Addiction Therapists in Ottawa, ON.

I have a harm reduction approach to addiction. I am able to work with individuals that are managing their addictions and are wanting to decrease their usage. I can help with developing a plan to avoid triggering situations, developing safety and support plans. I can also help individuals to utilize coping strategies to better deal with powerful thoughts. However, I want to stress the importance of attending a treatment facility if the issues are severe.

The underlying issues and struggles are explored in a climate of safety and a non-judgmental setting. Whereas difficult feelings are discussed and dealt with but in new and constructive ways. It is with greater self-awareness of their thought patterns and behaviours ensuring accountability that prevents a high risk of relapse. Choosing personal behavioural goals of either abstinence or reduction in defining their successes proves rather empowering.

I work with adult and adolescent clients who are struggling with a wide variety of addiction issues (e.g. substances, eating, gaming, gambling, sex, etc.), and who are in different stages of working on these issues. Addictions often begin as a way to regulate emotions, or cope with anxiety or pain but sometimes these issues can take on a life of their own. I support clients to examine the role that addiction issues may be playing in their lives, and work with clients to find an approach to recovery that best suits their needs.

Addiction and or overuse or abuse of drugs, prescription medicine, and or alcohol is toxic for the client and toxic for the family. Admitting a problem, or reluctantly agreeing to seek help at a loved one's suggestion is the first step. My counselling is abstinence based until otherwise agreed upon. Moderation can be a goal with some however, typically only after at least a year of abstinence. Addiction counselling is non judgement, not contemptuous but demands honesty and disclosure. The goal is abstinence and relapse prevention in a supportive, caring and healing model.

Gaining recovery from addiction will help you to feel empowered and more in control of how your life enfolds. You can begin to proactively choose beneficial goals and outcomes, rather than being at the mercy of a behaviour or a substance. Gaining the ability to live in the present--rather than, consciously or unconsciously, constantly focusing on capturing a future state promised by a substance or behaviour--can offer you new-found appreciation and joy in your everyday surroundings and bring you back to self-love.

Addictive behaviors can be really difficult to give up. But, just because it is difficult does not mean it can't be done. We have learned to engage in our addictive behaviors for different reasons and what we have learned can be unlearned. With Cognitive Behavior Therapy, we identify our reasons for engaging in such behaviors and the thoughts that go with it. We get rid of the irratiional and enabling thoughts and replace them with more rational thinking so we start to feel better thus, choose to engage in more fulfilling replacement behaviors. To quit the addictive behavior, we do not have to want to quit. What we have to want is something more than the addictive behavior.

Any form of addiction (alcoholism, drug abuse, eating disorders, gambling, etc) can be addressed by helping people to learn how to tolerate their emotions. It's not easy to learn, but learning to tolerate having feelings and gaining control over your emotions is a rewarding experience. Sometimes a more in-depth approach is required, in which case I would help you to find a program that would meet your needs.

The Addiction Psychology Service at the Centre for Interpersonal Relationships is a private, office-based service offering individualized and flexible psychological assessment and treatment of substance use and gambling difficulties. Substance use and gambling are part of the lives of many individuals. Occasionally, some experience problems with their physical and mental health, personal relationships, or school or work as a result of substance use or gambling. CFIR therapists offers scientifically-based, short-term or long-term psychotherapy options to assist clients in changing their substance use or gambling behaviour.

In a supportive and empathic environment I help people suffering from an addiction to develop trust, build motivation to change, implement and maintain strategies to change as monitor their recovery process and journey of self-discovery. I work with both cognitive and behavioral techniques on the cycle of addiction as well as insight-oriented methods to develop a healthier and more productive whole person.

While using a motivational interviewing and stages of change approaches Clients struggling with addictions will set realistic goals in their recovery. In therapy they will work on developing awareness of the triggers that have contributed to their addiction and work on developing better coping strategies to increase their chances of remaining sober or reducing their drug/alcohol intake.

“What is addiction really? It is a sign, a signal, a symptom of distress. It is a language that tells us about a plight that must be understood.” Alice Miller (in; Breaking down the Wall of Silence). “In the search for truth human beings take two steps forward and one step back. Suffering, mistakes and weariness of life thrust them forward, but the thrust for truth and stubborn will drive them forward. And who knows? Perhaps they will reach the real truth at last.” Anton Chekhow (in; The Deal) Conquering addictions is a life long process, filled with pitfalls and temptations. Therapeutic engagement is best thought of as a progression of stages, not in any particular order, but best taken in....

In my counselling and hypnotherapy practice when I am working with a person who has addictions I impress upon them the fact that in the true definition of addiction it is a life-long challenge. For example, an alcoholic is an alcoholic for the rest of their life. They can also choose to be "dry" (without alcohol) for the rest of their life. It is actually very important to acknowledge when a person is addicted because then it does not mean that the person is "weak" or not really trying to rehabilitate themselves when they experience a fall-back. It reinforces the necessity of staying away from the addiction because of the serious impact that it has on their career path and social 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.