Fresh Start Center

Addiction & Substance Abuse Psychology

Fresh Start Center is an Addiction & Substance Abuse Psychology practice in Gaithersburg, MD with healthcare providers who have special training and skill in diagnosing and treating mental disorders that cause substance addiction. Addiction & Substance Abuse Psychologists at Fresh Start Center perform diagnosis and treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, schizophrenia, and other disorders that contribute to patient addiction. Addiction & Substance Abuse Psychology is a specialty of mental health medicine that focuses on researching, diagnosing, and treating the emotional impulses or illnesses that lead to addictive behavior. Significant diseases and conditions treated at Addiction & Substance Abuse Psychology practices include addiction to alcohol, illegal drugs, and prescription drugs. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Addiction & Substance Abuse Psychology practices include conducting patient interviews, creating treatment plans, participating in individual or group therapy, offering diagnoses of mental health disorders, and referring patients to other medical specialists as needed.

A psychologist with a proficiency that involves the application of psychological treatment of addiction stemming from the use of alcohol and other psychoactive substances (e.g., nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, heroin) or behavioral addictions (e.g., gambling) with the aim of cessation or reduction of use and/or the amelioration of emotional, behavioral, interpersonal and other problems arising from the addictive behavior.