Online Therapy for Addiction and Substance Use

Get qualified help in your recovery. Speak to a therapist specializing in men’s issues.

Although men are, generally speaking, less likely than women to seek mental health treatment, men constitute a majority of the population in substance use treatment centers.

Behavioral therapies are clinically proven techniques to help men battling addiction, find healthy coping mechanisms, strengthen their relationships, and create mindful habits that prevent relapse. Individual counseling often complements support groups and other addiction recovery or rehabilitation programs.

Momentum is online therapy built for men.

We believe that talking about your struggles with substance use is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our licensed therapists specialize in helping men develop measurable, actionable plans that can kickstart their recovery, improve strained relationships, and reclaim their independence.

Do I Have An Addiction?

Having a drink doesn’t make you an alcoholic. But if your consumption is causing financial strain, interfering with your work or relationships, or leading to legal consequences, you may have a problem.

Substance use disorder (SUD) is typically classified as a medical dependence on drugs or alcohol. A person with SUD may recognize the harmful consequences of their substance use in their health and relationships yet still find that they’re unable to stop. Substance use becomes a diagnosable problem when someone finds themselves unable to slow or stop their substance use, despite experiencing significant professional, personal, financial, or legal consequences. The good news is that substance use disorders are treatable.

Men with substance use addictions may have tried to quit on their own before and found withdrawal symptoms, situational circumstances, or old habits pushed them back into their former patterns. Quitting an addiction is both a physical and psychological process — and it isn’t easy.

Whether addiction has led to unemployment, legal troubles, or damaged relationships, it’s never too late for recovery. Despite the saying, old dogs can learn new tricks. Evidence shows that substance use cycles can end, and a therapist can help you identify what approach might be best for you.

Why Did I Become Addicted?

Addictions rarely have one cause. In most cases, it takes time and behavioral repetition for substance use habits to develop into full-blown addiction.

For many men, substance use begins with social drinking or recreational drug use, but things like emotional dysregulation, lack of other effective coping skills, your trauma history, and even biological and genetic factors may help explain why your substance use turned into a real problem for you and not some of your peers.

It’s often hard to pinpoint exactly how an addiction begins, which may become a source of shame for some men. Without being able to pinpoint a cause for their addictive behavior, many men shame and internally punish themselves, which further isolates them from loved ones, peers, and healthcare professionals who could help.

What About Behavioral Addictions?

Some addictions are behavioral, too. Men who gamble, play video games, or have sex more than they intend to or want to may be suffering from what are sometimes called “process addictions.” While the physiological and neurological parallels between process disorders and substance abuse disorders are still hotly debated in the scientific and mental health community, many men struggling with their relationship to sex, pornography, gambling, and gaming resonate with the experiences and challenges of those dealing with substance use disorders and similarly find relief from their distress and out-of-control behavior through therapy and peer support groups.

Online therapy for substance use and addiction can help you break the silence and get the treatment you need. Sessions are private and confidential and available at convenient times without needing to drive to a treatment center or counseling office. Regular accountability, support, and understanding are foundational for recovery.

When you schedule with Momentum, you’ll speak with a licensed therapist specializing in men’s issues and recovery. We help you make measurable, step-by-step plans with progress you can track over time.

Substance Use Treatment Options

The brain is always changing and growing, creating new neural pathways every time we learn a new skill or have a new experience. Psychiatric evidence shows that, even after years of substance use and addiction, the brain can rewire itself to unlearn toxic behaviors and replace those impulses with healthier coping mechanisms.

That said, this doesn’t happen overnight. Addiction recovery is often a months-long process. Therapy can equip you with the cognitive and motivational tools to develop relapse-prevention strategies that fit your daily rhythms. In many cases, therapy may also treat co-occurring mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, or PTSD that may be exacerbating addictive behaviors.

Move Forward With Momentum

Momentum is personalized, measurement-based, online therapy for men. We’ve helped men like you fight back against addictive impulses while learning to communicate better, improve their relationships, and rediscover the activities they enjoy. We don’t have a magic cure, but we can help you take back control of your thoughts and behaviors in ways that can improve your chance at recovery.

Whether therapy has been recommended as part of your current substance use recovery program or you’re seeking help for the first time, Momentum can help you take the next step forward in your life. All our clients are equipped with measurement-based care progress tracking, which can help you and your therapist, set clear, objective milestones and track your progress. Use our scheduling tool to find a therapist and make your first appointment.

As soon as you're ready, help is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best intervention for substance abuse?

The best interventions for you will depend on where you are in your recovery journey. In most cases, the best way to start recovering from an addiction is to break the pattern of behavior. We know — that’s easier said than done!

Many therapies used in addiction recovery, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) focus on changing the relationship between your thoughts/emotions and the associated behaviors, such as repeated substance use. Other treatments like Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) may be used to help you identify and calm any underlying beliefs, traumatic experiences, fears, and phobias that perpetuate the pattern of addiction.

In addition to individual counseling, your therapist may also recommend family therapy, inpatient treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, or support meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Recovery Dharma, or SMART Recovery.

Can you ever get rid of addiction fully?

It is always possible to stop an addiction. However, it’s also always possible to restart an addiction. The best long-term solution to fully get rid of addiction is to surround yourself with a support network and develop mental and behavioral strategies that limit the probability of a relapse.

Can I talk about illicit drug use during a session?

We are only required to report our conversation if we believe that you are in imminent danger of harming yourself or others. If experiences with illicit drugs are part of your story, you are welcome to share those experiences in a safe, confidential, non-judgmental space. As long as we don’t believe you pose an active threat to yourself or someone else, or believe a child or elderly person is in danger due to your substance use, we are bound by HIPAA to maintain your confidentiality.

How many sessions do I need to attend in order to see results?

Every man is different, but typically our clients see measurable results after six to ten sessions. It’s important to enter online therapy with realistic expectations. There is no overnight cure, but, at the same time, recovery is possible, even if you’ve struggled with the same substance use disorder for years. Our job is to come alongside you with curiosity and non-judgment and help you create a recovery plan that will work.

Take the first step toward the life that you want.

You can overcome the challenges that are holding you back. Our therapists are here to support you.