Your questions, answered.

I am a Certified Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CAADC), Georgia Certificate #C680. This is a Master’s level certification conveyed by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia. I have been certified since 2022 and must satisfy robust requirements for recertification every two years. My clinical experience includes working with clients across all levels of care identified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, both residential and outpatient, from detox to aftercare.

Prior to pursuing clinical certification in the addiction treatment field, I earned a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Georgia in 2012, with an emphasis on Applied Cognition and Development. Much of the work done in recovery centers around building better understanding about how our beliefs and experiences influence our behaviors and values. Sometimes we need to reverse engineer the things we have learned to find opportunities for flexibility, growth, and healing. My experiences - academic, professional, and lived - have left me well suited to helping people tap into their own neuroplasticity on the path of recovery.

Finally, like many practitioners in this field, I came into the counseling profession via my own experiences with alcoholism. Many of my clients report that this aspect of my background lends a particular element of authenticity which helps build trust and foster willing vulnerability in sessions. If you are confronting the fear and shame associated with your substance misuse, I know what that is like, and I am here to help.

My counseling modalities comprise traditional talk-therapy with foundations of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Specifically within that framework, I am trained in Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I incorporate mindfulness skills development and application heavily in the work I do with my clients. Both individual and group therapy will include elements of processing, psychoeducation, and skills development.

I offer both in-person as well as telehealth virtual therapy. Telehealth is only available to clients within the state of Georgia. Group therapy is only offered in-office at 740 Prince Avenue.

I work with clients at any stage of change regarding substance misuse and co-occurring disorders, contingent on appropriateness of the outpatient level of care.

Whether you are just starting to question your relationship with alcohol and/or drugs, or have been to treatment several times and are experiencing chronic relapse, I am here for you.

My certified scope of practice is limited to working with individuals with substance use and co-occurring disorders. Additionally, I have completed training to work with clients confronting problem gambling. Clients who have the most success are motivated, willing to be vulnerable, and ready to do some work both in and out of session.

My clients often report their surprise with the level of laughter that appears in group and individual counseling sessions. Levity is one of my core values, and sometimes to make heavy subjects more approachable and malleable it is important to infuse a healthy counterbalance of lightness.

My clients and I do hard work. There will be heavy lifting and lots of practice sitting with discomfort. Along the way, I will always make it a priority to maintain a connection to the unique whimsy that makes us human. Our goal is not just to change our relationship with substances and behaviors, but to figure out how to enjoy it while we’re at it.

I don’t know. With substance misuse counseling there are two main intervention paths: abstinence and harm reduction. Of course, we know that abstinence is the safest and most predictable. But hardly anybody starts there! The change process is rarely linear, and always incremental. It is likely there will be some trial and error. Via consultation and evaluation, I can help make an assessment as to which options are safe to explore for you.

I’m not gonna make you do anything! You get to decide what you are willing to do in service of your recovery. You also get to decide what you’re not willing to do. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a convenient and free program that has been around for nearly a century and has been fundamental to the recovery of millions of people. I am an ally of AA and other 12-step programs. I also understand that there are myriad paths to recovery, and I understand the importance of developing a program that feels authentic and congruent to the values of the individual.

What is likely is that I will ask you to do significant work outside of the therapy office in service of your recovery. Part of this work will probably relate to developing your network of support. I fully believe that community is a fundamental aspect of sustaining any kind of healthy growth, and I will challenge you to find your people!

You can reach out to me directly via phone or email, or request a free consultation via the ‘Book Now’ button on the links bar at the top of the page. Follow that link and choose ‘I’m a New Client’ to schedule a free consultation, either in-person at my office or virtually.

Please note that I do not have a receptionist, so it is likely you will need to leave a message. I promise to return contact as soon as I am able, typically within 24 hours.

Email: cole@causeycounseling.com

Phone: 706.236.7500

My rate for individual counseling is $125 per session. Group sessions are $45 per session, with an attendance requirement of at least three meetings per month. Space is limited for group counseling.

Currently, I am out of network with all insurance, which means that my clients pay out of pocket at the time of service. However, many policies provide some level of reimbursement for out of network substance abuse and mental health counseling. I provide my clients at the end of every month a Superbill, which serves as the documentation you would use to file for reimbursement. There are also third part providers that can help you with this process.