CHRIS PUGH Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate

I have worked for in a substance use disorder clinic for several years and have worked directly with inpatient, outpatient, and continuing care groups supporting individuals' personal recovery. I am proficient in both 12-step recovery treatments as well as the progressive harm reduction model focusing my work on meeting the client where they are at in their life and adjusting my work to their needs.

I have worked very closely with clients who struggle with many different forms of attachment disorders primarily focusing on anxious attachment style and avoidant attachment styles. My work with these clients is focused on helping guide the client towards developing personal self-concept self-worth, and emotional independence. I work with many different demographics, from all walks of life, who strive to stand on their own two feet and operate independently in their life.

I work with my clients who struggle with anxiety that appears in both their mind and their bodies. I am an advocate of practicing mind-body connection and integrating both Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Radical Acceptance towards changing their maladaptive and racing though patterns while integrating breathwork and self-soothing exercises to reduce both the physical symptoms of anxiety as well as the emotional and mental symptoms.

I am proficient in DBT through the work of many clients who struggle with multiple ailments in their life. I have utilized this orientation through both group work and individual sessions as well. The primary focus of this is to allow clients the opportunity to develop their own emotional regulation tools as well as integrate mindfulness work into their life. DBT reinforces positive change for clients who struggle with emotional balance and in the moment triggers.

I have studied attachment theory in both the university center and clinical setting as well. My main area of work with clients is helping them navigate the core issues and progression of their attachment issues with all relationships in their life. My primary focus initially is the psychoeducation of attachment theory to help the client pinpoint their origin of attachment issues and to then work directly with assisting the client in developing their personal and emotional independence

I have worked with individuals struggling with addiction and substance use issues in the professional center for 3 years. My work has primarily focused on integrating mental health therapy into substance use treatment focusing on initially removing the substance then examining the underlying issues that caused the progression of the substance abuse. My work centers on both harm reduction and complete abstinence integrating clinical treatments and 12 step treatments.