Addiction Therapists in Calgary, AB.

Addictions, in any of their many forms, from shopping and gambling to sex, tobacco, alcohol or drugs (street or prescription), exert a stranglehold on individual quality of life and relationships that can be devastating. The first line of attack against the addiction is information and awareness. I can help you begin that process. Together, we can look at how the addiction has convinced you it can help you cope with life ... and we can begin to address the lies addiction has told you. We can look at the triggers for your addiction, alternative strategies for coping with emotions and stressors, and ways to maintain your gains. I can help you rebuild your relationships and your life.

An addiction, whether to a substance or a behaviour, is an attempt to alleviate distress, self-soothe or fill an emptiness. The substance or behavior cannot bring relief because it is not what you truly need. No matter how you have been self-medicating your stress and pain thus far, I can help you treat the underlying issues in ways that are life-sustaining rather than destructive. The earlier you get help, the better. I will compassionately help you no matter how many times you have tried to quit and will help you establish ways that will help you stay quit. I provide therapy for various addictions with a sex addiction specialty. I help those addicted as well as their families.

Addiction is a concern that many people struggle with. Often people are unaware of the way in which addiction can significantly affect life, and cause harm to self and others. Feeling out of control and unable to stop harmful behaviours is a normal experience when someone is addicted to a substance or behaviour. Addiction is a treatable disease, which can be managed through therapy and a recovery program. I treat individuals with addiction to alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, food.

Have your addictions and/or compulsive behaviours taken control of your life? Does life seem unmanageable and you feel the things you value slipping away? Does someone you love appear unable to quit doing something even though it is hurting them? As a therapist, my role in the recovery journey is a supportive one. I help people who are already in a 12-step or other program to maintain sobriety by exploring their unhelpful thinking styles, helping them mourn past losses, and addressing other underlying issues that have led to the addictive behaviours. I also help the loved ones of addicts, especially partners of sex addicts who are trying to heal from the trauma of betrayal.

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.

For every woman, the first step towards freedom from addiction is always the step of coming to believe in freedom and to believe that freedom is possible. We can show you a way out of the guilt and away from the shame that keeps you from the love your heart longs for. Reject the lie that you will always be an addict, reclaim your ability to know truth and choose life!

Having worked previously at an addictions treatment facility for over 9 years, I have seen both the damage caused by a variety of addictions and the ability of individuals to arrest addictive behaviors and re-build healthy addiction-free lives. Whether you are attempting to moderate your use of an addictive substance or behavior, or abstain completely, therapy is an important tool. Together we will explore your triggers for addiction, relapse prevention strategies, and look at the resources available to you as you recover.

I have worked in the addictions field for the past 15+ years. My understanding of addiction is that it stems from multiple traumas whether beginning in childhood or adulthood. My approach to counselling is mind/body focused and aims to assist clients to heal wounds caused by trauma at the body level where trauma is stored. If we experienced early childhood trauma, often the body is the only access point to heal trauma as we experienced trauma before we had the ability to process things verbally. I also believe that in order to heal trauma, we need to heal in relationship as the majority of our traumas occurred in relationships which counselling provides between therapist and client.

One of my favourite authors on addiction says "What if we replaced the word "addict" with: “A human being who suffered so much that he or she finds in drugs or some other behavior a temporary escape from that suffering"? G. Mate. When I see clients struggling with an addiction, I also see them struggling with pain. I work on both pain and the addiction as a method.

Addiction can be anything from annoying to devastating in terms of the effect on your life. Addictive behavior of any kind, substances, technologies, food, sex, porn has the potential to limit the quality of life of those affected. If you are reading this it is possible that you may be having an experience with an addiction of your own or someone you care about and are interested in wanting change. Addiction is very understandable from a brain science perspective. There is a part of our brain that has a habit making function. We very easily form habits that have an emotional payoff for us. Once a behavior has a payoff then this brain jumps into action to create a brain pathway that helps us repeat the behavior. In other words, it helps us to keep...(view profile to read more)

Learning to successfully manage and overcome a variety of addictions is focussed on. Some of the areas are drugs, alcohol, pornography, gambling and eating. The approach does not view total abstinence as being the only method in many situations. Saftety for all people involved is, however, a priority. Usually people struggling with addicgtions will switch addictions if one area is stopped without addressing the underlying issues. The underlyng issues, such as unmanageable emotions or troubling circumstances are addressed and usually lead to loing term success in working out addictions.

Don't let addiction rule your life for another minute. I work with folks who struggle with addiction on a maintenance level. Meaning if you are in recovery I can help you crystallize the path forward of of healing and commitment. Addiction can cripple the person and their family members. The compulsion to feed deeper rooted issues is often the culprit and needs to be remedied for lasting change. I can help with creating a path forward for healing old wounds, understanding the behaviors and for installing positive habits as replacements.

Is your use of porn, alcohol, shopping, prescription medication, illegal drugs, tv, food, video games and online activities bothering you or someone you love? Are you wondering if it is an addiction? Sometimes a good strategy goes bad when it is relied on too much. Then the strategy has become the boss and not just a tool. Discover the addictive voice and learn about the sober/healthy voice. Learn to respond to the part of you that would like relief and wants to be addiction-free (your noble self). Learn more effective ways to manage stress so you are not turning to substances or behaviors that are costing your peace of mind.