Harm Reduction Therapy in New York, NY
What is Harm Reduction Therapy?
If you’re interested in changing your relationship to drugs and alcohol, harm reduction therapy may be right for you.
Harm Reduction Therapy includes abstinence as an option as well as moderation or reduction in use. Our psychotherapists work with you to define what is best for you.
People use substances like drugs or alcohol for a variety of reasons. And, while many people engage for recreational or social reasons, others become dependent on drugs or alcohol to “take the edge off,” to relieve stress, or to block out unpleasant thoughts or feelings. Regardless of whether someone experiments with drugs or alcohol as a child or an adolescent, or if they begin to use these substances as an adult, we know for many people the relationship with drugs or alcohol has the potential to become unhealthy. And when it does, it can destroy lives, families, and relationships.
Total elimination or abstinence isn’t always possible nor is it always a desired outcome. Many people want to be able to achieve a healthy balance in their life without eliminating the drug or alcohol use entirely.
Harm Reduction Therapy is designed to help you identify and adopt ways to reduce and cope with drug or alcohol use in a way that is manageable and sustainable in your life.
Our Approach
At Steady NYC, we know not everyone that uses drugs or alcohol has a problematic relationship with these substances. Many people are engaged in the social or recreational use of drugs and substances to enhance their life in some way. However, when drugs or alcohol use causes harmful effects in our personal or professional lives, working with a highly trained professional therapist can help.
Our practice is focused on helping people reduce or eliminate the negative or harmful effects of drug use or alcohol consumption. We offer a nonjudgmental, safe environment for people to discuss and resolve issues of substance abuse or misuse.
We do not view or label drug use or alcohol use as inherently bad or as addictive. Rather, we see it as a bio/psycho/social experience or phenomenon. Our role is to help you make the changes you desire to mitigate the negative or harmful effects and ultimately achieve a sense of balance and wellbeing.
We do this by defining the harmful behaviors, identifying and assessing the risks to change, and then putting strategies and supports in place to help reduce harm in a way that is realistic and, most importantly, sustainable over the long term.
Find A Harm Reduction Therapist
We take the time to get to know you and understand you as a whole person. This requires professional skill as well as the ability to listen and process all the different aspects of your life that contribute to your behaviors. We will often compliment or augment our Harm Reduction Therapy with other therapies such as Parts Work or Internal Family Systems and even relational or trauma therapy because we know that there are many different facets to a person and many contributing factors which need to be addressed to achieve the outcome you desire.
We offer professional guidance and compassionate support in a judgement-free, stigma-free setting that welcomes you as an individual. There are no labels and no requirements other than your willingness to share your story and your concerns as openly as is comfortable.
Harm Reduction Therapists
Our process of providing Harm Reduction Therapy is relaxed and conversational — not prescriptive. Our goal is to work with you to determine the best tools and strategies that are right for you in a holistic approach. And our practice is always centered on helping you achieve your highest levels of mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Contact us today.