Addiction Therapists in Milton, ON.

I am a highly trained and experienced Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT), trained by Dr. Patrick Carnes of the International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP). I am the only Certified Sex Addiction Therapist for a large area of southern Ontario. I offer programs for both addicts and partners of sex addicts, and hold Men's and Women's Groups . I am experienced in the treatment of all sexual addictions e.g. pornography, cybersex, sexual and emotional affairs, massage parlors, escorts and anonymous sex, etc. I am a facilitator of the Facing the Shadow Recovery Start Kit and an interpreter of sexual addiction tests. For more information see: www.btaylorsolutions.ca.

Addictions are a form of self-medication or self-soothing. When we are stressed or upset about something, we just want to 'feel good.' Addictions are the result of relying for too long on some substance or behavior that 'feels good' - and then turns into a pattern of behavior, or an addiction. The process of therapy for addictions, whether substances, internet porn or other problem behavior that has become an addiction, involves becoming aware of of the 'dis-ease' that resulted in the development of the addiction, and addressing that through your counseling.

Addictive behaviours may feel like comfort to the vacuum left by aloneness or detachment. The feeling of aloneness can start early. Children require a lot of emotional interaction to develop trust that their needs for support and caring will be met. If they don’t experience positive attachments, they may turn their needs for love and caring into physical cravings, which are easier to fill, and develop relationships with their addictions because they're more in control of them than those they look to for love and attention. I create a therapeutic environment in which individuals can deepen their understanding of their feelings and learn to trust their inner resources to connect with others.

Clients who come to me with addictions or substance misuse challenges will be met with a non-judgemental, consistently optimistic approach. Together, we will address the causes and course of the substance use, and resolve the issues that acted as the catalyst. We will identify possible triggers, develop effective strategies for harm-reduction and/or recovery, depending on the readiness, and goals of the individual. The pace of therapy will be guided by the client, and relapse will be accepted with understanding and compassion. Without question, it is difficult to overcome an addiction. But with the right support, insight and motivation, it is more than possible.

If we do something repeatedly, that we would rather not do, then we have an addiction. The problem with addictions is that people get hurt. The addicted person may not recognize the seriousness of their situation, but eventually both the addict and their loved ones suffer tremendously in a state of helplessness. Many families have been destroyed from addictive behaviour such as substance addiction (drugs/alcohol), gambling, sexual addictions, gaming/internet addictions. A counsellor can help. Workshops, groups, individual or family counselling can assist in breaking the devastating cycle of addiction. Coping skills and emotional awareness to negotiate compelling urges and compulsive in

Dealing with addiction is not easy. Addictions can put barriers between people and their relationships, families, work, and well-being. When the source of addiction becomes more important than everything else, it is time to seek help. I have worked with people from all walks of life: those who are working, with families; those who have experienced chronic homelessness as the result of their addictions; and those who are concerned about increased use of a substance or behaviour (drugs/alcohol/sex/gambling/shopping, etc.). I work with clients from a harm reduction perspective, in order to minimize the damage that a substance or behaviour is causing in a person's 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.

Addiction cannot be completely understood by education alone. So many people are instructed to just stop doing it or just break the habit. Neural pathways once formed provide us with the equivalent to wheel ruts that in our thinking that we default to time and time again. We can with behaviour modification haul ourselves out of the wheel rut, but that wheel rut remains there waiting for us to fall back into when we are vulnerable in moments where we choose to medicate ourselves with our own addiction. Understanding how to rid ourselves of the wheel rut is part of the dual diagnosis addressing addictions - all of them.

We view addictions compassionately, as a symptom of unresolved emotional pain or trauma, and offer an alternative to traditional AA/12-step models. Our therapists can support you in the journey towards processing and healing the underlying hurts that are resulting in addictions as a coping strategy. Together, we can build the emotional regulation, distress tolerance and impulse management skills on the inside that can reduce the reliance on addictions on the outside, so that pain isn't so overwhelming. We are trauma-focused and can help you navigate the complex interplay of shame, triggers, anxiety, secrecy, codependency, body sensations, relationship dynamics and relapse patterns.