Pablo Picasso, Les Mains liées 1, 1952

Substance Abuse Services

Hiba is trained in the following substances:

  • Alcohol Abuse

  • Cocaine Abuse

  • Fentanyl Abuse

  • Heroin and Fentanyl Abuse

  • Prescription Drug Abuse

  • Benzodiazepine Abuse

  • Adderall Abuse

  • Amphetamines and Methamphetamine Abuse

  • Codeine Abuse

  • Xanax Abuse

  • Hydrocodone Abuse

  • Ketamine Abuse

  • Oxycodone and Oxycontin Abuse

  • Vicodin Abuse

Recovery Consulting/Coaching

Sobriety Treatment

Effective addiction treatment addresses every aspect of the individual. I understand that there are many causes to addiction. I design the most personalized treatment plan to fit my patients history and identity. In my treatment I include individual support, group support, orienting family members, experiential therapy, and 12 steps (if appropriate).

Most families are emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausted from their loved one’s addiction and if their loved one suffering denies having a problem. My goal is to facilitate treatment and commitment to treatment from the family member who is suffering from substance abuse.

First steps in addiction treatment coaching:

  1. Gather background and history

  2. Treatment Recommendation

  3. Family orientation

  4. Monitoring (knowing drug use is monitored can be a powerful incentive to withstand urges to drink or use

  5. 12 step facilitation 

  6. Psychoeducational lectures (evidence based research around psychology, social interactions, psychology, and recovery processes).

  7. Family, social life and marital sessions

  8. Family week (I encourage family members to take part of family week where we present lectures and group family discussion. These lectures and discussions will help families understand their loved one’s addiction, how it works, how to deal with it and how to be least effected by it. We also encourage family members to attend Al-Anon or Nar-Anon).

  9. Healthy daily sobriety routine

  10. Mindfulness for sobriety

  11. Nutrition for recovery

  12. Relapse prevention

  13. Continuing care

Drawing by @orfayo

Substance Abuse Services

What is an intervention?

Often, getting a loved one struggling with addiction to accept treatment can be one of the most difficult parts. An intervention is an important event created by the family of a loved one struggling with addiction to help the person realize they have a problem, they need help, and they have support. 

Interventions can provide a solution for family and friends to address addiction issues and ensure a planned path to recovery. Intervention services can be a solution for family and ongoing resources to heal everyone involved. 

An intervention is a carefully planned process. It is important to plan what is done and said prior to the intervention and avoid spontaneity during the event. The gathering should focus on avoiding shame and offering support to the struggling individual while asserting the fact that they have a problem in which they need help. 

Family and friends who want to stage an intervention can consult Hiba Chergou for a free 30 min telephone call.

Intervention program:

  • A free 30 minute call and starter pack

  • Meeting with family for assessment and intro to intervention

  • Meeting with family for intervention planning

  • Intervention day with Hiba Chergou and partner Eliza Pertz, LCSW

  • Case management (sessions for following up with both the patient and their family in order to ensure continued abstinence) = these sessions are booked on a monthly basis for as long as needed depending on the family's needs.

Henri Matisse, Virgin and Child, 1950

All Recovery Services

  • Sobriety Coaching:

    • Support with attaining and maintaining recovery from addiction

    • Referral and point of contact for outpatient/inpatient treatment

    • Introduction to sobriety groups and local resources

    • Daily communication

    • Monitoring for family and treatment teamupport with attaining and maintaining recovery from addiction

    • Referral and point of contact for outpatient/inpatient treatment

    • Introduction to sobriety groups and local resources

    • Daily communication

    • Monitoring for family and treatment team

  • Case Management Services:

    • Supporting recovery, accountability

    • Providing support and coaching to family members

    • Developing individualized treatment plan

    • Support through 12 Step Recovery Programs

    Holistic Treatment

    • Nutritional Support

    • Exercise support

    • Meditation

  • Therapy Services

    • Family Therapy (Family Systems)

    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    • Substance Abuse

    • Behavior Therapy

  • Dual Diagnosis

    • Depression & Substance Abuse

    • Anxiety & Substance Abuse

    • Bipolar Disorder & Substance Abuse

If you’re unsure if you or your loved one is struggling, here’s a link to a self-assessment* for addiction (*this does not replace a professional assessment).

Hiba’s Recovery Starter Pack

Here’s a preview of my Recovery Starter Pack. You can request the full PDF with all 7 dimensions below.

  • 1. Social/cultural

    2. Medical/Physical

    3. Mental/Emotional

    4. Educational/Health and Safety

    5. Spiritual/ Religious

    6. Legal/ Financial

    7. Abstinence/ Relapse

    Request the PDF below to learn more.

  • In much of the recent literature on Recovery, it has been described as a deeply personal, unique process of changing one’s attitudes, values, feelings, goals and roles by literature. A number of studies have begun to shed light on the social nature of recovery in terms of social interaction. The person’s recovery work takes place in relation to the other people in his or her surroundings. A variety of friendships is described in recovery narratives. One that is frequently outlined is being in a social setting that makes it possible to meet other people with similar experiences as one’s own; This allows for social interaction where one is accepted and not ashamed. Discovering that one is not alone in having special experiences can be of great importance to the recovery process (Romme & Escher, 2000). This social setting will also allow individuals to give and receive advice on coping strategies etc.

    The presence of family members can play a positive role in the individual’s recovery and serve as a support system. The family’s presence symbolizes hope for a substance abuse free future that they have experienced with the individual prior to the substance abuse.

    Cognitive and Behavioral Coping Skills

    • Practice Meditation

    • Practice the 100% honesty rule

    • Keep a daily journal and gratitude list

    • Develop a strong network with other individuals in recovery

    • Work with a sponsor and attend support groups

    • Help others in recovery even if you are new to recovery

    • Avoid the H.A.L.T symptoms (hungry, angry, lonely)

    • Avoid developing resentment against others

    • Practice the power of pause (wait to respond)

    • Become trained to respond to high risk situations (refusing drink offers)

    • Learn how to be assertive

    • Exercise (even in the form of cleaning one’s home)

    Request the PDF below to learn more.

  • Disease Concept

    Dr. Ryan Watkins, Medical Director at Cirque Lodge answers the question, “is substance abuse really a disease?"

    PART 1: Watch Here

    PART 2: Watch Here

    Nutrition Studies

    Research has shown that a majority of individuals with substance abuse issues suffer from some of the following biochemical, nutritional, and metabolic disorders:

    Depleted or malfunctioning brain chemicals called neurotransmitters.

    Nutritional deficiencies of key amino acids, vitamins (e.g., B-complex and vitamin C), and minerals (e.g., zinc, magnesium, and calcium).

    Overgrowth of yeast, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and the

    malabsorption of nutrients.

    Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, that causes a wide range of symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, depression and panic attacks, as well as poor adrenal function

    The following neurotransmitters are affected can be severely depleted and disrupted in people with SUD issues:

    Serotonin (regulate mood sleep and appetite- low levels result in depression, short attention span, scattered, low impulse control, cravings)

    GABA ( “natural valium of brain”, sleep, calm- chronic anxiety, panic attack, sleep issues, cravings)

    Endorphins (low levels result in depressions)

    Catecholamines- dopamine, norepinephrine (alertness, focus- feeling unmotivated, inability to concentrate)

    Request the PDF below to learn more.