Addiction Therapists in Bowen Island, BC.

As is often said in AA, your very best thinking has gotten you here. In other words, it's time to let yourself have the outside support you need. It's time to do something different. An important part of my role in working with clients who have addictions is helping them conceptualize what recovery means: while sobriety and/or abstinence are goals - they are merely steps along the journey of recovery. That is, without doing the inner work of healing, sobriety and/or abstinence are short-lived. Learning to identify and process one’s emotions in healthy ways, as well as establishing/re-establishing relationships with others and with self, are some examples of what recovery work entails.

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.

Addiction isn’t just about willpower—it’s about pain, patterns, and finding a way to cope. If you feel trapped in cycles of substance use or compulsive behaviors, I’m here to help you break free without shame or judgment. Together, we’ll uncover the underlying struggles fueling your addiction, develop healthier coping strategies, and build a life where you feel in control again. Recovery is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone. Let’s take that first step together.

I have worked extensively with all forms of addiction for over 20 years. Always at the root of any addiction is unresolved emotional wounding or trauma. I work to de-shame the addictive behaviour; understanding that it has been used as a resource to cope with deep emotional pain. I work on fostering self-compassion and offer deep healing of the core issues where the addiction began, each therapeutic response tailored to the uniqueness of each persons addictive behaviour. Through a combination of body centred psychotherapy, practical behavioural tools, and the use of outside supportive resources where needed, most addictions can be resolved or navigated so that one can thrive again in their life.

I help individuals cope with addiction by aiming to understand the root cause of the addiction and how this is currently serving the individual by keeping them safe. Often individuals who have addictions have underlying issues such as anxiety, trauma, or mental health disorders. I work with individuals to identify their triggers and dysfunctional thought patterns and help modify their thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours that lead to addiction. Therapy can help to improve coping skills to manage stress, recognize triggers, and navigate through challenging moments in recovery.

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.

Instead of viewing addiction as "bad" or something to get rid of, we'll look at the role addiction is playing in your life so that you can begin to develop a compassionate relationship with it. Addictions are very often protective mechanisms that help people numb, manage, and cope with overwhelming emotions, trauma, and stress. Understanding addiction in this light creates the conditions for healing the underlying traumas that are keeping us stuck in the addictive cycle. I'll help you develop new internal resources that will help you cope with cravings and triggers so you can make the shift from self-destructive behaviors to self-empowerment.

Most of us have some form of addiction. Whether it be alcohol, pornography, drugs, shopping, gambling, eating or even love, these behaviours can enslave us. In therapy, we will identify that addiction, the reasons behind the addiction, the triggers and the payoff it provides in your life. You will learn about the cycle of addiction and recovery and relapse. I will give you tools and strategies to help you gain freedom from your addiction.

The Orchard Recovery Center is a highly respected addiction recovery center— renowned for breaking the cycle of addiction and restoring hope and health to individuals, families and communities since 2002. The Orchard’s diverse and award winning staff will put your culture, family and values at the center of your recovery.

Nobody starts using because life is going brilliantly. At some point, the substance or behaviour was doing something useful. Numbing something. Calming something. Filling something that had gone quiet or hollow. The problem is it stops working, and by then it's hard to imagine what you'd do without it. In addiction counselling, we take that seriously. Rather than leading with the behaviour, we get curious about what it's been managing all this time. Shame tends to keep people stuck. Understanding tends to loosen things. Recovery starts to feel less like losing something and more like finding your way back to yourself.

I offer counseling for people who are addicted to sex, masturbation, Internet, Porn and videogames. I do not offer counseling for substance addiction. Both in Saskatchewan and in Canada these new types of addiction are become more pervasive, and they are damaging the life of individuals and families. With my counseling I work hard to find meaning in people's life, as I think that finding meaning is the only way to feel that we have a purpose in life. Finding who we are can defeat our addiction and can allow us to find a new dimension in our life, where we can live sex, love and excitement in a constructive and enriching way.

I will work with you in finding detox and treatment suited to your needs. I will work with you to address the underlying issues which may have contributed to the addiction, such as unhealed trauma and loss, broken attachments, relationship issues and family disruption. I work with adult children of alcoholics to address the impact of growing up in a family affected by addiction.

My qualifications include a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology and I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. I am also completing the education and supervision hours needed for certification as a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT-Candidate) and Certified Couples Betrayal Recovery Therapist (CCBRT-Candidate) with the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP). The programs offered by IITAP have provided me with specialized training, strategies, and tools to support and rebuild relationships that have been shaken by infidelity, problematic sexual behaviors, complex trauma, mistrust, and addiction.

