Who is Michael Hamilton?

• Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor II under the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals.
  
  

• Chief Petty Officer (retired), United States Navy (1975-1996).
  
  

• B.A. - Human and Community Services - St. Mary's College of California (2007).
  
  

• Father of two; Grandfather of two.
  

• Certified life coach (2014-present).
  
  

• Licensed Minister (Gospel Ministries, 2009).
  
  

• Veteran of the first Gulf War.
  
  

• Married 47 years.
  
  

• Graduate of Navy Drug and Alcohol Counseling School, San Diego, CA (1984).
  
  

• 37 years of counseling experience, specializing in substance abuse.
  
  
  

  Welcomes clients of all backgrounds; does not discriminate on basis of race, religion, gender identity, gender expression, age, sex, sexual orientation, or any identity-based category.
  
  

I am a graduate of the Navy Drug and Alcohol Counseling School in San Diego, CA, where I was designated a 9522 - Alcohol and Drug Counselor.

In 2001, I became a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with the California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC).  I have re-certified my credential ten (10) times and currently am an Alcohol and Drug Counselor II with the California Consortium of Drug and Alcohol Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) formerly known as (CAADAC).  I am also reciprocally certified as an Internationally Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (ICADC), allowing me to practice in 44 states and 14 countries internationally.

In 2003, I began Stepping Stones to Healing, a private practice.

I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Person Centered Therapy, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Gestalt, DBT, Behavior Modification, Relapse Prevention, Harm Reduction, Brief Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness as modalities to assist those individuals suffering with substance use disorders.

In 2014, I acquired the Certified Life Coach credential to provide recovery coaching, job coaching, relationship coaching, spiritual coaching, marriage coaching and financial coaching to those individuals that can benefit from a coaching relationship geared toward assistance, support, changing negative behaviors, and helping individuals achieve their goals after they have hit a roadblock or have relapsed and are seeking recovery.  

My passion is assisting individuals with reaching their goals, whether that might be pursuing another direction in their lives, or addressing new challenges they might be experiencing.  It may include counseling for substance use disorders, anger management education, formulating plans to change careers, performing an intervention, or teaching conflict resolutions skills. 

The key is the person must desire change. 

“A journey of a thousand miles begins
with a single step.”