Alcohol Addiction Counseling in Dallas, TX
If you've tried to stop drinking on your own and it is hard to manage, counseling is the logical next step. Confidential, in person in Dallas or by telehealth across Texas.
Most people who reach this page have already tried to handle it themselves. Cutting back to weekends. Switching to beer. Stopping completely for a few weeks, then easing back in.
When stopping on your own doesn’t stick, that isn't a weakness. It's the clearest sign that it's time to bring someone in. Alcohol addiction counseling gives you what willpower alone can't: a clear assessment of what's happening, and a plan built around you.
There is hope, and you don't have to figure this out alone.
Is my drinking a problem?
A few honest questions to sit with.
Do you regularly drink more, or for longer, than you intended to?
Have you tried to cut down or stop, and found it doesn't hold?
Do you drink to cope with stress, anxiety, or to feel normal, rather than to enjoy it?
Has someone close to you expressed concern, or have you started being less than honest about how much you drink?
A yes to any of these doesn't make you an alcoholic, and I won't hand you that label. It means an assessment is worth your time. I'm licensed to assess for alcohol use disorder (AUD) using recognized screening tools, including the SASSI. You'll get a straight answer about where you stand, and what would actually help.
How counseling helps
I'm Stephen Kleine, a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC #16476) and Licensed Professional Counselor here in Dallas.
Here's what working together looks like:
A proper assessment first. We look at your drinking, your history, your stressors, and what sits underneath. Some form of trauma typically underlies addiction, and as a trauma-trained counselor I treat the cause, not just the behavior.
A personalized plan. Your relationship with alcohol is not the same as anyone else's. Your plan shouldn't be either. We set goals together and adjust as we go.
Evidence-based treatment. I draw on approaches including CBT, EMDR, ART and DBT where they fit, in plain English, without the jargon.
The aim isn't white-knuckled abstinence held together by guilt. It's understanding why drinking has the grip it does, loosening that grip, and finding freedom from it.
Specialist credentials
Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, LCDC #16476
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC #91354
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (Level 2), EMDR trained, ART trained
LegitScript certified practice
Chemical dependency licensure means specific training in alcohol and substance addiction, not general talk therapy applied to drinking.
Worried about someone else's drinking?
If your husband, wife, or someone you love drinks too much, you've probably already learned that pleading, ultimatums, and pouring bottles away don't change much.
You can't make someone get help. But you can get support for yourself, and you can learn what actually moves someone toward change rather than deeper into defensiveness. I work with concerned family members, with or without the person who's drinking.
About Stephen
I'm a Dallas-based counselor specializing in addiction and the trauma that often sits underneath it. Clients tend to describe me the same way: an intense listener with a gentle approach. There's no judgment in my office, just a plan.
Common questions
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Yes, fully. I'm bound by confidentiality law and HIPAA. Nobody needs to know you're coming, including your employer and your family, unless you choose to tell them.
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No. You come as you are. Goals around drinking are something we work out together as part of your plan, not an entry requirement.
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Yes. In person at my Dallas office or by secure telehealth anywhere in Texas. Many clients choose telehealth for privacy.
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Sessions are private pay, which also means nothing about your treatment goes through an insurance company. Current fees are $300 per 50-minute session. A superbill can be provided upon request.
There is hope.
You've given willpower a fair shot. Try something that works differently.
Let's create change together.