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Addiction Therapy for Adults with Christina Wade, LCSW

Free 15-Minute Consultation

    About the Therapist

    Christina Wade, LCSW

    Christina Wade is a licensed therapist specializing in addiction, substance use, and trauma-informed care for adults across California. She integrates evidence-based methods like MI, ACT, CBT, mindfulness, and somatic therapy to support meaningful, lasting change.

    With extensive experience working with LGBTQ+ individuals and adults navigating major life transitions, Christina provides therapy rooted in compassion and curiosity rather than shame. Her goal is to help clients move from feeling stuck to feeling supported, capable, and empowered to make choices that align with their values.

    Free 15-Minute Consultation
    Addiction-Therapy

    Find Clarity, Confidence, and a Healthier Path Forward

    Substance use rarely begins with the intention of spiraling out of control. For many adults, it starts quietly: a glass of wine to take the edge off a stressful day, cannabis to relax with friends, or a prescription medication to ease physical or emotional pain. At first, these moments feel manageable — even helpful. But over time, what once felt like a choice can begin to feel like a dependency. The line between coping and losing control blurs.

    According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 48 million adults in the U.S. struggle with some form of substance use. Yet statistics only tell part of the story. Substance use affects people in deeply personal ways: strained relationships, missed opportunities, lingering shame, or a quiet sense that life feels unbalanced.

    Here’s the truth: you don’t need to “hit rock bottom” to seek therapy. You don’t need a formal diagnosis, a dramatic breakdown, or a label like “addict” to deserve support. Sometimes, the simple awareness that something isn’t working is reason enough.

    This is where Christina Wade, LCSW, offers a way forward. With a compassionate, nonjudgmental approach, she helps adults explore their relationship with substances, reconnect with their values, and move toward a healthier, more grounded life.

    📞 Call today: (510) 686-3839

    📧 Email: cwade.consultation@gmail.com

    Take the first step toward a healthier relationship with yourself and your habits with a free 15-minute consultation.

    Why Adults Seek Therapy for Substance Use

    Addiction doesn’t always look like the stereotypes. Many high-functioning adults — professionals, parents, students, caregivers — struggle silently with substance use. What begins as a way to get through the day can slowly become something that feels necessary just to cope.

    You might relate to:

    • Using alcohol or cannabis to manage anxiety, stress, or trauma.
    • Feeling guilty or secretive about how much or how often you use.
    • Wanting to cut back — but struggling to follow through.
    • Noticing that substances affect your relationships, career, or goals.
    • Experiencing a push-pull between wanting change and fearing it.
    • Using more than you intended, more often than you’d like.

    Even if you don’t identify with the word “addiction,” you may still feel the weight of substance use on your life. Therapy creates a space to slow down, look at what’s working, and examine what’s holding you back — all without judgment.

    Christina’s Approach: Compassionate, Evidence-Based, and Personalized

    Every person’s story with substances is unique. That’s why Christina tailors therapy to each client, combining evidence-based methods with a deep respect for individual values, identities, and lived experiences.

    Her integrative approach includes:

    • Motivational Interviewing (MI): Exploring your own reasons for change, without pressure.
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Identifying thought and behavior patterns that fuel substance use and building healthier coping strategies.
    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Learning to accept difficult feelings while choosing actions aligned with your values.
    • Mindfulness Practices: Developing awareness of cravings and emotions without being controlled by them.
    • Somatic Therapy Tools: Understanding how the body holds stress and learning to release it.

    Christina believes therapy should be clear, collaborative, and action-oriented. You’ll always know what you’re working on, why it matters, and what tools you can apply in daily life.

    What Therapy with Christina Looks Like

    Therapy is not about judgment — it’s about exploration and growth. Here’s what you can expect:

    1. Discovery & Goal-Setting
       In early sessions, Christina helps you share your story, clarify what’s working, and define your vision of a healthier life. Goals may include moderation, sobriety, or simply gaining clarity.

       

    2. Weekly, Action-Oriented Steps
       Each session outlines practical steps to help you stay focused and accountable. Examples include tracking triggers, practicing grounding techniques, or setting boundaries in relationships.

       

    3. Deeper Exploration
       Together, you’ll uncover the roots of substance use: stress, trauma, unmet needs, or identity struggles. This isn’t about blame — it’s about understanding.

       

    4. Skill-Building
       Therapy focuses on tools that create lasting resilience:

       

      • Communication and boundary-setting.
      • Rebuilding trust in yourself and others.
      • Strengthening self-esteem and self-efficacy.
      • Learning new ways to respond to stress and conflict.
      • Reconnecting with values and purpose.

    Progress doesn’t happen overnight, but with consistent effort and support, meaningful transformation is possible. Clients often describe feeling lighter, more confident, and more connected to themselves after committing to this process.

    📞 Call today: (510) 686-3839

    📧 Email: cwade.consultation@gmail.com

    Take the first step toward a healthier relationship with yourself and your habits with a free 15-minute consultation.

