Addiction Therapists in West Point Grey, BC.

Many approaches to addiction emphasize willpower and deprivation, but this only works temporarily. Alcohol, substances, or other addictive behaviours like gambling and gaming offer short-term relief of underlying issues at a long-term cost to one's relationships and health. As an addiction counsellor, I can help you resolve underlying issues, regain control, and build a sense of meaning and purpose, so you can start living the life you want. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to addiction recovery. I meet each client where they are at, tailoring my approach to each person's unique needs. Send me a message and we can connect for a quick call to discuss next steps.

I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for addiction treatment. Through this approach we will look for connections between the thoughts, feelings and actions for clients and how this is impacting on their recovery. We will go over if there are other co-occurring disorders as well such as anxiety or depression. We will go over tracking the urges weekly and go over distress tolerance skills and mindfulness skills in practicing to not act on the urges that do come up.

After working with clients that struggled with drugs and alcohol addiction, I learned that these clients need ongoing support after they leave their treatment programs. I help clients explore their stresses, traumas, and their mental and physical vulnerabilities to address the issues behinds their addictive behaviour patterns. The treatment plan includes an incorporation of mindful exercise and CBT techniques to regulate stress responses and reduce the stressors. Other evidence based techniques and literature is included in the plan to assist the client in adjusting to physiological and mental changes with no addiction and replacing it with positive changes.

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.

Stuck in a rut? Trying to get out, but don't know how? Don't like AA? Let me help you unshackle yourself from that annoying addiction. Personalized help, skill building, and non-judgemental support in overcoming an addiction. Call 604-657-9534 now if you are ready to take a step into the first day of the rest of your life.

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.

There are many forms of addiction (ie., drug, alcohol, work, food, gambling, exercise, work). Many people find self help groups that follow the 12 step program helpful. Other people like to take a more personal form of support around their addiction issues. In that case, individual counselling can be helpful. The counselling I provide for clients with addiction issues is to help them set specific reachable goals. Coming to regular counselling appointments seem to help clients set up a personal accountability tool for themselves. Reaching goals can be celebrated and setbacks examined to determine how to move forward again with success.

My hope for clients facing challenges with addictions is that they will develop an openness and willingness to explore the underlying issues related to the addictive behaviours. Clients will benefit from looking at childhood factors and relationships issues, both past and present. Clients will identify any limiting and self-defeating beliefs which may have contributed to harmful and alienating behaviours. Clients will learn to replace negative thought and behaviour patterns with self-affirming thoughts and behaviours. They will also explore and create support systems. It is my hope that clients will develop greater self-acceptance and kindness to Self.

A person with addiction usually goes straight from feelings into behaviour. And it is usually such an unbearable feeling that the person resorts to 'self-cure', i.e. substance abuse in order to bury it deep down inside. So after building trust, I carefully inquire about the painful events in the person's life. As alcohol and drug abuse is often sustained by denial, the client learns levels of discounting the problem (How am I lying to myself?). Often, clients will embrace alcohol/drugs because they have given up on people; sometimes, they don't know how to protect themselves from poisonous relationships: "discovering a 4-step approach to assertivity" can be of much help!

Addiction is often linked to unresolved and unprocessed complex trauma and it is also about codependency - reliance on something outside of oneself to cope with pain and suffering. I help clients create peace with unhealed parts in a safe space where emotions can be felt and processed. I may use CBT, Internal Family Systems theory, emotionally focused, mindfulness and/or energy based methods to change underlying codependent patterns and empower clients to face their deepest fears.

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.

Clients with lifelong addictions have found freedom and hope again. "The first time I saw Kathryn I was a mess! ...I was depressed, confused, hurt, angry and desolate and almost to the point of ending it all. Life just didn't seem worth living... Kathryn was so understanding and kind and helped me to change my negative thoughts into positive ones ...She also taught me that no one can make me feel anything happy, sad, lonely, miserable - these are my own thoughts and they come from my own guilt or shame,people just trigger them... I now want to live and I understand how important it really is to live an honest clean life and to care for and love myself like I never knew how to before."

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.

In working with people wrestling with addictions I utilize skills from DBT, EFFT and take a harm reduction, trauma informed approach to our work together. This may include working alongside a medical team to support you in recovery. This may include using skills for managing urges along with techniques for managing distressing emotions and thoughts as well as the physical impact on your health.

Whether you want to cut back or are seeking total abstinence, I will support you. Together we will come up with a plan detailing your goals and ways of getting there and discuss reintegrating meaning in your life. Addictions can crowd out everything else that was once important to you; counselling can help you reclaim things you have lost or identify and pursue new avenues. We will also pursue practical strategies for maintaining your gains and things to do to get “back on the horse” when you slip. Acceptance, kindness and collaboration are key features in my counselling style. I will never add judgement to the mix; chances are, you do enough of this already. Self compassion is key.

I am adept at support clients in finding the root of their addiction whether it be trauma or challenges with emotional regulation. Addictive behaviour always makes sense. Unfortunately, there is still so much shame, judgement and misunderstanding when it comes to addiction. I will help you make sense of your addictive behaviour and achieve freedom.

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.

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.

I've worked in Addiction for many years at treatment centres and in corrections. I'm well versed in the 12-steps approach and will apply this approach only when a client is interested and open to this. The 12-steps approach is not for everyone and so I also provide alternative ways to overcome or reduce one's addiction. Treatment of addiction starts with identifying one's triggers and then goes into alternative coping strategies that are proven to be effective. Time is also spent on examining the source of one's addiction so that change can happen more deeply. I view addiction as a symptom of a larger problem and believe if we mend the larger problem, the addiction will decrease.

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!

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.

Want to stop your addiction to alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling or porn, yet feeling very discouraged and hopeless? There is hope and help for you! I have years of amazing success helping people with addictions! The EMDR I use helps you make changes in your brain and your mind. It helps you to manage or eliminate your cravings to addictive substances or behaviours, and it causes them to become less rewarding. The hypnotherapy I use helps you understand the underlying causes of your addiction and reprogram certain beliefs in your subconscious mind that have fueled the addiction. You can free yourself from your daemon! It can no longer control you and ruin your life! Call ME 778-548-7345!

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.

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.