Tom Gulick

Therapy for Substance Use, Trauma & Mental Health in Oregon

You're tired of feeling stuck in the same patterns, but you're not sure how to get out of them.

Maybe you've promised yourself things would be different this time. That you'd stop drinking, change certain behaviors, manage your emotions better, or finally get your life back on track.

And maybe you've meant it every single time.

But somewhere along the way, you find yourself right back where you started.

You might be struggling with alcohol or substance use, feeling overwhelmed by anxiety or depression, or noticing that the ways you've learned to cope are starting to create more problems than they solve.

Maybe your relationships are suffering. Maybe you're feeling disconnected from the people you care about, struggling with guilt or shame, or wondering how things got to this point.

Or maybe things haven't completely fallen apart, but you recognize that something needs to change.

You know you don't want to keep living this way. You're just not sure what moving forward looks like.

And that's okay. You don't have to have all the answers before asking for help.

You Don't Have to Be at Your Lowest Point to Start Making Changes

I've spent much of my career working with individuals navigating substance use, mental health challenges, and the complicated relationship between the two.

Through my extensive experience in inpatient dual diagnosis treatment, I've worked with people during some of the most difficult and vulnerable moments of their lives.

I've seen how overwhelming it can feel when your mental health is struggling, your coping strategies aren't working, and you're unsure whether things can actually get better.

But I've also seen people begin to rebuild their lives, reconnect with themselves and their relationships, and create a future that once felt out of reach.

One thing I've learned is that change rarely happens in a straight line.

You might feel motivated one day and completely unsure the next. You might recognize that something isn't working while also feeling afraid to let it go. You might want things to be different but have no idea where to begin.

I understand that these conflicting feelings are often part of the process.

You don't need to hit rock bottom, have a perfect plan, or be completely ready to change before coming to therapy.

We can start wherever you are.

My Approach to Therapy

I believe that our behaviors, emotions, and coping patterns don't develop in isolation.

Sometimes alcohol or substances become a way to manage anxiety, escape difficult emotions, or temporarily quiet an overwhelmed mind. Sometimes relationship patterns develop from years of putting others first, avoiding conflict, or feeling responsible for everyone else's well-being.

My approach is rooted in compassion, curiosity, and understanding the whole person rather than focusing only on symptoms or behaviors.

I draw from several therapeutic approaches depending on your needs, including:

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

If part of you wants to change while another part feels hesitant or unsure, we'll make space to explore both. Motivational Interviewing helps you better understand your own reasons for change, work through uncertainty, and build confidence in taking steps forward.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are often closely connected. Through CBT, we'll explore patterns of thinking and responding that may be contributing to anxiety, depression, substance use, or other challenges, while developing healthier ways to navigate difficult situations.

Solution-Focused Therapy

While understanding your past is important, I also believe in recognizing your strengths and building on what's already working. Solution-Focused Therapy helps us identify realistic goals, recognize progress, and take meaningful steps toward the changes you want to make.

Brainspotting

For experiences that may be difficult to process through conversation alone, I also offer Brainspotting, a therapeutic approach that uses focused eye positions and awareness of internal experiences to support the processing of trauma and emotional distress.

I don't believe there's one approach that works for everyone. We'll work together to determine what feels most helpful for your needs, goals, and where you are in the process.

What Therapy With Me Looks Like

I work with adults navigating substance use, dual diagnosis, codependency, mood disorders, and trauma.

I recognize that these struggles often overlap. Sometimes substance use becomes a way to manage depression or anxiety. Sometimes unhealthy relationship patterns leave you feeling responsible for everyone else's well-being while neglecting your own. And sometimes difficult experiences from the past continue to influence how you respond to stress, relationships, and emotions today.

Rather than focusing only on changing behaviors, I want to help you understand what's underneath them.

Together, we'll explore the patterns that are keeping you stuck, develop healthier ways to cope, and identify realistic steps toward the changes you want to make.

My extensive experience in inpatient dual diagnosis treatment has shown me that even when life feels overwhelming or change seems out of reach, people can begin rebuilding their lives with the right support.

My goal isn't to help you become someone who never struggles, makes mistakes, or experiences setbacks.

It's to help you develop the tools, awareness, and confidence to navigate those experiences without returning to patterns that no longer serve you.

You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone

Maybe you've been trying to manage things on your own for a long time.

Maybe you're tired of starting over, tired of feeling disappointed in yourself, or tired of wondering why making changes feels so difficult.

Or maybe you're just beginning to recognize that the way things have been going isn't how you want them to continue.

I believe your current circumstances don't have to define your future. You deserve the opportunity to build a life that feels healthier, more connected, and more fulfilling.

And I also know that meaningful change takes time.

You don't need to have a clear plan, know exactly what recovery looks like for you, or feel completely ready to make changes before reaching out.

I offer online therapy for adults throughout Oregon, providing a supportive, nonjudgmental space where we can work together to understand your experiences, build healthier coping strategies, and begin moving toward the life you want.

Your past doesn't have to determine what's possible for your future.

Space to be. Room to grow.