Compassionate, Evidence-Based Care for Lasting Recovery
At The Terrebonne Group, we understand that struggling with substance use can affect every part of a person’s life — relationships, work, physical health, and sense of self. Reaching out for help takes courage, and our team in New Orleans is here to meet you with warmth, expertise, and a genuine belief in your capacity to heal. Our care for substance use is grounded in proven psychological methods and a whole-person philosophy, because real recovery is built on more than willpower alone.
Substance use disorders are among the most common and treatable mental health conditions, yet they remain widely misunderstood. With the right treatment, the vast majority of people improve. Many people carry shame and silence for years before seeking support. We want you to know that you are not alone, that recovery is possible, and that effective treatment exists for the challenges you are facing. Whether you are at the beginning of your journey or returning after a setback, we are ready to walk alongside you.
Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation and take the first step toward a healthier future.
Understanding Substance Use Disorders
Substance use disorders develop when the repeated use of alcohol or other substances begins to change a person’s brain, behavior, and ability to function. According to the American Psychiatric Association, substance use disorders are diagnosed using criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and range from mild to severe depending on how many symptoms are present.
Substance use disorder symptoms vary by substance type, but common symptoms include cravings, loss of control over use, continued use despite harm, and withdrawal symptoms when use stops. Many people also experience a growing tolerance, meaning they need more of a substance to feel the same effect. Signs of substance use disorder include neglecting responsibilities, withdrawing from loved ones, and seeking medical care for symptoms related to drug use.
It is important to understand that addiction is a chronic disease, not a moral failing. The National Institute on Drug Abuse emphasizes that substance use disorders affect the same regions of the brain involved in reward, motivation, and self-control. Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that addiction reshapes these circuits over time. Like other chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, addiction requires ongoing management and care rather than a one-time fix.
Substance use disorders rarely exist in isolation. Co-occurring mental health disorders—such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder—frequently accompany substance misuse. When these conditions occur together, treating both at the same time generally produces better outcomes. Our integrated approach allows us to address co-occurring mental health conditions and substance use within the same caring practice.
Common Symptoms and Warning Signs
While substance use disorder symptoms vary by substance type, several patterns appear across most forms of drug addiction:
- Intense drug cravings that feel difficult to resist
- Physical discomfort such as nausea, anxiety, restlessness, or sleep disruption when use stops
- Using more of a substance, or using it longer, than intended
- Unsuccessful attempts to cut back on drug use
- Continued substance abuse despite damage to relationships, health, or work
- Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
Overdose is a common and deadly complication of substance use disorder, particularly with opioids and combinations of substances. If you recognize these signs in yourself or someone you love, please reach out. Early recovery support saves lives.
Our Approach to Substance Abuse Treatment
There is no single path to recovery. Effective recovery relies on a thoughtful blend of psychological therapies and, when appropriate, medication. At The Terrebonne Group, we build an individualized treatment plan around your unique history, goals, and circumstances, drawing on the most effective treatment methods available today. Most of our care begins with individual therapy, where developing coping skills together is a central focus and we tailor each treatment step to you.
Research shows that combining several approaches produces the strongest results. Several therapies are used during addiction treatment to help recovery, and addiction treatment works best when it is matched to the person rather than applied as a one-size-fits-all program. We match each person with the methods most likely to support meaningful, lasting change. Our holistic approach to treatment treats the whole person — mind, body, relationships, and environment — rather than focusing narrowly on a single symptom.
Behavioral Therapy and Evidence-Based Methods
Behavioral therapies modify attitudes and behaviors related to drug use, helping you build a sustainable, substance-free life. These evidence-based methods form the foundation of modern addiction treatment, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — recognizes them as essential components of quality care.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective tools for treating addiction. Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective for addiction treatment because it helps you identify the thoughts and situations that drive substance use, then develop healthier responses. Through cognitive behavioral work, you learn practical skills you can use in the present moment and for years to come. CBT teaches coping skills that reduce relapse and strengthen confidence.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) helps manage intense emotions and improve relationships. Dialectical behavior therapy helps manage emotions and relationships that can otherwise fuel substance misuse. Originally developed for emotion regulation, dialectical behavior therapy is especially helpful for people whose drug use is tied to overwhelming feelings, impulsivity, or interpersonal conflict.
Motivational Interviewing increases patients’ motivation to change. Motivational interviewing enhances patient motivation for behavior change by helping you explore and resolve your own ambivalence about recovery. A close relative, motivational enhancement therapy, builds on the same principles to strengthen your internal commitment to change. We use motivational interviewing and motivational enhancement therapy especially in early recovery, when motivation can fluctuate.
