Louisville · Telehealth across Kentucky
Substance use counseling in Louisville and online across Kentucky
Honest, judgment-free support for changing your relationship with alcohol or drugs.
Maybe you’re drinking more than you want to. Maybe you’re in recovery and want support staying there. Or maybe someone you love is worried. Acadia Counseling offers outpatient counseling for alcohol and drug use at our Louisville office and by telehealth anywhere in Kentucky. Two counselors who focus on substance use are taking new clients.
Not sure who to see? Call and we’ll help you choose.
Good to know
- Taking new clients
- John Bush, LCADC, LPCC, and Brittany Elkins, LPCC
- Where
- Louisville office on Dupont Circle, or telehealth anywhere in Kentucky
- Cost and insurance
- Kentucky Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE East, commercial, Marketplace and EAP plans. See plans and fees
- Type of care
- Outpatient counseling for adults, about 50 to 55 minutes per session
Who this counseling is for
Substance use counseling at Acadia is outpatient talk therapy for adults. It can help if you:
- Want to cut back or stop drinking or using
- Are in recovery and want ongoing support
- Notice alcohol or drugs affecting your work, health or relationships
- Use substances to cope with stress, trauma, low mood or sleep problems
- Live with a long-term mental health condition along with substance use
- Have served in the military and are dealing with stress, trauma and drinking or drug use
What we don’t provide
Acadia is an outpatient counseling practice. We don’t offer detox, medication-assisted treatment or medical care. If you might go through withdrawal, especially from alcohol, benzodiazepines or opioids, talk with a doctor before cutting back on your own, because stopping some substances suddenly can be dangerous.
For help finding detox or residential treatment, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. It’s free and open 24 hours a day. You can still see a counselor here alongside medical care.
How substance use counseling works
Your counselor starts by getting to know you. That includes your history with alcohol or drugs, what’s happening in your life now and what you want to change. You and your counselor will set goals together.
Counseling can include:
- Understanding triggers, cravings and the role substances play in your life
- Building coping skills for stress, emotions and sleep
- Working on trauma, mood or relationships connected to substance use
- Planning for high-risk situations and setbacks
- Connecting with support groups or other resources, if you want them
Sessions last about 50 to 55 minutes, usually weekly or every other week.
Your first session
You’ll talk about what brings you in, your history with alcohol or drugs, your health and the people who support you. Your counselor will ask what you want to be different and what has or hasn’t worked before. You don’t have to share everything at once. By the end, you’ll have a sense of next steps and how often to meet.
Substance use counselors taking new clients
John Bush is a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor (LCADC) and a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC). He works with adults and couples, with a focus on military service, mood and trauma. Brittany Elkins works with adults by telehealth, with a focus on mood, substance use and long-term mental health conditions.
For partners and families
Substance use affects the people close to you too. John Bush sees couples, so you and your partner can work on trust, communication and recovery together. Family members who want support for themselves can start individual counseling. Read about couples counseling.
Cost and insurance
John Bush and Brittany Elkins both take Kentucky Medicaid plans from UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare, Passport by Molina, Aetna Better Health and Humana. They also take Medicare, TRICARE East, commercial plans from Anthem, Cigna, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and MedBen, and several Marketplace and EAP plans. Self-pay is $75 with John and $90 with Brittany. See insurance and payments for the full list.
Questions about substance use counseling
Do I have to quit completely before I start?
No. You can start where you are. You and your counselor will talk about your goals and set them together.
Do you offer detox or medication for addiction?
No. Acadia provides outpatient counseling only. For detox or medication-assisted treatment, talk with your doctor or call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for referrals.
Can I do this by telehealth?
Yes. Brittany Elkins works only by telehealth, and John Bush offers both video and office sessions in Louisville. You’ll need a Kentucky address and a private, stationary place.
What if counseling didn’t help me before?
That’s common, and it’s worth saying in your first session. Your counselor can ask what didn’t work and try a different approach with you.
Can my partner come to sessions?
Yes, with John Bush, who sees couples. Brittany Elkins works with individuals.
More answers are on our FAQ page.
Related support
Talk with a counselor about substance use
Request an appointment online, or call either office. You don’t have to have it all figured out before you call.
Email us at info@acadiacounseling.com.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988. In an emergency, call 911.