Addiction Counseling in Westlake Village

Therapy is a core part of treatment for substance use disorders. Addiction counseling in Westlake Village, California, provides actionable steps and support for those in recovery. Our outpatient treatment center offers confidential, expert treatment close to home. Call us to learn more about how we can support your recovery journey.

Table of Contents

Find Counseling for Substance Use Disorder in Westlake Village

At Westlake Village Recovery Center, we provide evidence-based addiction therapy tailored to your unique needs. Our compassionate team of licensed therapists and addiction specialists offers a range of proven counseling approaches to help you overcome substance abuse and build a fulfilling, sober life. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, committing to addiction counseling is crucial to your recovery.

Therapy at Westlake Village Recovery Center

Individual Therapy

Individual therapy provides a private, one-on-one setting where you’ll work closely with a licensed addiction specialist. These sessions allow for deep exploration of the personal factors contributing to your substance use, including trauma, stress, or mental health challenges. Your therapist will help you identify triggers, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and set achievable recovery goals.

Unlike group settings, individual therapy moves at your pace and focuses entirely on your unique needs. You can expect a blend of talk therapy, skill-building exercises, and personalized feedback to foster self-awareness and positive change. Many clients find this to be the cornerstone of their recovery, as it creates a safe space to process emotions and build resilience against relapse.

Group Therapy

Group therapy offers the powerful experience of shared healing among peers who understand the challenges of addiction. In these professionally facilitated sessions, you’ll participate in discussions about recovery challenges, coping strategies, and personal growth. The group setting provides multiple perspectives on addiction while reducing feelings of isolation. You’ll learn from others’ experiences, gain accountability, and practice interpersonal skills in a supportive environment.

Common group topics include relapse prevention, managing cravings, and rebuilding self-esteem. While sharing personal stories can feel vulnerable at first, most clients find group therapy incredibly validating and empowering as they progress in their recovery journey.

Family Therapy

Addiction doesn’t just affect the individual; it impacts entire families. Our family therapy sessions help repair trust, improve communication, and educate loved ones about the recovery process. You’ll work with a therapist to address relationship wounds, set healthy boundaries, and develop strategies for supporting sobriety at home. Families learn how to avoid enabling behaviors while still providing emotional support. Sessions may include conflict resolution exercises, psychoeducation about addiction, and planning for long-term recovery as a family unit. Many clients find that healing these relationships is crucial for maintaining motivation and preventing relapse.

Man receiving CBT in Westlake Village, California

CBT

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective, research-backed treatments for substance use disorders. This structured, goal-oriented approach helps you identify and change the negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to addiction.

You’ll practice real-world strategies through role-playing, journaling, and behavioral experiments. CBT is particularly helpful for those who struggle with anxiety, depression, or impulsive decision-making alongside addiction. Most clients attend weekly sessions and complete “homework” exercises to reinforce skills. Over time, CBT rewires the brain’s response to triggers, reducing reliance on substances as a coping mechanism.

exposure of woman symbolizing emotional dysregulation treated with DBT in Westlake Village, CA

DBT

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a specialized form of CBT designed for individuals who experience intense emotions and self-destructive behaviors, including addiction. DBT teaches four core skills:

Mindfulness: Staying present instead of numbing emotions with substances
Distress Tolerance: Coping with cravings/urges without acting on them
Emotion Regulation: Managing overwhelming feelings healthily
Interpersonal Effectiveness: Communicating needs and setting boundaries

DBT is ideal for those with co-occurring disorders like PTSD, borderline personality disorder, or chronic suicidal thoughts. The therapy balances acceptance with change.

EMDR Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a groundbreaking therapy that helps process traumatic memories often linked to addiction. Many people turn to substances to numb PTSD symptoms—EMDR addresses this root cause.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require detailed discussion of trauma. Clients often experience:

Reduced cravings triggered by trauma reminders
Less shame/guilt about past events
Improved emotional regulation

A typical course involves 8-12 sessions. EMDR is especially powerful for veterans, abuse survivors, and those with treatment-resistant addiction.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, non-judgmental approach designed to strengthen your commitment to change. It’s perfect if you feel ambivalent about sobriety or have relapsed in the past.

