Addiction Therapists in Kelowna, BC.

Clients with addiction issues will benefit from seeing a counsellor. Whether you are ready to make the change or just wanting education, we can assist you. We use motivational therapy and harm reduction techniques. Addiction assessments are available. Additionally, we offer training and support to families with a member who is dealing with an addiction.

In addiction counselling, we focus on providing a compassionate and non-judgmental environment where clients can explore the underlying factors contributing to addiction. My approach combines evidence-based therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, to help clients understand and manage their triggers, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and set achievable goals for recovery. We work collaboratively to address both the psychological and emotional aspects of addiction, fostering resilience and self-efficacy. By supporting clients in building a solid foundation for change, we aim to empower them to create a more fulfilling and balanced life.

“It was a long and heavy day and I just need to break the edge.” “I communicate better after few drinks” “I can’t fall asleep if I don’t have my…” When a substance becomes a “priority”, or becomes overused, it begins to creep into and destroy an individual’s health, family, relationship and even work. The question becomes "Do I have control over it or does it have control over me?". Often substances are used as coping mechanism without realizing that it often creates even more anxiety and depression, leaving a person feeling more stress and low down the road. Feeling anxious without a "quick fix" or a “temporary Band-Aid” is a strong indicator that a person is or has lost control with the desired substance. In counselling, we work to support...(view profile to read more)

Often in life, stress, responsibility and unhappiness can lead to managing/medicating with a variety of substances; marijuana, alcohol, gambling, sex, internet, drugs, ect. This can lead to an unbalance in the usage of these substances, create a significant strain and negative affect on relationships, family, work and one self. We will work to uncover the motivating force that has driven to substance abuse and help to regain control. Through this work we will strive to regain a healthy and balanced life, free of addiction or dependency.

Working through addiction can be a raw and difficult process, that often reveals the pain that the addiction was helping to disguise. My approach to treating addiction applies cognitive awareness and mindfulness strategies to managing and reducing addictive tendencies and impulses. Addiction tends to thrive in isolation, so having a guide to help anticipate the struggle of addiction, identify and exercise strategies that are clinically effective in relief of addiction, and trauma.

Addiction isn’t the problem — it’s the solution your nervous system found to survive. In my counselling practice, I offer a compassionate, trauma-informed space to explore the pain beneath the pattern. Together, we slow down, listen to the body, and understand what your behaviour has been protecting. Healing begins with safety, honesty, and connection. If you’re ready to meet your story with gentleness and reclaim your freedom, I’m here to walk with you.

Addictions issues can both result from distress in relationships and precipitate or create distress. Support in addressing addictions issues can have a signifiacant positive impact on overall relationship functioning. The fact that relationships are one of our primary coping mechanisms multiplies the potential distress when addictions is present as it impacts the very mechanisms we use to cope.

I am presently employed as a clinical counsellor in Bridgeway Addiction Services. I take a biopyschosocialspiritual approach. I work on both the symptoms and the root of the problem of addiction. The root usually includes work regarding past abuse and trauma, low self worth, negative core self beliefs, family of origin, etc. With the addition use of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) I can help people with both the causes of addiction and impulse/urge control.

I provide specialized support for individuals in recovering from addiction, recognizing that true healing extends far beyond abstinence. We'll address the underlying trauma, emotional patterns, and nervous system dysregulation that may have contributed to addictive behaviours, while strengthening your connection to your innate resources for healing. Using a trauma-informed approach, I help you develop sustainable self-regulation skills, process unresolved emotional material and cultivate a deeper relationship with yourself based on self-compassion.

I am adept at support clients in finding the root of their addiction whether it be trauma or challenges with emotional regulation. Addictive behaviour always makes sense. Unfortunately, there is still so much shame, judgement and misunderstanding when it comes to addiction. I will help you make sense of your addictive behaviour and achieve freedom.

The pain of addiction is real. & So is the pain that leads us there. I believe we are drawn to substance, process, sexual, & an unending list of other addictions for a reason. & Often that reason is simply to escape our own inner pain or turmoil...that just feels too overwhelming to bear. That makes the journey to freedom from addiction rarely an easy one, but certainly a rewarding one. & It is not one I believe any of us were meant to take alone. Let me come alongside you & support you on your journey back to freedom, joy, & ultimately yourself. & All that you were truly made for.

I will help you learn alternatives to substance use. By identifying the difficult emotions that substances help you cope with we can create a new plan that will allow you to manage these uncomfortable experiences while still decreasing your substance use. This way, we target the underlying reasons you drink/do drugs/eat and address the core issues that motivate your unhealthy behaviours.

Feeling trapped in a cycle of addiction? Are you using to escape reality? Do you feel like you can't function without your addictive crutches? Do you struggle to control your cravings, and your loved ones are worried? If any of any of this sounds familiar, counselling can help. Let's work together to break free from the chains of addiction and regain control of your life. Imagine building stronger relationships with family and friends, living a healthier life, and finding emotional balance and inner peace. Take the first step towards a brighter future today. Book your free 15-minute consultation now.