“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)

I use a type of therapy called EMDR for addiction. This stands for Eye Movement Desensitizing and Reprocessing. Originally used for PTSD, it is very effective against addictions. It is a short term therapy that can be extremely effective in very little time. We identify triggers or urges that emerge just before one uses and we reprocess them so they are no longer triggering!

Do you wake up in the morning with a feeling of regret and remorse over how many glasses of wine you had, again? Are you struggling with a habit that you thought was temporary and now you find you can't walk away from. The realization that you may be struggling with an addiction may gradually unfold or a loved one may bring it to your attention. Often addiction arises from a need to 'take oneself away' from the rough spots on life or it may be a habit out of control. Whatever the background, together we will look at what has contributed to your desire for you habit, what is reinforcing it and get you back in the drivers seat of your life.

Addiction is ritualized comfort seeking. If you're stuck in an addiction it's because you've used it as a way to find comfort from pain and distress for years. I can help you identify the root cause of that pain, and heal the emotional wounds so that you can learn to face life without needing to self-medicate. I struggled with porn addiction for almost two decades so I know it isn't easy to break the cycle, but it is possible. I have learned the tools through my own experience and clinical training to help you create a robust plan to start your recovery journey with clarity and conviction. I'd be honoured to travel with you on your journey.

As a counsellor with years of experience working with addiction and its effects on the family, I have the skills to help you gain insights, change your behaviours, heal your pain and recover a sense of wholeness for life. My goal is to help you find a way out of the bondage of self hate, shame, and pain that is often caused by living with addiction. I believe that with hard work, you can regain the hope that this disease steals.

Addiction counselling with me involves taking the time to unpack the dynamics that contribute to coping through addiction. With me you can expect a non-judgmental space, and to move at a pace you are comfortable with. Together we will take a compassionate and curious approach, locating strengths and supports and practicing mindfulness to grow in a sense of agency in decision making.

Addiction counseling provides a holistic approach to supporting individuals struggling with substance use disorders and their loved ones. A safe and non-judgmental therapeutic relationship is used to explore the underlying causes of addiction, address co-occurring mental health issues, and develop personalized recovery plans. Additionally, counseling helps loved ones understand addiction as a complex disease and offers guidance on setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and fostering healthy communication within the family system. Through education, empathy, and ongoing support, addiction counseling empowers individuals and their loved ones to navigate challenges.

Having any kind of addiction places stress onto a person as well as his/her/they family and friends. As a clinical therapist, it is important to stress to the client that a person develops an addiction for a number of reasons, and that the identified addiction is a coping mechanism that was developed during a time of stress and emotional challenge. Providing an atmosphere of safety and acceptance is needed for a client to become vulnerable and to seek support. Addictions are both physical and physiological. Helping a person understand the nature and underlying needs that are being met is essential in the change process.

There are many options available for addiction treatment. many people do not have time or resources for residential treatment for addictions. I am trained to work with people with addictions such as drug and alcohol, gambling, internet, sex addiction, and food. Addiction usually begins as a way of coping with stress and life challenges. As time progresses, the addiction becomes the main way of coping with difficulties. i help clients identify the problem areas of their lives, and learn healthier coping strategies to deal with difficult times. Addiction treatment begins with a willingness to change and hope for a more positive future.

If we all arrived on earth with an owners manual, it would be far easier to discover the most adaptable ways to cope with the onslaught of challenges we face as we grow and develop. But, we stumble along, often grabbing at crutches that soothe us for a while, but end up bringing us to our knees. My role in addiction recovery is helping you find positive soothing habits, helping you learn how regulate your emotions so that soothing is needed less on the whole, and helping you stay connected to your needs so that you remain in the drivers seat.

Substance and behavioral addictions are widely misunderstood, and as a result, those that experience addictions can be unjustly pathologized and even criminalized. The term “addiction” stands for diverse, multi-faceted, socio-cultural, biological, and psychological phenomena. The idea that addiction is a brain disease is an ideological narrative, not a fact. I offer non-judgmental and non-coercive counselling to support an individual’s growth and future pursuits. I hold a deep empathy for your life experience, choices, and lack of choices. I will coach you to tap into your inner resources, resilience, and “brilliant sanity.” I am an advocate for decriminalization and harm reduction policies.

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.