Addiction and Substance Use Therapy
Treatment Specialties
If you're reading this because you're worried about your own drinking, drug use, or another compulsive behavior, the fact that you're looking is itself meaningful. Addiction thrives on secrecy and shame, and one of the most important things we do at Prime Therapy Services is create a space where you can talk honestly about substance use without being met with judgment. You don't need to have "hit rock bottom" or be at a crisis point to reach out. Concern is enough of a reason to start the conversation.
Addiction is rarely just about the substance itself. It's usually connected to something else — untreated anxiety or depression, unprocessed trauma, chronic stress, difficulty regulating intense emotions, or a way of coping that worked at some point and became harder to put down.
At Prime Therapy Services, we treat substance use as part of a larger picture, not in isolation, because addressing only the behavior without addressing what's underneath it rarely leads to lasting change.
How we think about addiction
Our approach typically combines individual therapy with skills drawn from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which was originally developed for exactly this kind of pattern: intense emotions, impulsivity, and behaviors used to manage distress in the moment.
How treatment works
DBT skills around distress tolerance and emotion regulation give you concrete alternatives to reach for when the urge to use is strong, while individual therapy addresses the underlying patterns — trauma, anxiety, relationship dynamics — that often drive the substance use in the first place.
For clients whose substance use is connected to unresolved trauma, we may also integrate EMDR once there's enough stability to do that work safely. Your Prime Therapy Services clinician will always prioritize building coping skills and stabilization before addressing trauma directly, since trying to process trauma without adequate coping resources can backfire.
What we don't do — and why that matters
We want to be upfront: we don't provide medical detox, medication-assisted treatment, or inpatient care. If your situation requires medical supervision for withdrawal, we'll help connect you with the appropriate medical resources first, and can provide therapy alongside that care or once it's stabilized. Being honest about the limits of what outpatient therapy can safely address is part of what makes this treatment trustworthy.
Sessions are available in-person at our private NJ office and via Telehealth throughout New Jersey. Some clients prefer the accountability and structure of coming into the office regularly; others need the flexibility Telehealth provides, especially early in recovery when routines are still being rebuilt. Others will benefit from being part of a group. Group therapy can often lead to a faster, and more lasting outcome.
Where sessions happen
Your first session focuses on understanding your relationship with the substance or behavior, what role it's playing in your life, and what support looks like for you specifically — whether that's harm reduction, working toward abstinence, or simply talking honestly about a pattern you're worried about, without pressure to commit to a specific outcome on day one.
What the first session looks like
You don't need to know whether you want to quit entirely, cut back, or just understand the pattern better before reaching out. That clarity is often something therapy helps you find, not something you need to have figured out before you start.
You don't have to have it figured out to start
Do I need to be sober before starting therapy?
No. You can start therapy at any stage, including while still actively using. Your clinician will assess whether outpatient therapy is appropriate or whether a higher level of care is needed first.
Does Prime Therapy Services provide medical detox or medication treatment?
No. We provide outpatient therapy and can coordinate with medical providers for detox or medication-assisted treatment when needed, but we don't provide those services directly.
What if I'm not sure I have a "real" problem?
You don't need a formal diagnosis or crisis point to talk about substance use concerns. If it's something you're worried about, it's worth discussing.
How does DBT help with addiction specifically?
DBT teaches concrete skills for tolerating distress and regulating intense emotions, giving you alternatives to reach for in moments when the urge to use feels strongest.
Is this available through Telehealth?
Yes. Prime Therapy Services offers addiction and substance use therapy both in-person and virtually throughout New Jersey.