Support that meets you where you are

Drinking and mental health are usually tangled together, and treating one while ignoring the other rarely holds. Care here is non-judgmental and practical — how alcohol fits into your life, what it does for you, and what would need to change for things to get better. You do not have to be abstinent, or even certain you want to stop, to book a first visit. This program is for alcohol; it does not treat opioid use.

A calm, private space set up for a telehealth psychiatric appointment

Who it's for: Adults reconsidering their relationship with alcohol, including those with co-occurring anxiety, depression, mood or trauma symptoms.

What to expect

One evaluation, not two

Alcohol use and mental health are assessed together, because separating them usually means treating half the problem. That includes what came first, what each is doing for the other, and what has been tried before.

Co-occurring conditions treated properly

Depression, anxiety, mood instability and trauma symptoms alongside drinking are treated as part of the same plan rather than deferred until after you have stopped.

Motivational interviewing, not ultimatums

A collaborative approach that helps you clarify your own goals and strengthen your own motivation, rather than requiring a decision before you walk in. Ambivalence is normal and is worked with, not argued down.

Connected to the rest of your recovery

With your permission, and when it is needed, we coordinate with your primary care team, a therapist, an outpatient program or peer support you already use — so medication decisions fit the rest of the plan.

Medication options

There are well-established, non-habit-forming medications that reduce cravings or make drinking less rewarding, and they suit different people for different reasons. Rather than list them here, we go through the options with you at your evaluation — what each one does, what it asks of you, and which fits your history, goals and medical picture — so the decision is made together, with the full picture in front of you.

What this program is not

Telehealth psychiatry is not medically supervised withdrawal. Stopping alcohol suddenly after heavy daily drinking can be dangerous and sometimes requires in-person medical care, so if that describes you, tell us early and we will help you find the right setting first. This program does not treat opioid use disorder, and NCNE does not prescribe opioid-based medications or benzodiazepines. It also does not replace residential treatment, intensive outpatient programs, or emergency care — it works alongside them.

Family and the people around you

The clinical relationship is with you, and nothing is shared without your written permission
Family involvement is welcome when you want it, and can be arranged deliberately rather than accidentally
Relapse is treated as information about the plan, not as a reason to be discharged from care

Common questions

Do I have to be abstinent to be seen?

No. Care starts where you are. We will talk honestly about your drinking and about what you want to change, on your timeline.

Do you treat opioid use disorder?

No. This program is for alcohol. NCNE does not prescribe opioid-based medications, so if opioid use is the concern we will help you find a program set up for it rather than start care that cannot serve you well.

Which medications do you prescribe for alcohol use?

That is a conversation for your evaluation, where the options can be matched to your history, goals and medical picture rather than read off a list. What we can say up front: the medications used here are not habit-forming, and NCNE does not prescribe benzodiazepines or opioid-based medications.

Can you manage my withdrawal?

Not by telehealth. Alcohol withdrawal can be medically serious and may need in-person supervision. Tell us how much you are drinking at the first visit, and we will help you get to the right level of care.

What if I relapse?

You tell us, and we adjust. Relapse is common in recovery and is treated as information about what the plan is missing — not as a failure or a reason to end care.

Will this be on my record?

Your care is confidential within the usual narrow legal exceptions, and substance use records carry additional federal protections. We will explain what that means at your first visit.

Cost

Billed as standard visits: the initial evaluation and follow-up medication management rates apply. See Insurance & Fees for rates, in-network details and superbills.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For urgent emotional support at any hour, call or text 988(Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). Telehealth visits and this website are not an emergency service.

Taking the first step toward better mental health can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Contact NCNE to learn more about our services and discover how personalized psychiatric medication management can support your goals.

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