Stepping Stones Counseling · Addiction & Recovery Counseling
Addiction counseling for people who are ready for something to change.
Addiction rarely starts as a decision — it becomes a cycle: use, regret, promise to stop, and then the same pattern returns. Counseling helps you understand what is driving it and build a way forward that actually holds — without shame, and without pretending it is simple.
Most major insurance plans accepted. Self-pay options available.
Break the cycle
Understand what drives the use and interrupt the pattern.
Stay accountable
Honest structure and support that help the change hold.
Rebuild what it cost
Repair trust, relationships, and your footing.
About Daniel
Practical, honest, and grounded in real experience with addiction and recovery.
Based in Clarkesville, Daniel works with individuals and families across Habersham County and the broader North Georgia area — including Cleveland, Cornelia, Toccoa, Demorest, and Helen. His style is direct, calm, and practical — never shaming. Rather than lecturing, he helps you see the pattern you keep falling into, understand what the use is really doing for you, and build a realistic plan for change.
He brings extensive experience with addiction, recovery, relapse, and accountability — including the trust damage and family stress that addiction leaves behind. That experience means you can be honest about where you actually are, without being judged for it.
Daniel Shepherd, M.S., APC Pending
Addiction and recovery counseling services through Stepping Stones Counseling under clinical supervision.
What we work on
You do not have to hit bottom before you get help.
Many people reach out while they are still functioning — holding down a job, showing up for family — while the use quietly takes more and more. You can start now. Counseling works on the pattern underneath, not just the last slip.
- Understanding what is really driving the use
- Breaking the cycle of use, shame, and promising to stop
- Handling cravings, triggers, and high-risk moments
- Recovering from a relapse without starting your whole life over
- Rebuilding trust with the people the addiction has hurt
- Staying accountable in a way that actually holds
How the work helps
Real change comes from understanding, not willpower alone.
Understanding the pattern
Addiction is rarely only about the substance. It is tied to stress, pain, escape, and habit. When you understand the real drivers, the cravings stop feeling random — and you can get ahead of them.
- Spotting your personal triggers
- Naming what the use is doing for you
- Recognizing the early warning signs
- Having a plan before the hard moment hits
Accountability and recovery
Change holds when there is honest structure, not just good intentions. Together you can set realistic guardrails, involve the right support, and stop white-knuckling your way through the hard moments alone.
And if a slip happens, it does not have to become a full relapse. You can learn to catch it early, understand what led to it, and keep moving forward instead of starting over.
Court-ordered assessments
Court-ordered assessments and accountability-court support.
If a court, probation officer, or attorney has asked for a substance use assessment, Daniel can help. He provides clinical assessments and clear documentation, and works with people involved in accountability court, drug court, and probation — so you can meet what is required while doing the real work of change, not just checking a box.
- Court-ordered substance use assessments
- Documentation and updates for courts, probation, or attorneys
- Support for accountability court, drug court, and probation
- Help meeting requirements while doing real, lasting work
Faith-based support
Faith is part of the work only when you want it to be.
Faith-based counseling is available upon request. When you want it included, sessions can respectfully draw on Christian values, forgiveness, and accountability. It is never forced, and people of all backgrounds are welcome.
For families and spouses
Addiction is never just one person’s problem.
Addiction affects everyone around it. Family and couples sessions can help loved ones set healthy boundaries, step out of enabling patterns, understand recovery, and begin rebuilding trust — without carrying the whole weight alone. When a marriage is strained, dedicated marriage counseling can help too. And for the anxiety, depression, or stress that so often rides alongside recovery, his individual therapy is available as well.
Why this work matters to me
Recovery is possible — I have watched it happen.
I have worked with people in the hardest stretches of addiction and watched them rebuild their health, their relationships, and their sense of who they are. I do not see people as their worst moments. I bring that belief — that honest, steady effort changes things — into every session.
If you are in danger right now, start here.
Counseling is not emergency or medical care. If you are facing an overdose, severe withdrawal (especially from alcohol or benzodiazepines, which can be medically dangerous), or thoughts of harming yourself, get help first: call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
For 24/7 support, call or text 988. For free, confidential treatment referrals, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
Scheduling and fees
A first step can start here.
Most major insurance plans are accepted. Self-pay sessions are $125 per clinical hour, and the office can help verify your coverage before the first appointment.
Secure card payment through Stripe — enter your session fee, copay, or balance.
Common questions
Answers before you call.
Do you take insurance?
Most major insurance plans are accepted, and the office can help verify your coverage before your first appointment. Self-pay sessions are $125 per clinical hour.
Do you provide court-ordered assessments?
Yes. Daniel provides court-ordered substance use assessments and clear documentation for courts, probation officers, or attorneys, and supports people involved in accountability court, drug court, and probation.
Where are you located, and what areas do you serve?
The practice is based in Clarkesville, Georgia and serves Habersham County and the broader North Georgia area, including Cleveland, Cornelia, Toccoa, Demorest, and Helen.
Do I have to hit bottom before getting help?
No. Many people reach out while they are still functioning — holding down a job and showing up for family. You can start counseling at any point.
Is counseling confidential and judgment-free?
Yes. The approach is direct, calm, and practical — never shaming. You can be honest about where you actually are without being judged for it.
How do I get started?
Call (706) 493-5925 to schedule or ask questions. Most major insurance is accepted, with self-pay options available.