Addiction Related Trauma
When someone else’s substance use has changed your life,
your experience matters too.
Therapy for Families Affected by Addiction in Kerrville, TX
Living with a loved one’s alcohol or drug use can mean waiting for the next call, scanning for
signs, covering for them, or wondering which version of them will come home. Even after they enter recovery—or after you leave the relationship—your own sense of safety and trust may take time to rebuild.
At Embracing Change Therapy, I offer therapy in Kerrville, TX, and virtually for adults affected by a parent’s, partner’s, or family member’s substance use. You can seek support for yourself regardless of whether your loved one is ready to change.
START WHERE YOU ARE
Do you feel
like this?
- You are always watching for clues about whether they have been drinking or using.
- You feel responsible for keeping everyone calm, safe, or together.
- You swing between anger, hope, guilt, and exhaustion.
- You find it hard to set a boundary without feeling cruel or disloyal.
- You learned to hide what was happening at home and still struggle to trust your own feelings.
- Their recovery has begun, but you are surprised that you do not feel okay yet.
You do not have to prove that your loved one’s behavior was “bad enough” to talk about its impact on you.
The impact of addiction reaches beyond the person using
Unpredictability, broken promises, conflict, secrecy, or emotional absence can leave lasting marks. Some people call this addiction-related trauma. For others, it shows up as anxiety, grief hypervigilance, difficulty trusting, or feeling responsible for everyone else.
We can name what happened without reducing your loved one to a diagnosis or asking you to abandon your compassion. Your needs deserve attention alongside theirs.
YOUR THERAPY WORK
How therapy can help you
Together, we may work on:
01
Understanding the roles
Understanding the roles you took on to cope and which ones you want to release.
02
Identifying
Identifying what is yours to decide and what belongs to your loved one.
03
Setting boundaries
Setting boundaries you can follow through on, with care and clarity.
04
Monitor or rescue
Responding to anxiety, anger, guilt, and the urge to monitor or rescue.
05
Grieving
Grieving what you needed but did not receive.
06
Rebuilding self-trust
Rebuilding self-trust and relationships outside the crisis.
I use a direct, supportive approach informed by CBT, ACT, DBT skills, and my addiction counseling background. We will focus on choices you can make in your own life.
MEETING YOU WHERE YOU ARE
Support whether they are using, in treatment, or in recovery
- If they are still using
We can talk about your safety, boundaries, support, and how to respond without making your well-being depend on their next decision.
- If they enter treatment
Relief may coexist with fear or resentment. We can address what you are carrying while they focus on their care.
- If they are in recovery
Trust may not return on a timetable. Therapy can help you sort out what repair would require and what you need regardless of the outcome. - If you have stepped away
We can make room for grief, uncertainty, and the work of building a life that belongs to you.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
You don't have to figure this out alone.
I am Season Yerasimides, an LPC-Associate and fully licensed Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) with a master’s degree in counseling and a specialty in addiction.
I work with people living with substance use and with the loved ones whose lives have been shaped by it.
I also understand personally how a parent’s alcohol use can echo into adult relationships.
My style is direct, compassionate, and judgment-free. I will not tell you whom to love or what decision to make. I will help you see the patterns clearly, honor your own experience, and take steps that reflect your values.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions about therapy for families affected by addiction
Don’t see your question here? Reach out — I’m happy to help.
Can I come to therapy if my loved one refuses treatment?
Yes. Your therapy is for you. Their willingness to change is not a requirement for you to get support.
Is this only for partners of people with addiction?
No. Adult children, parents, siblings, and other loved ones may also be affected by someone’s substance use.
What if they are sober now but I still feel anxious or angry?
That can happen. A change in their substance use does not automatically resolve the impact of earlier experiences. We can work with what remains for you.
Will you tell me to leave or cut them off?
No. We can look at your options, boundaries, and safety while keeping decisions about your relationship in your hands.
Is this family therapy?
This page describes individual therapy for someone affected by a loved one’s substance use. We can discuss other supports if family or couples work would be useful.
What are your appointment options and fees?
I offer in-person sessions in Kerrville and virtual appointments. Sessions are $150, and I do not take insurance. You can start with a free 15-minute consultation.
You deserve support for your own life
If you are searching for therapy for adult children of alcoholics or family members of someone with addiction in Austin, TX, we can begin with what this has been like for you.