are you feeling frustrated, confused, stressed, depressed, or lost? Living a human life means learning to live with the human condition and the challenges that arise as a result - mortality, relationships, conflict, emotionality, suffering, and change. Therapy can help you adapt and adjust to experiences that can often be challenging and confusing; experiences that you may not always have the skills or insight to address. Therapy is meant to be a safe environment for you to process your experience of life to get emotional support, helpful feedback, and a healing perspective.

The most fundamental component to effective therapy is having a strong bond with your therapist. When we start therapy together, the first order of business will be establishing that type of bond. From there you will feel the support you need to start exploring the material you've come to therapy to heal.

Sometimes it takes the gentle mirroring of another person to help see what is no longer working in our lives. Habits formed to survive difficult childhoods may be wrecking havoc. Communication styles may be sabotaging love. We may feel overwhelmed in parenting, or facing a big life transition. I work closely with my clients to increase communication skills and develop greater personal awareness. I teach nervous system regulation in order to stay calm and effective during conflict, difficult conversations, and life transitions. From therapy you’ll learn to operate from wholeness and authenticity, and gain acceptance for self/others.

The decision to enter therapy can be a difficult one. For many, recent and/or previous stressors have begun to feel insurmountable, and seem to be getting in the way of living a full, meaningful life. I strive to provide a safe, supportive, and accepting atmosphere in order to truly understand each individual's lived-experience. I also work together with my clients, flexibly tailoring evidence-based interventions to best meet their unique needs and goals. In doing so, I help clients to develop greater awareness of their strengths, build resiliency, and learn new strategies for overcoming emotional suffering.

Do you find yourself struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, self-esteem, identity, and difficult life transitions? Do you find yourself feeling stuck and can’t seem to focus or move forward? There are many ways to get unstuck, and this is the work I love to do to help you heal, grow and live a more fulfilling life. I use an integrative approach including attachment-based work, DBT, CBT, IFS, and mindfulness, bringing in each as needed. Above all, I strive to hold space and empathy for your life experience.

Trauma and many of its related challenges can cause emotional reactions and physical responses causing you to wonder, will this ever get better? You may wonder, how long can I tolerate this bravery? I welcome supporting you. If complicated life themes tend to show up unexpectedly in behaviors that cause you to second guess yourself, I can help. Let’s collaborate and explore this knotted chain, which is really a portal into what blocks self confidence and connection. We'll find new solutions, reduce or resolve triggers that affect your everyday life in a way that is paced.

By nature, people thrive with a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. Oftentimes, a lack of confidence, difficult circumstances, trauma, anxiety, depression, and substance use contribute to suffering and hold people back from living a life that feels fulfilling. I specialize in developing a strong therapeutic relationship with clients, exploring values, goals, and identity, and working collaboratively to develop an understanding of what the client wants their life to be about, the barriers that they are experiencing in getting there, and to provide tools and skills to move through these challenges.

I work collaboratively with clients to maximize their strengths and enhance their tools for valued living. I have a wealth of experience treating clients with traumatic histories, substance use, anxiety and depression. I specialize in therapies based in research evidence, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Are you experiencing challenges in dealing with anxiety, depression, and traumatic experiences? Do you struggle with effective communication and setting boundaries in your relationships with others? Life often presents obstacles and difficulties that might lead to these difficulties without proper tools, resources, and guidance. I utilize CBT, DBT, ACT, and Trauma-informed care to help you manage symptoms and promote healing and growth. With a deep appreciation for the uniqueness of each client and their lived experiences, I foster a collaborative and inclusive therapeutic environment.