Addiction Therapists in Leamington, ON.

My understanding of addiction comes as a result of my academic background as well as having been in active recovery myself for the last 26 years. Without professional help from a full qualified addiction counselor the addiction frequently blocks and ultimately limits a person's ability to live a happy and productive life. Professional counseling will help people form their own basis for a meaningful recovery, by directly dealing with the underlying issues that create their cycle of addiction. Dealing directly with the addiction is critical in order for people to reach their full potential in life.

Feeling out of control and unable to stop engaging in harmful behaviours can feel shameful, over-whelming and hopeless. My approach to addiction treatment is based in a harm reduction model. This approach acknowledges that maintaining abstinence may not be a realistic goal. Without judgement we will work together to set realistic goals that seek to reduce the negative impacts of your addiction. You may choose to explore the roots of your addiction and any other related issues. It will always be up to you. Please reach out for a consult so we can assess whether I am the right therapist to help you move toward change and stability.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Alcohol use disorder (AUD) can affect mental and physical health, relationships, work, and quality of life. There are many factors that contribute to drug and alcohol use and addiction counselling can help a person explore these factors as well discuss motivation to change the cycle of addiction. I use a blend of CBT and DBT to help give practical skills to help with cravings, emotional regulation and thought processes. Addiction counselling works to: • Strengthen a persons self-worth • Develop alternative ways to manage stress • Prepare and manage triggers • Develop skills to help manage cravings • Help with broken relationship

"Addiction", whether it be over-using drugs, internet, sex, etc., is a means of seeking pleasure in order to mask difficult feelings and thoughts that you may be dealing with. Sometimes, the pain of difficult or traumatic experiences becomes so intense that we unknowingly turn to unhealthy means of gratification. It is my goal to collaboratively, delicately and thoughtfully explore the underlying reasons of your excessive use of drugs, internet, etc., and support the working through and acknowledgement of the feelings and thoughts associated with the underlying reasons. If you are persistent in obtaining health and a happier existence, you will experience healing and release from pain.

When I work with individuals who have difficulty with addiction we will first work to discover what is driving the addiction. Together we will discover past events which have lead to present day addictions. Hypnosis, Brainspotting, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) are helpful in moving through past trauma, allowing clients to alleviate trigger responses from the environment, which is essential in the healing process.

Many approaches to addiction emphasize willpower and deprivation, but this only works temporarily. Alcohol, substances, or other addictive behaviours like gambling and gaming offer short-term relief of underlying issues at a long-term cost to one's relationships and health. As an addiction counsellor, I can help you resolve underlying issues, regain control, and build a sense of meaning and purpose, so you can start living the life you want. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to addiction recovery. I meet each client where they are at, tailoring my approach to each person's unique needs. Send me a message and we can connect for a quick call to discuss next steps.

Addiction can be a scary thing that is often surrounded by ambiguity and confusion: why do I continue to use when I know it is bad for me? Why do I want to use in the first place? Why can't I seem to stop using and why cant I change? In working with clients, step 1 of our work is figuring out the answers to these questions and figuring out why addiction occurs in the first place. After this, we explore tools, resources, and therapies that will best work for clients in helping them create the changes they need and to promote the lives they want.

Addiction is a multifaceted challenge, and understanding its roots is key to recovery. While I do not offer therapy sessions for addiction, we have several addiction specialists at Psychotherapy Collective who are available to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with you to ensure they are the proper fit for your journey. Visit our profiles at https://www.psychotherapycollective.ca/our-team