Addiction Therapists in Gibbons, AB.

In our early environments, we absorb a lot of information about ourselves and the world. Sometimes this stuff is positive – like language or self-soothing, but sometimes it comes from a disruptor and is not. Things like criticism, alcohol used by a parent, detachment from parents, perfectionism, or whatever can cause limiting beliefs about one’s self.

I have worked with individuals and families impacted by addiction and substance use, approaching these issues through a lens of trauma, attachment, and self-compassion. I support clients in exploring the underlying pain, patterns, and unmet needs that contribute to addictive behaviours, while developing healthier coping strategies and restoring self-worth. Healing is supported through connection, understanding, and practical skill-building.

Addictions come in a variety of forms such as alcohol and drugs, pornography, media, the internet, sex and sexual intimacy, relationships, and many others. What is common to all types of addiction is the negative impact such patterns can have on our lives, our loved ones, and things we hold dear in life. If you are caught in the chains of addiction and find yourself unable to break free, I can help you. I want to give you the power to walk down the path of recovery and to mend the damage that addiction has created in your life. In therapy we will invest the time and energy to discover what has led to addiction for you, and use proven methods to resolve the sources of addiction.

Addictions are created by things that make us feel better. I gets completed because some things we get addicted to change our brains and now we need that thing just to feel normal. The problem is that addictions tie us down and inhibit the ability to connect to the pain the made the addiction seem like a viable option in the first place. Reconnecting with this heals and frees us from the addiction. Visit my website at www.prairieowlpsychology.ca from more details. I have successfully worked with people from a variety of backgrounds to treat a variety of addiction issues and look forward to working with you.

In my approach to addiction counselling, I use Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy to explore and address the root causes of addictive behaviours. IFS helps uncover the underlying emotional wounds, traumas, or unmet needs that may be driving the addiction, allowing for deep healing and transformation. By working with the different parts of the self that may be holding onto patterns of addiction, clients can better understand the internal conflicts that contribute to their behaviours. This holistic approach promotes long-term recovery by fostering self-awareness, self-compassion, and the development of healthier coping mechanisms. Through this process, clients are empowered to break free from

Are you feeling like your life is spiralling out of control? Do you feel that something is preoccupying your thoughts or making it difficult to focus on your daily life? Addiction comes in many forms, including substance abuse and computer/video game addiction. The root of addiction is often deeper than it appears, and I can work with you to uncover and understand your addiction, and then develop healthy coping strategies tailored to your unique context.

I have advanced training in the assessment of addictions. In order to have any success with addictions counselling there has to be some level of commitment to deal with the discomfort of giving up or at least reducing the addiction. Family and relationships are core to the success of the counselling. Addictions are powerful coping techniques that don't really work. Dealing with addictions means dealing with the pain and past hurts that have not healed or been properly dealt with. Any successful additions therapy means diving deeply into ones life and the beliefs one has developed over a whole lifetime. Connecting to a deeper spiritual set of values can be a tremendous help and support

Our Therapists at Rivers Edge Counselling can help you to • Find the cause of your addiction and manage it effectively • Learn how addiction works and take necessary steps to reduce it • Control emotions and quit unhealthy habits • Coping with the stages of change • Understanding your own self and develop self esteem • Develop skills to understand your addiction

Addiction is often the surface problem, it's a way of staying away from a greater pain that is below the surface. Doing addiction counselling with me is a gentle and compassionate process of tending to the real issues below the addiction, so that there is no longer a need to engage in this harmful behaviour. When you pull out the roots of a weed, the weed will not grow back, and real change has been achieved!

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.

I have deep experience helping individuals navigate addictions using twelve-step supportive therapy in a safe virtual space. Together, we explore behaviors and underlying factors while cultivating self-awareness, accountability, and healthy coping skills. My approach focuses on building resilience, fostering growth, and sustaining recovery in a supportive and nonjudgmental environment. Online sessions provide flexibility and security while allowing clients to engage fully with the twelve-step framework and create meaningful, long-term change.

Change is hard. However, you made a first step and recognized there is a problem. Next step is to find a caring professional who will support you on your road to recovery. I want to be that person for you. I want to give you time and space to share with me your thoughts, emotions, needs, desires, struggles, and questions. I want to empower you to take control.

I work with clients navigating compulsive patterns—whether it’s substance use, porn, social media, or other behaviours that create guilt, distance, or loss of control. My focus is not on medical detox or abstinence-based programs, but on the emotional and relational roots behind the pattern. Together, we build awareness, reduce shame, and create structure for lasting change. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or on the edge of losing something important, therapy can help you regain clarity and start choosing differently—before things spiral further. You don’t have to be at rock bottom to begin.