Alternatives for Better Living

About Alternatives for Better Living

Alternatives for Better Living is a nonprofit outpatient program in Napa, California, founded in 1998 by a local psychotherapist and an addictions counselor who wanted treatment to be more respectful and easier to reach for people with limited resources. Their state-certified outpatient drug and alcohol program offers individual and group counseling with certified counselors. Sessions cover substance use education, relapse prevention, life management, mental health concerns, and relationships. They are the only certified outpatient substance use provider in Napa County outside of county-run services, and they serve both people who come voluntarily and those referred by the courts.

Their clinical approach relies heavily on Motivational Interviewing, helping each person find their own reasons and skills for change. They see abstinence as the most effective long-term path for many people, but they also offer harm reduction for those who aren’t ready to quit. A state-certified DUI program fulfills court and DMV requirements, with tracks ranging from a 6-week education course to an 18-month multiple offender program, available in person or by live video. They also run domestic violence groups, a skill-building class on managing emotions and anger, parenting classes based on the Parenting Wisely curriculum, and supportive drug and alcohol testing, with most services offered in both English and Spanish.