Harm Reduction Therapy
A different way to work with substance use
Harm reduction psychotherapy at Insight Into Action Therapy is a clinical approach used within individual therapy to address alcohol and other substance use without demanding immediate abstinence. Instead of forcing you into an all-or-nothing model, your therapist looks at how substances function in your life, what they are helping you avoid, and what it would mean to reduce harm in a way that fits your reality and your health; meeting you where you are, but never leaving you there.
This is not a separate “program.” It is a structured, evidence informed modality we integrate into individual therapy for adults who want change but are not always ready, willing, or able to stop using completely.
Substance use on a spectrum
Insight knows that all use is not addiction. Substance use occurs on a spectrum, and treatment should match both clinical severity and your goals. Your care plan reflects where you are on that spectrum, including situations where abstinence is the safest and most appropriate option, as well as cases where moderation or harm reduction may be clinically appropriate.
Insight offers:
- Alcohol moderation work led by co-founder Cyndi Turner, author, developer of the Alcohol Moderation Assessment, and national trainer, alongside co-founder Craig James
- Harm reduction psychotherapy that focuses on meaningful change over time with clear structure and accountability
- Abstinence-based pathways when symptoms, safety risk, or dependence indicate that stopping is the medically sound direction
You do not have to be abstinent to start care here, and you do not have to attend AA, NA, or any 12 Step program to receive treatment. Support takes many forms, and treatment is built around what is clinically appropriate for you.
What harm reduction therapy focuses on
In individual sessions, harm reduction therapy typically targets:
- Patterns of use
When, where, and how you use; what tends to happen before and after; which situations are the highest risk. - Functions of use
How substances help you manage anxiety, sleep, social pressure, trauma symptoms, boredom, or conflict, and what they cost you in return. - Risk and consequences
Health issues, accidents, legal problems, relationship damage, and performance problems at work or school. - Goals you are willing to work on
Reducing frequency or quantity, changing the context of use, eliminating certain high-risk behaviors, or moving toward abstinence over time. - Skills and alternatives
Concrete strategies for cravings, stress, and triggers, so substances are not your only tool. - Supports and safeguards
Who is involved in your life, what boundaries or monitoring increase safety, and what early warning signs signal the need to adjust the plan before problems escalate.
The point is to reduce harm now while creating options for deeper change as readiness increases.
You Need Now!
Who harm reduction therapy is for
This approach can be useful if you:
- Feel your use is “a problem” but are not ready to commit to complete abstinence
- Have tried traditional, abstinence-only models and found them unworkable or alienating
- Want to explore alcohol moderation with clinical oversight rather than guessing on your own
- Are managing professional, legal, or family pressure around your use and need a plan that is honest and realistic
- Have co-occurring mental health conditions and want a combined approach, not fragmented care
Harm reduction therapy can also support people working on compulsive behaviors such as gambling, pornography, or other patterns that function like substance use in their life. If you are not ready to commit to “never again,” but you know your substance use needs to change, harm reduction therapy offers a structured, honest way to start that work without pretending your only options are denial or abstinence.