    Virtual Care: Accessible, Confidential, and Flexible

    All therapy sessions with Christina are conducted virtually through a secure video platform. This allows clients to access support without commuting, waiting rooms, or additional stress. Whether you live in San Francisco, the Bay Area, or anywhere in California, therapy is available from the comfort of home.

    Virtual care offers:

    • Privacy: Sessions are secure and confidential.
    • Flexibility: Day and evening appointments available.
    • Comfort: You can join from a familiar, safe space.

    Clients often find that virtual sessions create the same connection, trust, and emotional safety as in-person therapy — with added convenience.

    Therapy That Honors Your Full Identity

    Substance use is often linked with deeper experiences of identity, stress, and belonging. Christina’s practice is trauma-informed and LGBTQ+ affirming, offering a safe space for adults whose substance use may be connected to identity struggles or experiences of rejection.

    For many LGBTQ+ individuals, substances once provided relief from dysphoria, anxiety, loneliness, or fear. Over time, however, they may have become a way to survive rather than thrive. Christina understands these intersections and creates a space where gender, sexuality, and identity are fully respected.

    In her sessions, identity is not questioned — it is affirmed, honored, and integrated into the healing process.

    What Clients Gain from Therapy with Christina Wade

    Therapy with Christina is about creating lasting change, not quick fixes. Each client’s journey is tailored to their unique experiences, challenges, and goals.

    First Session: Getting to Know You

    The first 60-minute session focuses on understanding your story and building trust. During this session, Christina will:

    • Explore your history with substances or addictive behaviors.
    • Identify patterns, triggers, and coping strategies you’ve developed.
    • Understand how addiction affects your relationships, work, and daily life.
    • Clarify your goals, whether it’s moderation, sobriety, or gaining insight and control.

    This session creates a safe, nonjudgmental space to openly share your experiences and set the foundation for therapy.

    Ongoing Therapy: Building Skills and Awareness

    As therapy continues, you will:

    • Learn healthy coping skills to replace reliance on substances.
    • Gain self-awareness of emotional triggers, stressors, and environmental factors.
    • Strengthen emotional regulation to respond to challenges without turning to substances.
    • Explore underlying issues like trauma, anxiety, depression, or identity stress.
    • Reconnect with your values, goals, and sense of purpose.
    • Improve relationships by repairing communication patterns and building trust.

    Real Benefits Clients Often Experience

    Clients frequently leave therapy with:

    • Practical tools to handle stress, cravings, and strong emotions.
    • Greater self-confidence and control over choices.
    • Clarity about patterns and triggers, allowing proactive decisions.
    • Healthier daily routines, including better sleep and self-care habits.
    • Stronger connections with themselves and loved ones.
    • Renewed sense of identity and purpose, aligned with personal values.
    • Hope for a life that feels freer, more grounded, and fulfilling.

    Even small changes — calmer responses, more restful sleep, or fewer conflicts — can create a ripple effect, gradually transforming your life.

    Frequently asked questions

    Not at all. Many clients begin because something feels off — even if they don’t meet criteria for a substance use disorder.

    No. Therapy begins with curiosity, not judgment. You don’t need to commit to quitting before starting.

    You’ll meet with Christina for 15 minutes, ask questions, and get a sense of whether her approach feels like a good fit.

    Yes. Christina’s practice is affirming, supportive, and inclusive of all identities.

    Christina provides transparent pricing and will offer a Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act.

    Yes, sessions are conducted through a secure video platform for convenience and confidentiality.

    Begin Your Next Chapter Today

    If you’re feeling stuck, unsure, or simply ready for something to shift, now may be the moment to begin. You don’t have to have everything figured out. You don’t have to commit to sobriety tomorrow. You just have to take the first step.

    Christina offers:

    A free 15-minute consultation to explore whether therapy feels right. Virtual sessions available anywhere in California. Evening appointments to fit busy schedules. Compassionate, trauma-informed care that meets you where you are.

    ✨ Change doesn’t have to be dramatic. It just has to be real. Reach out today and take a gentle step toward clarity, balance, and a more grounded way of living.

    📞 (510) 686-3839
    📧 cwade.consultation@gmail.com

    About the Therapist

    Christina Wade, LCSW

    Christina Wade is a licensed therapist specializing in addiction, substance use, and trauma-informed care for adults across California. She integrates evidence-based methods like MI, ACT, CBT, mindfulness, and somatic therapy to support meaningful, lasting change.

    With extensive experience working with LGBTQ+ individuals and adults navigating major life transitions, Christina provides therapy rooted in compassion and curiosity rather than shame. Her goal is to help clients move from feeling stuck to feeling supported, capable, and empowered to make choices that align with their values.

    Free 15-Minute Consultation

      We’re Here When You’re Ready.

      Phone Number

      (510) 686-3839

      Email Address

      cwade.consultation@gmail.com

      Location

      112 W 25th Ave, Suite 2 San Mateo, CA 94403

      No Surprises Act

      You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of what your services may cost.

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