Beyond Abstinence: Rethinking Substance Use Treatment, Boundaries, and Recovery with Julie River

What if recovery wasn’t just about stopping the use of a substance — but about understanding why it was there in the first place?

In this episode, I speak with Julie River, LPC, NCC, clinical director and therapist at ⁠Atlas Behavioral Health⁠, about what truly person-centered substance use treatment can look like. We explore the daily experience of clients in recovery programs, the role of group therapy, and how therapists can support emotional sobriety, boundary-setting, and harm reduction with empathy and nuance.

Whether you’re a clinician, student, or someone navigating their own healing journey, Julie brings thoughtful insight into how treatment can move beyond stereotypes — and toward connection, curiosity, and lasting change.

Each week we talk with clinicians about their areas of expertise, their connections to therapy, and how they use their tools in session.

Connect with Julie River:

Therapy

Atlas Behavioral Health

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Website with Free Resources: ⁠boymeetstherapy.com

Episode Guide & Chapters: 

00:00 Introduction and Personal Background
02:59 Understanding Substance Use Disorder Treatment
05:51 Daily Life in Treatment Programs
09:08 Innovative Therapeutic Approaches
12:04 Client Reactions to Alternative Therapies
14:53 Co-occurring Disorders and Their Impact
17:46 The Complexity of Diagnosing Disorders
20:58 Interpersonal Dynamics in Group Therapy
23:53 Managing Resentments and Emotions
26:53 Facilitating Group Interactions
30:06 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
35:45 Understanding Boundaries in Relationships
40:10 The Concept of Emotional Sobriety
45:05 Navigating Sober Curiosity
49:49 The Spectrum of Addiction
54:26 Harm Reduction in Substance Use Treatment
58:24 The Misconceptions of Addiction Treatment