Addiction Therapists in Bonfield, ON.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and DeTUR (Desensitization of Triggers and Urge Reprocessing) are powerful tools in addiction therapy. EMDR addresses underlying traumas contributing to addiction, diminishing their impact and associated triggers. DeTUR, a specialized form of EMDR, focuses on dismantling triggers and urges linked to addictive behaviors. Both techniques help individuals reprocess past experiences and cravings, fostering healthier coping mechanisms and reducing the risk of relapse, ultimately supporting long-term recovery from addiction.

"Addiction", whether it be over-using drugs, internet, sex, etc., is a means of seeking pleasure in order to mask difficult feelings and thoughts that you may be dealing with. Sometimes, the pain of difficult or traumatic experiences becomes so intense that we unknowingly turn to unhealthy means of gratification. It is my goal to collaboratively, delicately and thoughtfully explore the underlying reasons of your excessive use of drugs, internet, etc., and support the working through and acknowledgement of the feelings and thoughts associated with the underlying reasons. If you are persistent in obtaining health and a happier existence, you will experience healing and release from pain.

Addiction is a jump into a pool of dopamine (the reward hormone) before you've had a chance to earn it. Emotional sobriety occurs when you choose not to overreact. Substance sobriety occurs when you stop making your best friend a drink or a drug. Shopping sobriety occurs when you stop accumulating articles to feel better. Sexual sobriety occurs when you choose to stop using people as desired objects. Gambling sobriety occurs when you bet on yourself. All addictions are examples of the reward system being hijacked. Sobriety often requires the support of others, which means you give up your secret. Sobriety is not easy to achieve or hang on to. If you'd like to try, I may be able to help.

Addiction is a multifaceted challenge, and understanding its roots is key to recovery. While I do not offer therapy sessions for addiction, we have several addiction specialists at Psychotherapy Collective who are available to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with you to ensure they are the proper fit for your journey. Visit our profiles at https://www.psychotherapycollective.ca/our-team

We are social beings who thrive when we feel connected to others. When we are unable to connect with our loved ones, we feel painful disconnection. These feelings of disconnection can lead us to explore other strategies to feel good, even temporarily. The use of substances or addictive behaviours can temporarily reduce our feelings of emotional and physical pain while increasing our sense of pleasurable feelings. Because it is temporary, we must continue to engage in these addictive practices to cope with feeling disconnected, and our use becomes more problematic and destructive. Together, we will explore the disconnection that is driving the addictive behaviour.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Alcohol use disorder (AUD) can affect mental and physical health, relationships, work, and quality of life. There are many factors that contribute to drug and alcohol use and addiction counselling can help a person explore these factors as well discuss motivation to change the cycle of addiction. I use a blend of CBT and DBT to help give practical skills to help with cravings, emotional regulation and thought processes. Addiction counselling works to: • Strengthen a persons self-worth • Develop alternative ways to manage stress • Prepare and manage triggers • Develop skills to help manage cravings • Help with broken relationship