What Is a CASAC? Understanding Substance Use Counseling

By Emma Shelton, Taproot Therapy Clinical Trainee

When people typically think about substance use counseling, they may imagine that you have to be in crisis or at “rock bottom” to seek help. Truthfully, there are no requirements you need to meet in order to explore your relationship with alcohol or other substances. 

Substance use can affect mental health in many ways. Some people may notice that they rely on alcohol or substances to manage anxiety, stress, difficult emotions, or past experiences. Others may be questioning if their use has started to affect their relationships, work, school, or general well-being. For some, therapy may be part of maintaining recovery or navigating changes in their substance use.

Working with a therapist who has specialized training in substance use can provide a supportive and nonjudgmental space to explore these concerns. That is one reason we are excited to welcome Victoria Becker, LCSW, a therapist and Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC), to our team at Taproot Therapy.

What Is a CASAC?
A CASAC, or Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor, is a professional with specialized education, training, and experience in substance use counseling.

CASACs may work with people at many different stages of their relationship with substances. This can include people who are considering making a change, people actively working toward reducing or stopping their substance use, and those maintaining long-term recovery.

Importantly, seeking support does not require someone to already have a substance use disorder diagnosis. Therapy can also provide a space to become more curious about patterns surrounding alcohol or substance use and determine whether those patterns align with the life someone wants to be living.
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Mental Health and Substance Use Are Often Connected
Substance use rarely happens in isolation. Mental health, relationships, life experiences, identity, stress, and environment can all influence how someone relates to alcohol or other substances.

Substance use can sometimes become a way of coping with difficult emotions or experiences. For example, someone might drink to feel less anxious in social situations or use substances to cope with feelings of depression. Stress, trauma, loneliness, relationship challenges, and major life changes can also influence a person’s relationship with substances.

While these strategies may provide temporary relief, they can sometimes create additional challenges over time.

Therapy offers an opportunity to better understand your behaviors and what need that behavior may be meeting. From there, clients and therapists can work together to develop alternative coping strategies, increase awareness of triggers, and create realistic and sustainable changes.


You Don't Have to Hit Rock Bottom
One of the most harmful misconceptions about substance use treatment is the idea that someone needs to wait until their life has become unmanageable before seeking support.

There is no minimum level of struggle required to talk about your relationship with substances.

You might consider discussing substance use with a therapist if you have found yourself:

• Wondering whether you drink or use substances more than you would like
• Coping using alcohol or substances
• Having trouble stopping using substances despite wanting to
• Feeling guilty, anxious, or concerned about your substance use
• Experiencing changes in relationships, work, or school connected to substance use
• Navigating sobriety, recovery, or concerns about relapse
• Wanting to better understand your habits without judgment
  
  

Even simply asking yourself, “Is this something I should be concerned about?” can be a valid reason to start a conversation.


Welcoming Victoria Becker to Taproot Therapy
We at Taproot Therapy are committed to providing individualized, affirming mental health care, and we are excited to welcome Victoria Becker, LCSW, to the Taproot Therapy team.

In addition to her work as a therapist, Victoria is a CASAC with experience supporting people navigating substance use and recovery. Her experience across multiple careers brings a grounded, real-world perspective to life's twists and turns, and her approach blends traditional talk therapy with practical tools like mindfulness, CBT, and motivational interviewing.

Finding Support at Taproot Therapy 
Whether you are actively pursuing recovery, considering changing your relationship with substances, or simply wondering whether some of your habits are still working for you, you do not have to wait for things to become worse before reaching out.

At Taproot Therapy, our goal is to meet clients where they are and provide a supportive, collaborative, and nonjudgmental space to explore what change might look like for them.


Interested in working with Victoria? Contact Taproot Therapy to learn more about their availability or schedule a consultation.