Addiction Therapists in West Point Grey, BC.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Have you ever had fresh baking in the house that were saving for Christmas or some other celebration? You had to stop yourself from eating it. How it called your name while you were watching TV, or sent visions of sugar plums dancing in your head while you were hungry cooking dinner? Well that is a small snap shot of the feeling of addiction. Having such a strong compelling desire to experience the rewarding outcome, regardless of how short-lived it might be. Well not all compulsions ( or addictions) are only as dangerous and life changing as a 5 lb weight gain encountered by January 2. Some addictions can own us to the point that there is nothing left of who we really are, or were.

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.

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.

Real Solutions for Real Challenges Common Sense techniques. Short-Term & Cost Effective Most often addictions are a symptom of pain. hurt , and loss of some form. The addiction serves to reduce this pain and suffering. However, the affect is has on the individual is to make them feel out of control, guilty, lazy, and generally worse about themselves whin in turn drives them to seek more relief. This is often the downward spiral of the addiction cycle. Martin helps his clients reframe thier negative statements about themselves and then exposes the core beliefs that keep triggering their destructive and untrue beliefs about their whole character.

Feeling stuck and ready for a change? Not sure how to start? I have supported people of all ages to identify patterns in their lives that negatively impact their quality of life and their relationships. If you feel pushed around by addiction, I'd be happy to help you learn how to change your relationship with: substances, compulsive internet use or gaming, impulsive spending, unhealthy eating. smoking and/or attraction to toxic relationships so that you may take your power back and live the life you really want to live.

Addiction can affect every area of your life, from your physical health, mental health, emotional health, social life to your core values. I view addiction problems not through a lens of a lack of willpower, but through a lens of brain dysfunction and see that through brain training with Neurofeedback (NFB), processing with EMDR or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) there is a great potential for improvement.

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.

We employ addiction counseling as a specialized form of therapy to support clients in their journey toward overcoming addictive behaviors and fostering self-acceptance. Addiction counseling provides a compassionate and non-judgmental space for clients to explore and understand the underlying factors contributing to their addictive behaviors. Our skilled counselors employ evidence-based approaches such as motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and relapse prevention strategies to guide individuals in gaining insight into their addictive patterns, identifying triggers, and developing effective coping strategies.

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.

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.

Whether you are struggling with an addiction such as alcohol or drug abuse, video gaming addiction, shopping addiction, gambling, ecc, most likely life is an emotional roller coaster for you AND the person who loves you. Addiction recovery is not about willpower but about identifying the underlying causes of your addiction OR your enabling behaviour and finding appropriate coping mechanisms to deal with stress and emotional overwhelm in healthy ways. As a certified Addiction Counsellor I specialize in working with LOVED ONES of addicts as well as the individual struggling with addiction using a blend of somatic and cognitive psychotherapy which has proven to be extremely effective.

There is an interesting connection between trauma and addictions. When events or situations are perceived as life threatening or overwhelming (even though this might not be a conscious realization), the response to such overwhelming pain is logically to self-medicate. Treating addictions requires gently addressing how clients manage emotional, physical, and mental pain and sensitively building resources to find better coping strategies while healing old wounds.

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 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.

“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)

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.