Addiction & Recovery Support in San Diego, CA
At Thrive Wellness, we provide integrative support for individuals in recovery from substance use and behavioral addiction — addressing the neurological, psychological, hormonal, and nutritional contributors to addiction and supporting the whole-body healing that sustained sobriety requires. Our care is compassionate, non-judgmental, and designed to complement — not replace — primary addiction treatment programs. Call (619) 984-4317 to learn more about our San Diego, CA recovery support services.
Book OnlineAn Integrative Approach to Addiction Recovery
Addiction is a complex condition with neurological, psychological, physiological, and social roots. Recovery is equally complex — it requires not just cessation of the addictive behavior but healing of the underlying trauma, nervous system dysregulation, nutritional depletion, hormonal imbalance, and psychological patterns that drove the addiction in the first place. At Thrive Wellness, we support patients in recovery by addressing these deeper dimensions with integrative care that works alongside and between primary treatment.
Acupuncture has been used in addiction recovery for decades — the NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) protocol is a standardized five-point auricular acupuncture treatment used in detox and recovery programs worldwide. At Thrive Wellness, Dr. Adam Fuller extends this foundation with full-body acupuncture treatment that supports adrenal recovery, reduces cravings, regulates the stress response, improves sleep, and helps the nervous system stabilize during early recovery.
Mandy Pfaff’s EMDR Therapy & Counseling addresses the trauma and psychological dimensions of addiction that are the most common drivers of relapse — providing patients in recovery with the most evidence-based tool available for trauma processing and the neurological rewiring that supports lasting change.
Recovery Support We Offer
- Integrative support during early recovery and detox (complementary to primary treatment)
- Acupuncture for craving reduction, stress regulation, and sleep support
- EMDR therapy for trauma processing and relapse prevention
- Functional medicine for nutritional restoration and hormonal rebalancing after substance use
- Ongoing wellness support for patients in sustained recovery
- Behavioral addiction support (food, technology, work, gambling)
How Thrive Wellness Supports Addiction Recovery
Acupuncture: Acupuncture reduces cravings by regulating dopamine and endorphin signaling, reduces the stress and anxiety that drive relapse, supports adrenal recovery from the HPA axis dysregulation caused by chronic substance use, improves sleep quality disrupted during early recovery, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system state in which healing and neurological repair are possible. Learn more on our Acupuncture & Sports Medicine page.
EMDR Therapy & Counseling: Unresolved trauma is the single most common driver of substance use disorder and behavioral addiction. EMDR therapy at Thrive Wellness processes the traumatic memories and dysregulated emotional patterns that underlie addictive behavior — addressing the root causes of relapse risk rather than just building coping strategies for sobriety maintenance. Learn more on our EMDR Therapy & Counseling page.
Functional Medicine: Chronic substance use depletes critical nutrients (B vitamins, zinc, magnesium, amino acid precursors for neurotransmitter synthesis), dysregulates hormonal systems, and damages gut health. Our Functional Medicine program supports recovery by restoring the nutritional and hormonal foundation needed for stable mood, energy, and cognitive function — factors that significantly influence recovery outcomes.
Addiction & Recovery FAQs
Can acupuncture help with addiction and cravings?
Yes — acupuncture is one of the most widely used complementary tools in addiction recovery programs. The NADA auricular acupuncture protocol has been used in detox and recovery settings for decades, with research supporting its effectiveness for craving reduction, anxiety management, and sleep improvement during early recovery. At Thrive Wellness in San Diego, CA , Dr. Adam Fuller uses both the NADA protocol and full-body acupuncture to support the nervous system regulation, adrenal recovery, and neurochemical stabilization that recovery requires.
How does trauma relate to addiction and how does Thrive Wellness address it?
Trauma is the most common underlying driver of both substance use disorder and behavioral addiction. Substances and addictive behaviors are frequently learned as coping mechanisms for dysregulated nervous systems and unprocessed trauma — they work, temporarily, by numbing, numbing, or stimulating the nervous system in ways that feel better than the underlying distress. EMDR therapy at Thrive Wellness processes the traumatic memories and dysregulated patterns at the root of the addiction — addressing why the person turned to the addictive behavior in the first place, which is what conventional addiction treatment so frequently leaves unaddressed.
Does Thrive Wellness offer primary addiction treatment?
No — Thrive Wellness offers integrative support alongside and between primary addiction treatment programs, not as a replacement for them. We strongly encourage patients in active recovery to be working with a primary addiction counselor, sponsor, or treatment program, and to use our services as a complement to that primary care. If you need help identifying primary addiction treatment resources in San Diego, CA , call (619) 984-4317 and our team can provide guidance.
Can functional medicine support recovery from substance use?
Yes — nutritional restoration is a critical and frequently neglected aspect of recovery. Chronic substance use depletes B vitamins, zinc, magnesium, and amino acid precursors for dopamine, serotonin, and GABA — the very neurotransmitters whose depletion drives cravings, depression, anxiety, and sleep disruption in early recovery. At Thrive Wellness, our functional medicine approach restores these nutritional foundations through targeted supplementation and dietary support, improving the neurochemical environment that makes lasting sobriety more achievable.
Is addiction recovery care at Thrive Wellness judgment-free?
Absolutely. At Thrive Wellness, every patient — regardless of their history with addiction, substances, or behavioral patterns — is welcomed with the same respect, confidentiality, and compassionate care we bring to every health concern. Recovery is one of the most courageous journeys a person can undertake, and our role is to support that journey with evidence-based, whole-person care.
Are addiction recovery services at Thrive Wellness covered by HSA or FSA?
Yes — acupuncture and functional medicine at Thrive Wellness are covered by HSA and FSA accounts. Mandy Pfaff provides superbills for out-of-network mental health reimbursement. Call (619) 984-4317 to discuss scheduling and care options in San Diego, CA .