You may be wondering whether your drinking or use has become a problem. You may already know something needs to change but not be sure what that looks like. Or you may be in recovery and want support staying steady. Wherever you are, you are welcome here, and you do not need to stop using before reaching out.
I’m Isaac Giovannetti, MSW, founder of Inner Compass Counseling. I hold a Graduate Certificate in Addictions from Florida Atlantic University and spent years in treatment settings helping individuals and families navigate addiction and co-occurring mental health concerns. I continue this work in private practice. All sessions are held by telehealth, so you can meet from anywhere in Florida.
Your goals guide the work
There is no single right path. Some people want to stop completely. Some want to cut back or use more safely. Others are not sure yet. I support abstinence, moderation, and harm reduction, and I have professional experience working with people on each of those paths. We decide on goals together and revisit them as things change.
What we can work on
Substance use rarely exists on its own. It is often connected to stress, pain, relationships, or experiences that are hard to carry. Areas we can address include:
- Alcohol and drug use, including questioning whether your use is a problem
- Process addictions such as gambling, gaming, pornography, or spending
- Dual diagnosis: anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental health concerns alongside substance use
- Staying steady in recovery and responding to cravings or a return to use
- The effects of substance use on relationships and family life
“Not why the addiction, but why the pain.”
Healing happens in connection
Addiction often grows in isolation, and it tends to deepen it. Over time, use can crowd out the relationships, routines, and sense of belonging that make life feel worth showing up for. That is why returning to a connected social life, with people you trust, a community, and a sense of purpose, is paramount to healing. It is not an afterthought to recovery; it is at the heart of it.
For many people, the hardest part is stepping out of the cycle of guilt and shame: using to escape painful feelings, then feeling worse for having used. Shame says to hide, and hiding keeps the cycle going. Stepping out of it is often the most difficult part of the work, and often the most impactful. In therapy, we meet those feelings with understanding rather than judgment, so there is room to reconnect with yourself and with others.
“The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection.”
An approach tailored to you
Each person gets individualized care, and therapy is shaped around what works best for you. In my work with addiction, I draw on motivational interviewing, narrative therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and especially Internal Family Systems (IFS).
IFS offers a compassionate way to understand the parts of you that turn to substances or behaviors, often to protect you from pain, rather than fighting them. Alongside that, we can build practical skills for difficult moments and explore the stories you tell about yourself and your use.
When more support would help
Sometimes weekly sessions are not enough on their own. When that is the case, a therapy intensive can offer more focused time, and I work with case management services and support staff who can help coordinate additional care. We talk through options together.
If you are thinking about stopping alcohol or other substances after heavy or daily use, please talk with a medical provider first. Withdrawal can be medically serious, and therapy is not a substitute for medical care.
For families and loved ones
Watching someone you love struggle with substance use is painful and confusing. Parents, partners, and family members are welcome to reach out first, whether or not your loved one is ready for help. When substance use is affecting a relationship, couples therapy can be a place to address it together.
For anyone under 18, I ask a parent or legal guardian to give consent before ongoing therapy begins. Early on, we talk about how parents or guardians are involved and how confidentiality works for a teen.
Availability and session fees
Individual therapy is $150 per hour, and couples therapy is $200 per hour. The initial 15-minute consultation is free. Clients pay for sessions directly; I do not submit insurance claims. Contact me to discuss current availability before scheduling.
Common questions
Do I have to stop using before we start?
No. You can begin therapy wherever you are. Many people start while they are still using, unsure what they want, or simply curious whether something needs to change.
Do I have to call it an addiction?
No. You do not need a label to start. We can talk about what you notice, what concerns you, and what you would like to be different.
Will my employer or insurance company find out?
Because you pay for sessions directly, I do not submit claims to your insurance company. I do not share information with your employer or anyone else without your written permission, except where the law requires it. We discuss the limits of confidentiality during informed consent.
Can you work alongside my psychiatrist, program, or support group?
Yes. Therapy can complement other care, whether that is a psychiatrist, a treatment program, a 12-step or other support group, or none of these. With your written permission, I can coordinate with other providers involved in your care.
What if I return to use?
A return to use is not a failure, and it does not end therapy. It can tell us something important about what you need, and we can use it to adjust the plan.
Can you provide letters for court, an employer, or a monitoring program?
Requirements vary, so please ask during your free consultation. We can discuss what you need before you decide to schedule.
Talk about working together
Start with a free 15-minute initial consultation to ask about availability and working together. You can also read the guide to your first therapy consultation for questions to bring.
Read the answers about fees, privacy, and getting started before you reach out.
Ask about substance use therapyPlease keep initial inquiries brief and avoid sensitive clinical details. Email is not a secure clinical messaging service.