Collaborative Counseling offers individual addictions counseling for adults. Susan Hardison is the owner and primary counselor. She has over 25 years of counseling experience, and is passionate about the treatment of addiction and substance use disorders. This page contains details about the counseling services offered by Collaborative Counseling, our treatment philosophy, and our overall approach to addiction treatment.
Our Treatment Philosophy
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines recovery as “A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.”
Recovery impacts many areas of our lives, including our health, our homes, our purpose, and our community. All of these dimensions (and others) must be addressed and strengthened to support recovery. At Collaborative Counseling, we strive to help our clients through a holistic, recovery-centered process of change so that they can reach their full potential.
The work we do is guided by SAMHSA’s principles of recovery. We believe that:
- Recovery emerges from hope. Hope for a better future is the most important catalyst for recovery.
- Recovery is person-driven. All people have a right to autonomy and self-determination. Recovering individuals should be empowered to make decisions about their own recovery journey, and to set their own goals.
- Recovery occurs via many pathways. Every individual is different. There are many paths to recovery to fit each person’s needs, strengths, culture, background, and preferences.
- Recovery is holistic. Addiction impacts every aspect of a person’s life, and so recovery should, too! Holistic recovery encompasses mind, body, spirit, and community.
- Recovery is supported by peers and allies. Building connections with other people in recovery is invaluable. Peer support provides encouragement, guidance, and community to people throughout their recovery process.
- Recovery is supported through relationship and social networks. Positive relationships with family, friends, and community groups provides crucial support networks for recovering people.
- Recovery is culturally-based and influenced. The culture of an individual includes their background, beliefs, values, and traditions. The recovery process should be grounded in and congruent with an individual’s culture.
- Recovery is supported by addressing trauma. Many people with addiction and mental health problems have had traumatic experiences that contribute to their symptoms. Effective treatment must address trauma in a way that is safe, respectful, and trauma-informed.
- Recovery involves individual, family, and community strengths and responsibility. Individuals are responsible for their own recovery, but families and communities also have a responsibility to support others in their recovery process.
- Recovery is based on respect. Taking steps towards recovery requires courage. Communities, systems, and society at large don’t always see it that way. We should all work to fight stigma and discrimination and to protect the rights of people in recovery.
We invite you to read more about SAMHSA’s principles of recovery listed above. It’s good stuff! Which is why those same principles guide our treatment philosophy.
At Collaborative Counseling, we also adhere to the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics. The core values of the NASW Code of Ethics include: service to others, challenging social injustice, respecting the inherent dignity and worth of the individual, integrity (behaving in a trustworthy manner), and competence (practicing within our areas of expertise).
Our Treatment Approach
Our treatment approach is best described by the first word in the name of our practice: collaborative. In treatment, we work in partnership with clients to address their problems and improve their quality of life.
Therapy is empowering: We focus on clients’ innate strengths and build on those strengths.
Therapy is focused on the needs of the individual: Clients identify the areas of their lives that they want to improve, and together we work on making needed changes.
Therapy is goal-oriented: Much of the work we do is centered around what our clients identify that they want for themselves and their lives. Clients set goals and we build the skills necessary to meet those goals and to overcome any obstacles that are in the way.
Therapy is judgement-free: Collaborative Counseling provides a safe and supportive place for clients to process their thoughts and feelings, to learn and practice new skills, and to create the lives that they desire.
Individual Counseling
Initial appointments with Collaborative Counseling are usually 90 minutes long. During the first appointment, we will decide on the best treatment option for you. If you choose to continue counseling sessions with us, we will decide on the frequency of your appointments based on your needs.
Currently, Collaborative Counseling is not in any insurance networks. However, your insurance provider may reimburse for out-of-network counseling services. You may contact your insurance provider for more information about that option.
If you are looking for more information, please visit our FAQs page to find the answers to other common questions about addiction treatment, and what to expect. Or, contact us to schedule a free 20 minute consultation!