MICHAEL BRAY, ADDICTION COUNSELOR IN ORANGE COUNTY & CA
Recovery is possible.
You feel disconnected, alone, and don’t know what the next steps are for your recovery.
You’ve tried countless times to stop using or drinking. Family and friends are unrelenting. And you’re on the verge of losing relationships, your job, and everything that matters to you. Just surviving doesn’t cut it anymore.
Start living the life that you’ve always wanted.
I’m Michael.
I’m a certified substance use disorder counselor who is passionate about helping people live their best lives in recovery from substances.
When you’re looking for counseling, typically you’re looking for a personalized touch. You can’t find that in today’s traditional substance abuse treatment. What you will find in our work together is customized, designed-for-you counseling.
It’s my priority to create a judgment-free zone for you. From there, I take a trauma-informed, solution-focused, and strengths-based approach. My trauma-informed lens allows me to help you gain insight into what is fueling the addiction today. We will also identify solutions and the positive qualities about you so that we can work towards sustainable changes immediately.
I also know that change is hard for many of us, and life is chock full of it. I’m someone who has gone through debilitating withdrawal from prescription medication, successfully warded off nicotine cravings, rehabilitated from life-altering injury, and watched many family members weather the storm of addiction and mental health disorders.
With me, you will not just be getting a trained counselor. You’ll get a counselor that really understands what you’re going through, and will ensure you are not fighting this battle alone.
I work well with clients who:
Are committed to living a life of recovery, even if it’s a struggle
Understand that recovery is a marathon, not a sprint
Are new to recovery, or those who have tried to quit numerous times
Want personal growth and are goal-oriented in life
Work hard in life and in taking care of their loved ones
What it’s like to work with me
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We’ll get to know each other, and I’ll be gathering information on your history and your current life. I’ll ask you about your recovery goals and life goals. We’ll look at your specific needs in counseling, and use that to collaborate on a treatment plan together.
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I will spend some time teaching you about addiction and how it affects the brain, body and behavior. We will also look together at how addiction has developed in your life.
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Because we are not designed to go on this journey alone, I will help you pinpoint the support you need to live a healthy life. This could be linking you to your general doctor, detox, medication-assisted treatment, mental health assessment, or psychiatry. I also believe in holistic approaches, such as connecting you to an acupuncturist, dietician, chiropractor, or massage therapist.
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I’m big on empowering you with knowledge that will get you and keep you in recovery. This is why I will spend a lot of time helping you look at triggers, which are people, places or things that lead to relapse. Part of this work involves teaching you how to eliminate problematic triggers from the start and how to manage cravings to use.
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I set you up for success by teaching you the skills you need to get back in control. This could be enhancing your problem-solving skills for triggering situations, and teaching you grounding techniques, anger management skills, meditation, and communication skills.
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Support while you are working through recovery is a necessity. I will help you develop a support network of trusted people or support groups that help you feel connected while you pursue counseling.
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We plan for your future after counseling so that you can feel confident in your ability to stay in recovery.
Training & Education
Education & Licensure
Substance Use Disorder Certified Counselor (SUDCC) #8866, CADTP
MA in Mental Health Counseling, Concordia University (Expected completion 2024)
MS in Substance Use and Addiction Disorders & Christian Counseling, Grand Canyon University
BA in Substance Use and Addiction Disorders Counseling, Argosy University
Training & Certifications
Motivational Interviewing
American Society for Addiction Medicine Assessment (ASAM)
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) - Intensively trained
Specializing in:
Substance Abuse
