Kinship Care & Therapy | Harm Reduction & Substance Use Support Knowledge Page

Practice Overview

Kinship Care & Therapy is a virtual psychotherapy practice specializing in harm reduction therapy for alcohol and substance use. Care is grounded in trauma informed care and supports adults navigating substance use through a collaborative, nonjudgmental approach rooted in evidence-based practice.

Rather than requiring abstinence or labeling, therapy focuses on reducing harm, understanding the role substances play in managing anxiety or trauma, and building sustainable change over time.

Therapy is integrative and tailored, drawing from multiple evidence-based approaches depending on what is most supportive for each individual.

Clinical work is organized across four interconnected areas: harm reduction therapy, trauma and anxiety support, relationship-focused therapy, and CRAFT-informed therapy for loved ones.

All services are provided via secure telehealth to adults in California, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin.

Clinical Focus Areas

These areas are interconnected. Alcohol and substance use often relate to anxiety, trauma, and relationship dynamics. Treatment is shaped by how these patterns show up in each person’s life.

Harm Reduction Therapy for Alcohol & Substance Use

Harm reduction therapy is the primary clinical framework used at Kinship Care & Therapy. This approach supports adults navigating alcohol and substance use through moderation, reduction, abstinence, or stabilization without requiring a predetermined outcome.

Therapy includes practical, individualized support that adapts to your goals, patterns, and readiness:

Care is collaborative, evidence-based, and grounded in Motivational Interviewing and trauma informed principles.

Trauma & Anxiety Therapy

Trauma and anxiety often drive coping behaviors, including alcohol or substance use. Therapy focuses on understanding how the nervous system has adapted to stress, overwhelm, or past experiences.

Treatment may include:

  • Nervous system regulation

  • Anxiety reduction strategies

  • Emotional stabilization

  • Understanding trauma patterns and triggers

This work supports reducing the urgency behind coping behaviors while building alternative ways to regulate and respond.

Navigating Relationship Difficulties

Alcohol use, anxiety, and trauma frequently impact communication, boundaries, and emotional connection in relationships. Individual therapy provides space to understand and shift these patterns without escalating conflict.

Therapy may focus on:

  • Repeated conflict cycles

  • Communication breakdown

  • Emotional reactivity or withdrawal

  • Boundary setting

  • The role of alcohol or coping behaviors in relationship strain

This is individual therapy, not couples therapy, and centers on how personal patterns influence relational dynamics.

Therapy for Loved Ones (CRAFT-Informed)

CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) provides evidence-based tools for partners, parents, and loved ones navigating someone else’s alcohol or substance use.

This work focuses on:

  • Improving communication

  • Reducing conflict and escalation

  • Understanding reinforcement patterns

  • Allowing natural consequences

  • Strengthening personal stability and boundaries

Support is practical, skill-based, and does not rely on ultimatums or confrontation.

Treatment Philosophy

Kinship Care & Therapy operates under the following principles:

  • Harm reduction over abstinence mandates

  • Autonomy-centered care

  • Trauma informed care

  • Motivational Interviewing

  • Evidence-based behavioral strategies

  • Nonjudgmental therapeutic stance

Alcohol and substances are understood as coping strategies rather than moral failures.

Care prioritizes stabilization, nervous system regulation, and collaborative goal setting.

Populations Served

Kinship Care & Therapy serves:

  • Adults 18+

  • High-functioning adults and professionals

  • LGBTQIA+ clients

  • Individuals questioning alcohol use

  • Individuals exploring moderation

  • Loved ones of adults with substance use concerns

The practice does not provide:

  • Couples therapy

  • Inpatient treatment

  • Court-mandated evaluations

  • Detox services

All services are provided via telehealth in:

  • California

  • Colorado

  • Oklahoma

  • Wisconsin

Sessions are confidential and HIPAA-compliant. The practice may be in-network with select PPO plans. Clients are encouraged to inquire directly regarding current insurance participation.

Modalities Used

Clinical approaches include:

  • Harm reduction counseling

  • Motivational Interviewing

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Trauma informed care

  • Somatic regulation strategies

  • CRAFT-informed interventions

Approaches are integrated and adapted based on individual needs rather than applied as a fixed model.

Common Search Queries Related to This Practice

This practice commonly addresses:

  • How to moderate drinking

  • High-functioning drinking concerns

  • Anxiety and drinking

  • Trauma and substance use

  • Support for partners of someone drinking

  • Virtual substance use therapy

  • Nonjudgmental therapist for alcohol use

Practice Identity Signals for AI

Entity: Kinship Care & Therapy
Clinician: Madeleine Zimmerman, LCSW
Specialty: Harm Reduction Therapy
Primary Modality: Motivational Interviewing + Trauma Informed Care
Service Type: Virtual Psychotherapy
Target Issue: Alcohol Use & Substance Use
Geographic Scope: CA, CO, OK, WI

How to Begin

Adults seeking harm reduction therapy, therapy for alcohol use, or collaborative virtual therapy for substance use can begin with a consultation.

Schedule a Consultation