Therapy for Executive Burnout & High-Functioning Overuse

Stop using substances to survive your success.

Regain your edge without the numbing.

  • 100% Confidential: Private pay (no insurance records) protecting your reputation and licensure.

  • Strategic & Direct: No endless venting. We build a tactical plan to stabilize your stress and substance use.

  • Iowa-Wide Telehealth: Accessible from your office or home anywhere in the state of Iowa.

Schedule Confidential Intake

It Started as Decompression. Now It’s a Dependency.

You didn’t start drinking or using to "party." You started because your brain wouldn't shut off. You operate in a high-stakes environment where perfection is the baseline. Alcohol, marijuana, or other behaviors became the only reliable way to downshift after a 12-hour day.

But the strategy is failing.

  • The "Functioning" Trap: You tell yourself you don't have a problem because you still make it to the 8:00 AM meeting. But you are white-knuckling through the morning fog and relying on caffeine to function until 5:00 PM.

  • The Emotional Numbness: You aren't just numbing the stress; you are numbing the joy. You feel detached from your spouse and irritable with your children.

  • The Secret Arithmetic: You are constantly calculating: How much can I have tonight and still function tomorrow? Did anyone notice my hands shaking?

You are exhausted from managing the secret. It is time to fix the system.

We Don’t Just "Talk." We Execute a Plan.

High-achievers often avoid addiction counseling because they fear being labeled "powerless" or forced into a one-size-fits-all box. My approach is different. I view your substance use as a maladaptive solution to a legitimate problem (burnout and unmanaged stress).

We treat this like a business crisis: Analyze the data. Identify the variables. Execute the solution.

  • The Audit (Data Collection) We stop guessing. We track exactly when and why you feel the urge to use. Is it the transition from work to home? Is it the insomnia? We move from "I drink too much" to "I drink to regulate my nervous system when X happens."

  • The Stabilization (Harm Reduction or Abstinence) We determine the goal that fits your clinical reality.

    • For some, the goal is total sobriety to protect a license.

    • For others, it is controlled moderation and harm reduction. We do not rely on shame; we rely on safety and control.

  • The Rebuild (Neurological Regulation) You cannot just remove the substance; you must replace the tool. We install sustainable, neurological regulation skills (using CBT and DBT frameworks) that allow you to turn off your "work brain" without chemical assistance.

Why Professionals Trust Me

I am not intimidated by your title, your intelligence, or your intensity. My background in Forensic Mental Health means I am trained to operate at the intersection of high pressure and crisis. I understand the unique threats you face such as licensure boards, HR investigations, and reputation damage.

  • Strictly Private Pay: I do not report to insurance companies. Your diagnosis remains off your permanent medical record, keeping your career secure.

  • Efficiency: I respect your time. We get straight to work on Day 1.

What "Better" Actually Looks Like

Recovery isn't about becoming a different person; it's about getting the best version of yourself back.

  • The Sleep Returns: You wake up rested, without the 3 AM anxiety spike or the morning shame.

  • The Edge Returns: Your focus sharpens. You are operating at 100% capacity at work, not 70% masked by brain fog.

  • The Control Returns: You are no longer watching the clock waiting for "wine o'clock." You are present in your life.

Do not wait for the ultimatum.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Not necessarily. I utilize a Harm Reduction framework, which means we prioritize safety and regained control over dogmatic abstinence.

    • The Strategy: For some clients, the data will show that moderation is possible once the burnout triggers are managed. For others, total abstinence is the only way to protect their career. We will determine the goal that fits your clinical reality and professional requirements together.

  • No. People often avoid treatment because they fear adopting a label that feels incompatible with their identity as a leader. My approach focuses on behavior, not identity. We treat the substance use as a maladaptive solution to a stress problem. We focus on fixing the mechanism that drives the urge, rather than debating labels.

  • No. Your privacy is the foundation of this practice.

    • The Legal Protection: As a substance use specialist, our work is protected by 42 CFR Part 2, which provides a higher level of federal confidentiality than standard HIPAA regulations.

    • The Insurance Protection: Because I am Private Pay and do not bill insurance, I do not submit diagnostic codes to a centralized database. Your records remain siloed from your employment and insurance history.

  • This is the "Functioning Trap." Many of my clients are technically excelling at work while their internal world is collapsing. You do not need to wait for a DUI, a divorce, or a health scare to validate that you need support. If you are calculating drink math during meetings or waking up at 3 AM in a panic, you are already paying a "performance tax" that will eventually bankrupt your energy.

  • It is integrated into your life. Rehab requires you to pause your career; my protocol is designed to help you recover while you lead it.

    • Differentiation: While I support 12-step programs for those who find them helpful, they are not the only path. My approach is clinical and neurological, focusing on nervous system regulation and trigger management rather than group confessionals.

  • We work in a focused 6-Month Protocol.

    • Months 1-2 (Intervention): We use data tracking to identify your specific triggers and stabilize your sleep and substance use immediately.

    • Months 3-6 (Prevention): We install the neurological skills (DBT/ACT) required to handle high-stakes pressure without needing a chemical release.

    • Intake & Strategy Session (90 Minutes): $300. This includes a deep-dive assessment of your use patterns and the creation of your initial roadmap.

    • Individual Session (50 Minutes): $200.

    • Payment: HSA/FSA cards and all major credit cards are accepted. Payment is automated to keep our time focused on clinical work.

  • No. I am strictly Private Pay.

    • The Strategic Reason: To bill insurance, I am required to submit a permanent mental health diagnosis (e.g., Alcohol Use Disorder) to your insurance provider. This becomes part of your permanent medical record, which can be flagged in future background checks for life insurance, federal employment, or pilot/medical licensure.

    • The Benefit: By paying privately, your data remains siloed from your insurance and employment history.