3 ADDICTION THERAPISTS IN SAN DIEGO

Here is where shame loses its grip

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WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

You’re trying to keep control, but losing more of it every day. Maybe it started as a way to cope. A drink to take the edge off. Something to numb the pain, the problems, the boredom, the stress. But now it’s getting out of control and making an even bigger mess. It might not even give you the same relief, requiring more and more to keep you going.

You might be stuck in a cycle of shame, secrecy, or relapse. Maybe you’ve sought residential treatment, but it’s over, or it didn’t work for you. You want to stop — or at least slow down — but you don’t know how. Or maybe you’re just starting to wonder if your relationship with the addictive pattern is becoming something more.

It doesn’t have to get worse before you get help.

WHERE WILL YOU GO?

You want freedom—and your "self" back.

An addiction therapist in San Diego helps you uncover what’s beneath the behavior — not just the habit, but the hurt. It’s about making space for your feelings and no longer running from them. It’s learning how to soothe without sabotaging.

Whether your goal is moderation or sobriety, you want your life to feel more whole, more honest, and more yours. That’s possible — and you don’t have to figure it out alone.

If you’ve sought treatment before and want a more individualized, 1-1 approach that’s led by a professional and not a peer, working with an addiction counselor could be right for you.

HOW WILL YOU GET THERE?

Meet our San Diego addiction therapists

At Pathways, our addiction counselors meet you where you are — whether you’re ready to quit or just beginning to explore what’s behind the struggle. Together, we’ll look at what’s driving the behavior and what a healthier, more connected life can look like.

There is no single path to recovery, but there is a way forward. And we’re here to walk it with you.

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Breanne Dargon, LMFT

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I knew early on that I wanted to work in the mental health field. While pursuing my undergraduate degree in psychology, I worked with individuals experiencing homelessness and severe mental illness. After I graduated, I started working at a long-term residential treatment center and worked there for 15 years as a therapist, Clinical Supervisor, and Clinical Director. During my time at the treatment center, I completed my Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of San Diego. Much of my training is in Systems Theory, which views individuals within the context of their relationships and environment. In my experience, addiction recovery involves adjustments to relationships and environment—long lasting recovery is about far more than the addiction itself.

Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 99204)
Location: Sorrento Valley & Chula Vista
Virtual or In Person: Offers in person and teletherapy options

Jeff Williams, LCSW

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My work in mental health started in 2002, and I’ve held Assistant Director, Clinical Supervisor, Case Management Supervisor, In-home Therapist, and Outpatient Therapist roles in a variety of settings. I have extensive experience helping individuals with substance abuse, and I have trained 300+ hours over a 3 year period in Structural Family Therapy with Dr. Stephen Greenstein, former Chief Psychologist and Director of Training at Minuchin’s Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic. My family therapy and family therapy intensives help heal familial bonds that your substance use may have broken.

Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW 28894)
Location: Chula Vista (Sorrento Valley for Intensives)
Virtual or In Person: Offers in person and teletherapy options

Connor Seidler, LMFT

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As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I’ve worked in both private practice, outdoor, and residential settings. I enjoy helping people work through self criticism and low self esteem, isolation, and compulsions, which many people in recovery experience. I work well with individuals as well as complex family systems.

Credentials: Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT 146060)
Location: Chula Vista & Sorrento Valley
Virtual or In Person: Offers in person and teletherapy options

Frequently asked questions about addiction counseling

How do I know if I need in-patient treatment?

If you are unable to manage the demands of daily life or relationships due to over-reaching addiction patterns, you may need more intensive treatment than weekly, individual counseling sessions. While the type of addiction treatment you receive is a personal choice, it’s important to match the degree of need with an appropriate form of treatment. You have several options: residential treatment, outpatient programs (OP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP), peer support groups, and more. We recommend speaking with a professional to help you make that decision.

Are there therapeutic modalities that work best for addiction?

At Pathways Family Therapy, we draw on a variety of evidence-based modalities to treat addiction. Our approach to addiction counseling may include:

Individual therapy to explore triggers, trauma, and emotional coping
Motivational interviewing to help you clarify what you want from recovery
CBT and mindfulness-based practices to reduce cravings and build resilience
Art therapy to express and process emotions that are hard to put into words
Group counseling for community, accountability, and shared understanding
Relapse prevention support to help you stay grounded during stress and change

One of the benefits of working with an addiction therapist individually is that they can customize treatment to you; you don’t have to fit within a predetermined program.

Do you coordinate care with psychiatrists if medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is needed?

We are well connected in the San Diego recovery community and will make excellent referrals if you decide to explore medications like buprenorphine, naltrexone, or acamprosate. If you’re unsure whether you want to try medication, we can explore that decision together during sessions.

Which types of addictions do you treat?

We help individuals with drug addictions, alcohol addictions, sex and/or pornography addictions, gambling addictions, social media/smartphone addictions, gaming addictions, food addictions, and more.

Do I have to be sober to get help?

Not at all. We understand that recovery is a lifelong process, and our therapists are here to help you in whatever phase of recovery you’re in—sober or not.