Substance Use & Co-Occurring Mental Health
Substance use and mental health are almost always tangled together. Anxiety, depression, trauma, or a mood disorder can drive drinking or use; use, in turn, deepens those very struggles. Understanding both at once is where honest care begins.
New Leaf provides psychiatric evaluation of substance use in the context of your mental health, by telehealth across Florida and Colorado, and connects you to the right specialized resources. Sheilah Battle-Stephens, PMHNP-BC, offers a judgment-free, evidence-based place to start.
Where New Leaf fits in
Sheilah's focus is the psychiatric picture: evaluating co-occurring mental health concerns — anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders — that so often sit underneath substance use, and building a careful, tailored plan for those. Treating what's driving use is a meaningful part of the whole.
She is clear and honest about scope. Specialized addiction treatment and dedicated substance-use programs are their own field, and when that level of care is what will help most, Sheilah refers you there and coordinates rather than working alone. The goal is to make sure you land in the right kind of care, not just any care.
What this can look like
- A careful evaluation of the mental health concerns alongside substance use
- A tailored, evidence-based plan for co-occurring anxiety, depression, or mood concerns
- Honest guidance on what level and type of care fits your situation
- Referrals to and coordination with specialized addiction and recovery resources
- A judgment-free conversation, whatever stage you're at
A whole-person, collaborative approach
This is team care. Sheilah works alongside therapists, primary care providers, and specialized programs so the pieces fit together. Everything stays evaluative and honest — careful evaluation, a monitored plan, and clear referrals — with no promises about outcomes, because recovery is personal and no one can guarantee it.
If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, call or text 988 or 911. For substance-use support and treatment referrals, the SAMHSA National Helpline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-4357. Telehealth is not for emergencies.
Getting started
Care is delivered by secure video, with you located in Florida or Colorado at appointment time. An initial psychiatric evaluation ($325) is the honest first step to understanding the full picture and mapping the right next move.
Frequently asked.
Is this an addiction treatment program?+
No. New Leaf provides psychiatric evaluation and care for the mental health concerns that often accompany substance use. When specialized addiction treatment is what will help most, Sheilah refers you there and coordinates your care.
Will I be judged?+
No. Sheilah's approach is direct, respectful, and judgment-free, whatever stage you're at. The starting point is understanding, not evaluation of your character.
Can you help with the anxiety or depression underneath my use?+
Yes — that's squarely within psychiatric care. Evaluating and treating co-occurring concerns like anxiety, depression, trauma, and mood disorders is a core part of what Sheilah does, alongside connecting you to specialized substance-use resources.
Where can I get help right now?+
If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, call or text 988 or 911. For 24/7 substance-use support and referrals, the SAMHSA National Helpline is 1-800-662-4357.