Substance Use Therapy in Denver, Colorado
Cairn Counseling supports clients working through substance use, whatever that looks like for you. We start from where you currently are, not from where someone else thinks you should be.
Our therapists don't walk in with one definition of recovery. Some clients are working toward abstinence. Others are focused on cutting back, staying safer, or just understanding their relationship with a substance a little better. We follow your lead on what recovery means for you.
We also treat the whole person, not just the substance use on its own. That often means looking at what's underneath it, whether that's unprocessed trauma, anxiety, grief, or a pattern that started as a way to cope and got harder to put down.
What good care looks like at Cairn: not asking you to declare a sobriety date before your first session, treating a relapse as information instead of a failure, and asking what success looks like before assuming it for you.
Topics We Can Cover
Alcohol and drug use, at any stage, whether you're questioning your relationship with a substance or have a longstanding pattern
Recovery on your terms, whether that means abstinence, harm reduction, or something in between
Substance use tied to trauma, anxiety, or depression, addressed alongside the substance use instead of as a separate issue
Family and relationship strain connected to substance use, including with partners, parents, or kids
Relapse and setbacks, worked through without starting over or being met with shame
Modalities including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and EMDR, which includes a protocol built specifically for substance use
Why It Matters to Work With Someone Who Understands This
Sometimes what comes up around substance use isn't actually about the substance. It's shame, family history, or the fear of being judged before you've even said much. Working with a therapist trained in this specifically means you don't have to spend your first several sessions building up the nerve to be honest.
We Have Therapists With Substance Use Experience
Several of our therapists have direct experience supporting clients through substance use, often alongside the anxiety, trauma, or family strain that comes with it. If one therapist isn't the right fit, we'll help you find someone else on our team.
FAQs
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No. You don't need to have hit a particular low point. Some clients come in because a substance is starting to worry them, not because they have “hit rock bottom”.
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No. We don't prescribe a single definition of recovery. Your therapist will work with the goal you bring in, whether that's abstinence, cutting back, or something else you're still figuring out.
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Yes. Substance use is often tangled up with trauma, anxiety, or depression, and our therapists work with both together rather than asking you to address one before the other.
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Both. We see clients in person at our Denver office near Capitol Hill and by telehealth across Colorado.
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Yes, and sliding scale options are available as well. We're in-network with several plans, including United, Kaiser, and Medicaid. Insurance panels change from time to time, so reach out to our team for the most current list before booking.