Contingency Management rewards positive behaviors in recovery. Contingency management uses positive reinforcement — tangible rewards and recognition — to encourage sobriety and reinforce healthy choices. Research shows that contingency management is one of the most effective behavioral therapy tools for sustaining abstinence.
Trauma-Informed Therapies address unresolved trauma as a root cause for substance use. We work in a trauma-informed way throughout care — guided imagery and other gentle techniques ease muscle tension and support nervous-system regulation, helping you feel safe enough to heal.
Relapse Prevention
Relapse prevention is a skills-based cognitive-behavioral approach designed to keep recovery on track over the long term. Because relapse rates for substance use disorders are similar to chronic illnesses, preventing relapse is a central goal rather than an afterthought. Relapse rates for drug use are similar to those seen in other chronic diseases like asthma and hypertension — a reminder that a setback is a signal to adjust treatment, not evidence of failure.
Relapse prevention strategies identify triggering situations — the people, places, emotions, and stressors that increase the risk of returning to substance use. Once these triggers are clear, we work together to develop coping skills and concrete plans for navigating high-risk moments, building them directly into your treatment. Behavioral therapies enhance the effectiveness of relapse prevention by strengthening the practical tools you rely on day to day. Preventing relapse is an ongoing practice, and we remain a steady source of support as you build a resilient, substance-free life.
Family Therapy
Addiction affects the whole family, and healing often involves everyone close to the person recovering. Family therapy addresses issues affecting the entire family unit, helping members rebuild trust, improve communication, and resolve conflicts that addiction may have created or worsened. Family therapy can also help loved ones understand substance use disorders as the medical conditions they are.
By involving family, we strengthen the support network that surrounds a person in recovery and help resolve conflicts that might otherwise threaten progress. When appropriate, this work becomes a meaningful part of the overall treatment.
Relapse Prevention
Relapse prevention is a skills-based cognitive-behavioral approach designed to keep recovery on track over the long term. Because relapse rates for substance use disorders are similar to chronic illnesses, preventing relapse is a central goal rather than an afterthought. Relapse rates for drug use are similar to those seen in other chronic diseases like asthma and hypertension — a reminder that a setback is a signal to adjust treatment, not evidence of failure.
Relapse prevention strategies identify triggering situations — the people, places, emotions, and stressors that increase the risk of returning to substance use. Once these triggers are clear, we work together to develop coping skills and concrete plans for navigating high-risk moments, building them directly into your treatment. Behavioral therapies enhance the effectiveness of relapse prevention by strengthening the practical tools you rely on day to day. Preventing relapse is an ongoing practice, and we remain a steady source of support as you build a resilient, substance-free life.
Family Therapy
Addiction affects the whole family, and healing often involves everyone close to the person recovering. Family therapy addresses issues affecting the entire family unit, helping members rebuild trust, improve communication, and resolve conflicts that addiction may have created or worsened. Family therapy can also help loved ones understand substance use disorders as the medical conditions they are.
By involving family, we strengthen the support network that surrounds a person in recovery and help resolve conflicts that might otherwise threaten progress. When appropriate, this work becomes a meaningful part of the overall treatment.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
For some substance use disorders, medication is a vital part of care. Effective recovery relies on a blend of psychological therapies and medication, and combining therapy with medication increases treatment success by 50 to 70%. This form of treatment pairs FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapy to support whole-person healing, and it works alongside other therapies rather than replacing them.
Medication helps manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms, making it easier to engage fully in therapy. For alcohol use, naltrexone blocks the euphoric effects of alcohol, reducing the reward that drives continued drinking. For opioid use disorder, medication should be the first line of treatment. Buprenorphine is a safer partial agonist that eases drug cravings and the symptoms of withdrawal while lowering overdose risk.
Because our practice coordinates therapy and prescribing in-house, we can adjust your treatment plan smoothly as your needs change. This integrated model means your therapist and prescriber work as one team, with your recovery as the shared goal. Our healthcare providers collaborate closely so that medication and therapy reinforce one another rather than operating in isolation, and our healthcare providers stay involved throughout every stage of treatment.
Care Designed Around One Person — You
Choosing where to begin recovery is a deeply personal decision. Here is what sets our New Orleans practice apart:
Integrated care. Therapy and medication management are coordinated within one practice, so nothing falls through the cracks and your treatment stays seamless.
Evidence-based methods. Every approach we use — from cognitive behavioral therapy to relapse prevention — is grounded in research and proven results.
