Find Therapists Who List Addictions as a Specialty

Understanding Addictions and substance-use concerns

If you are looking for help with Addictions or other substance-use concerns, you are likely thinking about patterns of use, cravings, and how those behaviors affect work, relationships, and daily life. Addiction-related concerns can include repeated use of alcohol or drugs, problematic use of prescribed medications, and behavioral patterns such as gambling or compulsive behaviors when they are causing harm. You may be worried about relapse, isolation, legal or financial consequences, or the strain on family members. It is normal to want practical strategies to manage cravings, reduce harm, and rebuild routines, and many people also look for support in addressing the emotional triggers and stressors that relate to substance use.

Keep in mind that the therapists you see listed on this page have indicated Addictions among their specialties. That listing does not by itself prove particular certification, diagnostic services, or treatment outcomes. Use the profiles to learn about each clinician's described focus areas, the approaches they list, the languages they speak, and their listed location, and then reach out to discuss whether their practice fits your needs.

How this specialty fits the directory and what a listing means

This page groups profiles of clinicians who include Addictions as a focus area. Because the directory organizes profiles by the topics therapists list, the presence of a topic on a profile is a way to help you find clinicians who mention that area of work. That is not evidence that any particular therapist uses one method across all clients or that they treat every population. For example, a therapist might list Addictions and also list work with adults, but that does not automatically mean they treat adolescents or families. You should ask about scope directly.

When you review profiles, you will see degrees and approaches noted by each therapist. Academic degrees such as PhD, PsyD, MD, MA, or MSW describe educational background. Those degrees are different from professional licenses or registrations such as state counseling licenses, clinical social work licenses, psychologist licenses, or medical licenses. A listed degree alone does not establish current permission to practice in your state. Because licensure rules vary by location, it is important to confirm a clinician's license and whether they are legally allowed to work with you in the jurisdiction where you are located.

Questions to ask about approach and experience

Before you reach out, consider the kinds of questions that help you compare profiles meaningfully. You might ask whether a therapist has experience working with your particular substance or behavior, and how they describe their typical focus when people come with cravings, relapse worries, or co-occurring mental health concerns. Ask how they involve family or significant others if that is relevant to you, and whether they work with people who are trying to reduce use, pursue abstinence, or pursue other personalized goals. If you are concerned about cultural or identity-related issues, ask about experience working with people who share your background or life experience.

When discussing approaches, use language that reflects the directory's limitations: some therapists will list CBT, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention strategies, harm reduction, family-based approaches, or other frameworks among their approaches. That listing is informational, not a guarantee of training or outcomes. You can ask clinicians to describe how they use a given approach in practice, what a typical session might focus on early on, and how they collaborate with medical or addiction specialists when medication or medical monitoring is needed. Asking these concrete questions helps you decide whether the clinician's way of working fits what you are looking for.

What to discuss before starting online care

Online talk therapy can be a useful way to access emotional and behavioral support, but it is not the same as medical treatment for withdrawal, detoxification, or residential care. If you are at risk of withdrawal or overdose you need medical care. Online talk therapy is not detox, medically supervised withdrawal, or residential rehab: people at risk of withdrawal or overdose need medical care. If you are in the United States and need immediate help, call 911 for medical emergencies, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). These resources can help you get urgent medical or crisis assistance.

When you plan to start online care, talk with a prospective clinician about practical matters that affect safety and continuity. Discuss how they handle emergencies or if your symptoms escalate between sessions, whether they coordinate with any prescribing clinician or your primary medical provider, and what they recommend if medication-assisted treatment, detox, or inpatient care becomes necessary. Also ask about how they manage information-sharing boundaries and privacy in remote sessions and what technical arrangements you will use for video or audio visits. Clarify the expected length of initial evaluation and what kinds of referrals they might make if additional services are appropriate.

How to compare profiles by focus areas, languages, credentials, and style

Profiles are tools to help you narrow your search, and some of the most useful comparison points are focus areas, languages, credentials, therapeutic style, and listed location. Focus areas can tell you whether a clinician has chosen to highlight Addictions, co-occurring disorders, family work, trauma, or other topics. Languages listed on a profile indicate the languages a therapist reports using in sessions. Credentials appear as degrees and may include notations of licensure; remember to verify that a license is current and valid in your state or region. A degree such as MSW, MA, PhD, PsyD, or MD describes training but does not by itself confirm clinical authorization to practice.

Therapeutic style is often described in profile text or in the ways clinicians describe their approach. Some therapists describe a more directive, skills-based way of working while others emphasize exploration, narrative, or relational themes. Rather than assuming that an approach listed on a profile will be applied in a particular way, ask clinicians how they tailor their work to your goals and what they find helpful when people present with cravings, relapse worries, or family impacts. Consider questions such as: How do you balance working on immediate safety with long-term goals? How do you involve family members or partners, if appropriate? How do you measure progress and what does collaboration with other providers look like?

Finally, use listed location details to confirm whether a clinician can work with you across state lines or within your jurisdiction, and reach out to discuss the match between their described focus and your needs. Profiles are a starting point. A brief initial conversation can clarify whether a clinician's approach, experience, languages, and professional permissions align with what you are seeking. Take the time to verify licensure and the clinician's permission to practice in your location before making any commitments.

Next steps

As you browse profiles, prepare a few targeted questions based on the topics above so you can make an informed choice about who to speak with first. Use listed information about focus areas, approaches, languages, degrees, and listed location to shape that conversation, and remember that asking about scope and licensure is part of protecting your care. If you are facing an immediate medical or safety concern, prioritize emergency resources and medical support before pursuing online talk therapy.