THERAPIST SPOTLIGHT: Austin Jones, AMFT

My view on addiction can be summed up succinctly by saying that addiction isn’t a choice that someone makes; it’s not for lack of morals; it isn’t an ethical failure; it isn’t a weakness of willpower, or a corrupt character — which is the way society portrays addiction. It isn’t an inheritable disease of the brain — which is the way the medical field tends to see it.

So what is addiction? Addiction is a response to suffering. Addiction is a response to pain. All of the addicts I’ve worked with have been seriously traumatized in childhood. Every individual had some form of abuse whether it be sexual, physical, emotional… neglect… This isn’t only my own perspective. Scientific research studies back this up. Rather than being a disease or a lack of willpower or a problem with impulsivity, addiction is an attempt to elude suffering. Temporarily.

Then the question becomes “what do we do about this?” It’s tough. What people don’t need is judgement. What people don’t need is to mask or dull the symptoms with a band aid. What people need is help to heal their trauma. This is all about trauma.

“Is it possible to be cured of addiction?” This is the wrong question from the start. This question is born from the western model of recovery where the doctor is the expert and the addicted patient is the one who contracted a disease. When the question is framed this way the answer is “no, it’s impossible.”

“Is it possible for people to heal their trauma?” Absolutely, people can sufficiently heal from trauma so that they don’t need to escape by using drugs and alcohol. It is wholly possible to decrease the pain of trauma.

What are you carrying inside that’s making you act in certain ways and how can I help you resolve what’s inside you? Healing is not just changing behaviors, but helping YOU to change. That healing happens inside.

I won’t be curing anything, but I will help guide you to healing if I can ask the right questions.

Austin Jones, AMFT

My clients experience me as easy to talk to, warm, genuine and effective. We work together in a partnership to establish connection as an antidote to the isolation of addiction. My clients gain the resources, support, and judgement-free environment that they utilize on their road to recovery. Together, we uncover obstructions by pathogenic beliefs that emerged from early life experience; increase functioning and awareness in order to make better choices; and ultimately create a life worth living.

Austin is currently accepting online clients. To learn more about his schedule and availability, please call/ text/ email him at 424-254-9391; Austin@pacificmft.com.