Addiction Therapists in Richmond Hill, ON.

We can get adicted to anything that makes us feel good! Especially living in an "addictively oriented" society, it is easy for anyone to become addicted to a variety of things, like substances, relationships, processes, etc. I help people understand the process of addictions, and together we can work to overcome both the addiction itself, as well as learning to deal with the usually very human desires which are feeding it. The goal is to be able to life with, or through, the good and the bad without getting stuck in unhelpful ways of coping with life's challenges.

Addiction brings pain and chaos individuals, couples and families. I see addictions as poor and destructive coping mechanisms and work with individuals and couples to interrupt the behavior and work to process the pain underlying the behavior. I am very familiar with 12 step programs and CSAT work that help individuals and couples make sense out of the addiction. I also work within a complementary framework of attachment and the importance of strong close inter-dependent, not co-dependent relationships with the most important people in one's life, family. Call me for a consult about your particular needs and situation.

Are you experiencing difficulties with alcohol and substance use or abuse? Are you concerned that you have an addiction? Perhaps you are family member or friend who is concerned that someone close to you has an addiction. In therapy, we can explore your alcohol or drug use and its impact on your life and relationships. Together we can look at what decisions might be beneficial for you and your goals and we can work to unearth what is underlying some of the choices you have made and continue to make in your life. As a non-judgmental, caring professional, I can work with you to help reach the goals you set for yourself. I provide support and guidance to concerned family members and friends.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques for addictions are used in the form of reinforcement and conditioning as learning processes in the development of addictive behaviours. There are various skills that clients learn to identify and change problem behaviours to reduce or abstain from drug use. This entails monitoring early warning signs for drug or alcohol cravings, identifying high-risk environments and situations associated with substance use, exploring negative consequences of continued substance use, and developing effective strategies for coping with temptations to use and avoiding triggering high-risk environments.

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.

Addiction can come in many forms...drugs, food, sex, love, gambling, or anything that can make us feel safe and fill a void that nothing else can. Atlas Therapy believes in meeting clients where they are at in their readiness for change and support. This begins with providing resources as well as tools that can be used daily to help combat mental and physical cravings for drugs and alcohol. We also offer help for individuals who live with or are involved with someone who struggles with addiction.

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.

You know something needs to change, but you feel stuck in old, destructive patterns. You are coping with some painful emotions and experiences through the use of alcohol or another substance. There is another way to face the suffering, and I am here to help you find it. It is scary to take the first step in reaching out, but I can assure you that it is worth the risk.

First Step Men's Therapy works with men struggling with sex addiction, porn addiction, gambling addiction, substance misuse, and internet/video game addiction. Our work involves two parts: tackling the symptom of the addiction (the addiction itself), and the root causes of the addiction. Some root causes may include trauma, attachment issues, poor coping skills, emotional dysregulation, and poor self-care.

In my approach to addictions I work with clients to understand how the addiction may be helping them to cope and help them to learn alternate healthy coping mechanisms. Addressing related underlying issues may also be important in helping clients to leave the addiction behind. Although clients often find it difficult to let go of the addiction, they slowly feel ready as they begin to take steps and have more positive life experiences, which are also explored during therapy. Client strengths, motivations, hopes, and values are also considered and through these approaches clients begin to feel safe, satisfied, and happy living their life without the addiction.

I have years of experience working with those suffering from addictions. Addictions can be very challenging to overcome and relapse can be common. Learning to identify the underlying patterns and reasons why one may be experiencing this can help to transform the individual and stop the pattern. I approach each person as an individual--unique and whole, deserving to be treated as more than just a condition.

Along with a more conventional form of therapy for addictions, I will also focus on the cause of addictive behavior and will utilize less conventional methods of ferreting out the conditions, criteria, and even purpose (how does addictive behavior benefit you?) behind the behavior. Addictions are a complicated issue, and the more the client understands the deeply rooted causes of their behavior the better chance he or she may have in controlling the condition. It isn't just about stopping the behavior but discovering the meaning behind the choices being made.