Linda Kagey

Looking back, I believe I decided to become a counselor when I was in high school. Even then, I saw how many teenagers were struggling and in need of support. It wasn't until my 30s, while going through some of my own significant life transitions, that I made the decision to go back to school and get my counseling license. I made that choice in the wake of finally giving up alcohol, a substance I had struggled with since I was a teenager. For over 30 years now, I have been sober and actively in recovery from alcoholism.

In addition to 25+ years working as a substance abuse counselor, I know from personal experience how substance abuse impacts families, how powerful addiction can be, and the challenges we bump up against in recovery. I know what it is to be a single mom in recovery. I understand the guilt and shame and the painful consequences that come from decisions made while under the influence. I can identify with the pain that lives beneath the surface and triggers people to use. I also know, with certainty, that there is always hope and healing available. With support and an effective recovery strategy, pain, guilt and shame can give way to forgiveness, compassion, strength and joy.

I first began counseling teenagers, but I quickly saw that the problems teenagers face are often the result of issues inside the family system. Taking an inventory of my own struggles as a teenager and throughout my 20s, I recalled problems within my own family, many of them related to drug and alcohol abuse. After taking an honest look at my family and myself, I knew I needed to dive deep into my own work. I firmly believe that counselors need to do their own work in order to effectively treat their clients. Otherwise, a counselor's own blind spots and triggers can transfer onto the people they are trying to help.

In my own recovery, I continue to work a 12-step program and have attended numerous workshops and retreats, engaged in both individual and group therapy, and gone through EMDR and other trauma treatments, cognitive behavioral therapy, Gestalt therapy, and other experiential approaches. That personal work, along with my clinical training, influences what I offer clients. I would never ask a client to try a therapy they are not ready for or comfortable with.

For more than two decades, I have been providing support, guidance, tools and a warm, nonjudgmental space so my clients can manage and overcome substance abuse. I also work through the feelings of trauma, depression, anxiety, grief and loss that so often come with addiction. Most people who abuse substances have been afflicted by at least one trauma. And alcohol is a depressant, so on some level every person who drinks heavily will experience depression.

I approach my work from a family systems perspective. While people and families struggling with substance abuse often face similar issues, every client is unique. In treating each person, I draw from a range of approaches to build a strategy around what they actually need. I come from a place of hope and positive regard. I believe that everyone is doing their best with what they have, and that we all need extra support sometimes.

Outside of work, I spend time with friends and family, renovating my home and participating in my own recovery. I am a proud mother to a wonderful daughter, Nana to three gorgeous grandchildren, daughter to the woman who inspires me to be my best, and wife to a brilliant man. I have extended family members who have moved into recovery over the years, which fills me with hope for everyone who still suffers. I cannot say it too many times: there is always hope and healing.

You don't have to navigate the pain, uncertainty and cycle of addiction alone. If you or a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol use in Houston, TX, call me at 832-928-0211 for a free 15-minute consultation. I'm happy to talk through your situation and answer any questions you have.