Addiction Therapists in Bowen Island, BC.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

While I do not work with people struggling with addictions, I provide support and guidance for members of their families. Often as the spouse, parent or sibling of someone struggling with drug or alcohol addiction we find our own lives spinning out of control. We find ourselves enabling and rescuing - hating that we do and yet not knowing how else to respond to the chaos. Counselling can help to reestablish a sense of stability and clarity about next steps. A counselling session for individuals, parents or all family members can provide perspective, guidance and skills to help family members make choices and take actions that are helpful for themselves and often for the one in addiction.

In addiction counseling, I support people wherever they are in their journey—whether considering change, working to reduce use, or committed to stopping completely. Addiction often masks underlying issues like anxiety, depression, trauma, or relationship problems, so we address both the addictive behavior and what's driving it. Using a non-judgmental, motivational approach, I help you clarify your goals and develop practical strategies that work for your life. We focus on the root issues keeping the cycle going and build sustainable change. Whether you're struggling with substances, gambling, or other compulsive behaviors, you'll find collaborative support without shame or pressure. Family members seeking assessment and guidance for a loved one are also welcome.