A whole-person, holistic approach. Our treatment addresses the underlying causes of substance misuse, not just the symptoms, supporting your mental health and overall well being.
Genuine warmth. You are a person, not a diagnosis. We meet you with respect, compassion, and hope.
Flexible options. We offer individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy, along with both in-person and teletherapy sessions across Greater New Orleans and throughout Louisiana.
We know that mental health issues and substance use are deeply connected, and our team is equipped to treat both. Treating substance misuse effectively means addressing environmental factors, relationships, trauma, and co-occurring mental health conditions — all within a supportive, judgment-free space.
Experienced Psychologists, Psychiatric Professionals, and Therapists in New Orleans
Dr. Leigh Anne Terrebonne
Dr. Terrebonne has over 25 years of experience providing individual psychotherapy for adults, helping patients address the trauma, anxiety, depression, and life stressors that so often underlie substance use.
Dr. Monica Stevens
Dr. Stevens provides evidence-based individual therapy for adults, supporting patients as they build coping skills, work through co-occurring concerns, and sustain lasting change in recovery.
Dr. Lisa Legeaux
Dr. Legeaux is our psychiatric provider, coordinating medication management in-house so patients can address cravings and withdrawal symptoms in step with their ongoing therapy.
Carolyn Mikulencak
Carolyn is a graduate clinician intern supervised by Dr. Terrebonne, offering attentive, individualized support to patients in the early stages of their recovery.
Dr. Leigh Anne Terrebonne
Dr. Terrebonne has over 25 years of experience providing individual psychotherapy for adults, helping patients address the trauma, anxiety, depression, and life stressors that so often underlie substance use.
Dr. Monica Stevens
Dr. Stevens provides evidence-based individual therapy for adults, supporting patients as they build coping skills, work through co-occurring concerns, and sustain lasting change in recovery.
Dr. Lisa Legeaux
Dr. Legeaux is our psychiatric provider, coordinating medication management in-house so patients can address cravings and withdrawal symptoms in step with their ongoing therapy.
Carolyn Mikulencak
Carolyn is a graduate clinician intern supervised by Dr. Terrebonne, offering attentive, individualized support to patients in the early stages of their recovery.
Recovery starts with a single conversation
Substance use disorders are real medical conditions, and like other mental illness and chronic disease, they respond to the right treatment. Treating addiction is some of the most hopeful work we do, because we witness people reclaim their lives every day. Modern addiction treatment is highly effective, and addiction treatment outcomes continue to improve as research refines which methods work best. Whether you need help treating substance misuse for the first time or you are returning to treatment after a relapse, effective therapy can help you build the future you want.
Recovery is not a straight line, and staying in treatment longer is consistently linked to better outcomes. Quality treatment meets you where you are, and good treatment evolves as you do. We will be here for the whole journey — through early recovery and beyond — as a steady partner committed to your lasting recovery and your return to a full, meaningful life.
If you or someone you love is living with drug addiction, alcohol misuse, or another substance use disorder, please reach out. Talk therapy, medication assisted treatment, and the support of a caring team can change everything.
Contact The Terrebonne Group today to schedule your confidential consultation. Recovery starts with a single conversation, and we are ready to begin it with you.
The Terrebonne Group provides substance use disorder treatment and psychological services throughout Greater New Orleans and across Louisiana. In case of an emergency, please call 911 or the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Recovery starts with a single conversation
Substance use disorders are real medical conditions, and like other mental illness and chronic disease, they respond to the right treatment. Treating addiction is some of the most hopeful work we do, because we witness people reclaim their lives every day. Modern addiction treatment is highly effective, and addiction treatment outcomes continue to improve as research refines which methods work best. Whether you need help treating substance misuse for the first time or you are returning to treatment after a relapse, effective therapy can help you build the future you want.
Recovery is not a straight line, and staying in treatment longer is consistently linked to better outcomes. Quality treatment meets you where you are, and good treatment evolves as you do. We will be here for the whole journey — through early recovery and beyond — as a steady partner committed to your lasting recovery and your return to a full, meaningful life.
If you or someone you love is living with drug addiction, alcohol misuse, or another substance use disorder, please reach out. Talk therapy, medication assisted treatment, and the support of a caring team can change everything.
Contact The Terrebonne Group today to schedule your confidential consultation. Recovery starts with a single conversation, and we are ready to begin it with you.
The Terrebonne Group provides substance use disorder treatment and psychological services throughout Greater New Orleans and across Louisiana. In case of an emergency, please call 911 or the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.