Addiction Therapists in Port Moody, BC.

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.

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.

I view addiction with true compassion as it can be so painfully difficult to battle. I feel for those suffering and those who love them. Well-recognized addictions include use of cigarettes, alcohol, street drugs, and marijuana, but I personally believe that issues like self-harm and trichotillomania (skin-picking) can be seen as addictions as well. I support people no matter where they are in their substance use or behaviour, from those ready and wanting to stop to those not there yet. I also support harm reduction, abstinence, or a combination of these. EMDR Therapy and DBT are both effective approaches depending on your story, your goal, and where you are at.

If you have an addiction you are likely using a substance or addictive behaviour to manage your life and to help you get through the night ... Addictions have a down side, of course, which is why you are looking for help. There is often trauma or grief waiting to be managed and these feelings can be very intense. The consequences of your addiction often impact your relationships and may be connected to past relationship stresses. You don't need to face these things alone. We can explore your situation together and find ways to support you in creating new strategies for managing your addiction. From there, you can create a healthier and happier life.

Addictions can crowd out everything else that was once important to you; counselling can help you reclaim things you have lost. I will support you and I will not judge you. I am consistently positive and hopeful in the Lord. Together we will come up with a plan detailing your goals and ways of getting there and discuss reintegrating meaning in your life. We will also pursue practical strategies for maintaining your gains. Jesus catches you when you fall. He never forsaken you no matter what. Trust in the Lord's healing is there. I connect and provide referrals to physicians, residential treatment facilities, support groups, detox, acupuncture or naturopathic medicine.

Working through addiction can be a raw and difficult process, that often reveals the pain that the addiction was helping to disguise. My approach to treating addiction applies cognitive awareness and mindfulness strategies to managing and reducing addictive tendencies and impulses. Addiction tends to thrive in isolation, so having a guide to help anticipate the struggle of addiction, identify and exercise strategies that are clinically effective in relief of addiction, and trauma.

There is no magic bullet to treating addictions. Many addictions stem from a trifecta of circumstances: (1) a biological / chemical dependance (eg. alcohol leads to chemical changes how our brain and body's nervous system functions and communicates) , (2) a cognitive dependance (I deserve a drink at the end of the day, it helps me relax), and (3) a behavioural (eg. having a drink at a social event is normal, or helps me loosen up). Often addiction is a (not so) perfect storm of these three issues. The good news is that the Cognitive and Behavioural components are quite easy to begin to address; and, in turn, the biological / chemical component is also adjusted.

My approach to substance use counselling is influenced by my experience in this field. Whether your goals are for moderation or abstinence, I will work with you to create your substance use goals and we will work on strategies that support you reaching and maintaining your goals. Without judgement and with compassion, I will support your path toward your personal goals.

While most treatment approaches to addiction include 12 step programs, rehabs, and now sober living houses, Grey Matters International, Inc. provides a wildly successful alternative to traditional models of addiction treatment----that keeps the brain in mind. That is, talking to the conscious brain while the primal brain is deciding things even before you are consciously aware? Well, that is the problem to solve in addiction. We have the solution utilizing a new cutting edge neuroscience-centered brain rebalancing system. Contact kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or call 877-606-6161.

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.

Has an addiction to sex, porn, alcohol, drugs, or any other addiction caused problems in your life? Has an addiction caused problems in your relationship or your family? If so, my counselling approach can bring understanding of the reasons of your addiction and ways you can manage issues more effectively. We will discuss your unique situation and address underlying causes of the addiction and offer solutions to get your life back on track and live a more fulfilled and happy life.

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.