Unlike confrontational approaches, MI meets you where you are. Many clients report increased motivation after just 2-3 sessions. It’s often combined with other therapies like CBT or medication-assisted treatment.

How Does Therapy Treat Addiction?

At Westlake Village Recovery Center, our approach to addiction treatment is rooted in evidence-based therapy designed to bring about lasting change. We understand that addiction is rarely just about substance use; it’s often a symptom of deeper pain, stress, or emotional imbalance. Our integrated therapeutic model addresses these core issues while equipping clients with the tools they need for sustained recovery.

Addressing Root Causes: Trauma, Stress, and Mental Health

Addiction doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Many individuals struggling with substance use are also coping with trauma, anxiety, depression, or unresolved emotional pain. Our therapy options are carefully chosen to target these underlying issues:

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps clients process and reframe traumatic memories that may be fueling substance use.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and change thought patterns linked to depression and anxiety that drive addiction.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches emotional regulation to manage intense feelings without turning to drugs or alcohol.
Individual therapy creates space to explore how early life experiences or past trauma may be shaping current behaviors.

For example, someone using opioids to cope with PTSD flashbacks might engage in EMDR to process trauma while using CBT to develop healthier ways to respond to stress and triggers.

Building Practical Coping Strategies for Triggers and Cravings

Therapy at Westlake Village Recovery Center focuses on developing real-world tools to manage cravings and avoid relapse. Each modality offers specific techniques:

In CBT, clients learn strategies like urge surfing, where they observe cravings as temporary waves rather than reacting to them.
DBT provides coping tools such as TIPP skills—temperature change, intense exercise, paced breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation—to help calm the nervous system during cravings.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) teaches the DEADS method (Delay, Escape, Accept, Dispute, Substitute) to navigate moments of temptation.
In group therapy, clients role-play difficult situations and receive support and feedback from peers.

By the end of treatment, each client leaves with a personalized relapse prevention plan that outlines their top triggers and step-by-step strategies for managing them.

Providing Accountability and Ongoing Support

Structure is a crucial component of recovery, and our therapeutic programs are designed to foster accountability every step of the way. Each modality contributes to this in different ways:

In CBT, clients track their thoughts and behaviors weekly to identify patterns and progress.
DBT uses diary cards to monitor emotions, urges, and coping skill use.
Group therapy encourages consistent check-ins with peers, creating mutual accountability.
Motivational Interviewing helps clients build personalized change plans, outlining clear goals and action steps.

Regular assessments with clinicians ensure that clients are meeting benchmarks and staying aligned with their recovery objectives. This consistent structure helps build momentum in treatment and significantly increases program retention.

Reducing Relapse Risk Through Cognitive and Behavioral Change

One of the most powerful outcomes of therapy is the transformation in how clients think and behave. Our integrated treatment approach works to change core beliefs and automatic reactions that can lead to relapse.

CBT challenges and reframes thoughts like “I need a drink to get through social events,” replacing them with healthier, more realistic perspectives.
DBT equips clients with tools to cope with self-destructive urges in more productive ways.
EMDR reduces the emotional intensity of trauma-related triggers.
Motivational Interviewing increases motivation and strengthens the client’s internal commitment to change.
Family therapy addresses environmental stressors or dynamics at home that may have previously enabled addictive behavior.

We Can Help You Recover

At Westlake Village Recovery Center, we believe recovery isn’t just about quitting drugs or alcohol—it’s about building a healthier, more fulfilling life. Our therapy programs don’t just treat addiction symptoms; they address the emotional, relational, and psychological issues that drive substance use. Through trauma-informed care, evidence-based techniques, and a strong support network, our clients learn to thrive in recovery.

Whether you’re just beginning your journey or continuing after detox or inpatient treatment, our therapeutic programs are tailored to meet you where you are and help you move forward.