For many individuals, opioid dependence develops in the context of pain, trauma, stress, or untreated mental health conditions. It is not a reflection of character, willpower, or personal failure. It is a complex, treatable medical condition that affects the brain, the nervous system, and behavior.
At Willow & Stone Health, we approach opioid use disorder with clarity, compassion, and clinical precision. We believe that recovery is not about punishment or control — it is about stabilization, safety, and rebuilding a sustainable relationship with your body and mind.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is one of the most effective tools available to support this process. When combined with thoughtful psychiatric care and a trauma-informed framework, it can significantly reduce overdose risk, stabilize cravings, and create the conditions necessary for long-term recovery.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is an evidence-based approach that uses FDA-approved medications, alongside medical and psychiatric care, to treat opioid use disorder.
Rather than forcing abrupt cessation — which can destabilize both the brain and body — MAT works by gently regulating the same systems opioids affect. This allows individuals to regain stability without the intense cycles of withdrawal, craving, and relapse.
At Willow & Stone Health, we primarily use:
Suboxone is a partial opioid agonist, meaning it activates opioid receptors in a controlled and limited way. This helps:
Because of its pharmacological properties, Suboxone also has a “ceiling effect,” which significantly reduces the likelihood of misuse compared to full opioid agonists.
MAT is not about replacing one substance with another — it is about restoring physiological balance so that deeper healing can occur.
Without stabilization, the nervous system remains in a constant state of dysregulation. This makes it extremely difficult to engage in therapy, maintain relationships, or make sustainable behavioral changes.
MAT provides:
Research consistently shows that individuals receiving MAT have significantly better outcomes than those attempting abstinence-only approaches, particularly in terms of relapse prevention and mortality reduction.
We do not treat opioid use disorder as a standalone issue. Instead, we recognize it as part of a broader system — one that includes the nervous system, past experiences, current stressors, and mental health.
Our care model is structured, individualized, and trauma-informed.
We begin with a thorough assessment that includes:
Substance use history
Mental health history
Trauma exposure
Current stressors and life context
Nervous system patterns (e.g., hyperarousal, shutdown, instability)
This allows us to understand not just what is happening, but why.
Starting medication is a critical phase that requires precision and monitoring.
We provide:
Guided Suboxone induction
Close follow-up during early stabilization
Adjustment of dosing based on response
Ongoing education about how the medication works
Our goal is not rapid escalation, but steady, sustainable stabilization.
We begin with a thorough assessment that includes:
We offer:
Regular medication management visits
Symptom tracking and adjustment
Monitoring for side effects or complications
Coordination of care when needed
This structured support reduces the risk of destabilization and helps maintain forward progress.
Many individuals with opioid use disorder have underlying trauma histories or chronic stress exposure.
Without addressing these layers, relapse risk remains high.
Our approach includes:
Understanding how trauma impacts the brain and body
Avoiding re-traumatization in care
Supporting emotional regulation and safety
Integrating psychiatric treatment when needed
This is not optional — it is central to effective care.
Opioid dependence often exists alongside:
Without addressing these layers, relapse risk remains high.
Our approach includes:
Anxiety disorders
Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Sleep disturbances
Chronic pain
Untreated psychiatric symptoms can drive substance use and make recovery unstable.
We provide integrated care to address:
Mood regulation
Anxiety management
Trauma symptoms
Sleep and nervous system balance
There is no single “correct” timeline for recovery.
Some individuals benefit from longer-term MAT, while others may eventually taper under medical guidance.
We work collaboratively to develop a plan that reflects:
Your goals
Your stability
Your life context
Your readiness for change
Our priority is not speed — it is sustainability.
One of the most overlooked aspects of opioid use disorder is the role of the nervous system.
Chronic opioid use — and withdrawal — both profoundly affect how the body regulates stress, emotion, and safety.
Many individuals experience:
These patterns are not simply psychological — they are physiological.
At Willow & Stone Health, we recognize that:
Recovery requires nervous system stabilization, not just behavioral change.
By combining MAT with psychiatric care and a trauma-informed lens, we help support:
A significant number of individuals with opioid use disorder have experienced:
Substances often become a way to cope with overwhelming internal states.
Without addressing these underlying drivers, treatment remains incomplete.
Our approach allows space to:
Relapse is not a failure — it is often a signal of unmet needs or instability.
MAT significantly reduces relapse risk by:
In addition, our model reduces risk by:
The goal is not perfection — it is progress with support.
Many individuals seeking treatment have had prior negative experiences with healthcare systems.
We actively work to create a different experience.
At Willow & Stone Health, you can expect:
You are not treated as a problem to be fixed, but as a person navigating a complex condition.
No. MAT medications like Suboxone are carefully dosed and medically supervised. They stabilize brain chemistry without producing the same cycle of intoxication and withdrawal.
This varies. Some individuals benefit from longer-term use, while others may taper over time. Decisions are made collaboratively based on stability and readiness.
Most individuals report improved clarity, stability, and functioning once properly stabilized.
Most individuals report improved clarity, stability, and functioning once properly stabilized.
We support individuals who:
Whether you are early in the process or have tried treatment before, we meet you where you are.
To better understand the broader context of treatment, you may find these helpful:
Many patients come to Willow & Stone after feeling that previous treatment experiences were rushed or focused only on medication changes. Our practice is designed to provide a more thoughtful approach to mental health care, with time to understand each person’s history and the factors affecting their symptoms.
Appointments are structured to allow time for meaningful discussion rather than brief medication visits. This approach helps patients feel heard and gives clinicians the opportunity to understand the full context of their mental health history.
Our approach looks beyond symptoms alone and considers the biological, psychological, and lifestyle factors that influence depression. Evaluating these areas together helps create a more complete understanding of what may be affecting mood and treatment response.
Treatment decisions are made collaboratively with each patient. Care plans are developed with attention to symptoms, treatment history, and personal goals, allowing strategies to evolve as progress becomes clearer.
Recovery is possible.
Not because it is easy, but because the right conditions can make it sustainable.
With structured, medically sound care — combined with a deeper understanding of the nervous system, trauma, and mental health — individuals can move toward greater stability, safety, and long-term change.
You do not have to navigate this alone.
At Willow & Stone Health, we provide care that is:
Grounded in evidence
Informed by trauma awareness
Centered on the whole person
Designed for long-term success
Compassionate, structured treatment can make recovery not only possible — but safer and more sustainable.
With evidence-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT), including Suboxone, combined with integrative psychiatric care and support — delivered largely by telehealth.
Yes. Care is private and provided directly by Dr. Stacey Forbes, DNP, PMHNP-BC.
Most care is delivered by secure telehealth, in line with current regulations for MAT.
Willow & Stone provides integrative, cash-pay telehealth psychiatry to patients across Texas and New Mexico — from major metros to rural communities with few local providers.
Popular areas: Dallas · Fort Worth · Houston · Austin · San Antonio · Plano · Albuquerque · Santa Fe · Las Cruces · Rio Rancho
