Process Addictions

Some patterns are hard to explain, even to yourself. You know a behavior is costing you something. You have tried to stop or cut back, and you find yourself back in it anyway. I work with adults in Hollywood, Florida, and by secure video who are caught in repetitive behaviors such as gambling, pornography, compulsive work, or other habits that feel bigger than willpower.

What I mean by process addictions

A process addiction is a pattern organized around a behavior rather than a substance. Common examples include gambling, pornography and sexual behavior, compulsive work, gaming, spending, and heavy social media or internet use.

People do not all experience this the same way. For some, the behavior is hidden and heavy with shame. For others it is socially accepted, or even rewarded, as overwork often is, which can make it harder to name. Some people have lost money or relationships. Others mainly notice a loss of control, or a quiet sense that their life has become smaller. I do not ask you to prove that your struggle is serious enough. If it is troubling you, it is worth talking about.

What can keep the pattern going

Repetitive behaviors usually do a job for the person, even when they also cause harm. Every person is different, but these are some of the things that can keep a pattern in place:

• Relief. The behavior may quiet stress, loneliness, boredom or painful feelings, even if only for a short time.
• Shame and secrecy. Hiding the behavior tends to isolate people, and isolation can make the behavior feel more necessary.
• A repeating cycle. An urge, the behavior, regret, a promise to stop, and then the urge again.
• Earlier experience. Trauma or long-standing difficulties can leave certain feelings hard to tolerate, and the behavior may have become a way to manage them.
• Everyday triggers. Particular times of day, places, devices, or relationships can set the cycle in motion.
• Other conditions. Depression, anxiety, ADHD, or substance use can interact with the behavior, and it helps to look at them together.

How therapy can help

Our work is individual and paced to you. We start by understanding the behavior in the context of your life: when it began, what it does for you, what it costs you, and what you have already tried. I do not begin from the idea that you need to be judged or fixed. Depending on what fits, our work may include:

• Looking closely at the cycle of urges and triggers, so that you can recognize it as it is happening.
• Working with the feelings the behavior has been managing, including shame, anxiety, loneliness and anger. Where shame is tied to a harsh view of yourself, we may also look at confidence and self-esteem.
• Exploring how earlier experiences and relationships shape the pattern. I am EMDR-trained, and when it fits, EMDR may be one part of our work alongside conversation. We would talk about whether it makes sense for you first.
• Thinking through practical steps for high-risk moments, and what other support might help, such as a physician, another clinician, or a peer group.
• Talking about the people close to you, and how trust has been affected, when that is part of what brought you in.

The goals are yours to define. Some people want to stop a behavior entirely. Others want to change their relationship to it. We can talk through what seems realistic and safe for you, and I will tell you honestly what I see along the way.

You might consider reaching out if

• You have tried to cut back or stop and have not been able to.
• You are hiding the behavior, or dreading that someone will find out.
• It has affected your work, your finances, your health, or your relationships.
• Someone close to you has raised a concern.
• You are not sure it counts as a problem, but it keeps coming back.

Questions people often ask

Do I need to stop the behavior before we begin?

No. Many people come while they are still in the middle of it. You do not need to have made any changes before you call.

Is this really an addiction?

Clinicians and researchers do not all use the same terms. Gambling disorder is recognized in the diagnostic manuals; other behaviors are not always classified the same way. I care less about the label than about what the behavior is doing in your life.

What if substances are part of the picture too?

That is common, and we can work with both. I also work with people on substance use.

What to expect at the start

We begin with a free 15-minute consultation. You can tell me a little about what is happening and ask how I work, and we can see whether working together feels right. Sessions are 53 minutes, in person in Hollywood or by secure video, and what you share is confidential within the limits of the law and professional ethics.

I am in private practice. My fee is $250 per 53-minute therapeutic hour, and I provide superbills you may submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement; coverage depends on your plan. You can read more on the Fees & Insurance page.

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or go to your nearest emergency room.