Addiction Therapists in Calgary, AB.

One of the most common issues I help clients work with is addictions. Almost all of us struggle with one form of addiction or another, whether it's alcohol, drugs, marijuana, gambling, social media, sex, or something else. In almost all instances, addictions are a maladaptive coping mechanism that helps us to avoid difficult feelings. By helping clients explore, in a safe and non-judgmental space, I help them to open up their wounds, so that they can process their emotions, gain an understanding of the processes at work, and move into a more healthy relationship with themselves and their addiction, and in some instances, completely replace it something much healthier.

Ready for change? In your life, relationships, and with yourself ? Change begins with you. Exploring how your addiction has influenced your life and imagining how your life can be by rewriting your relationship with addiction. Our lives and our pathways are not written in stone. When we tell our stories in ways that can make us stronger, we can discover - we are not the problem - the problem is the problem. When we separate ourselves from the problem, we can begin to revise our relationships with problems and gain new insight into different ways we can live our lives. I can help you discover ways to reclaim your past and re-envision your future and change your relationship with addiction.

Addictions can appear in many forms including substance addictions, internet addiction, sex addiction, gambling addiction, shopping addiction, pornography, social media, excessive exercise, food, etc. Strong cravings with a loss of control can lead people to become addicted in spite of possible dire consequences. Counselling is one of several possible treatments available for addictions. Individual, group and family therapies have been found to be helpful in order to inform a client regarding the harmful effects the addiction may have on themselves, their friends, family and society. Promoting physical, emotional and spiritual well being is often critical for the rehabilitation process.

Feeling trapped in a cycle of addiction? Are you using to escape reality? Do you feel like you can't function without your addictive crutches? Do you struggle to control your cravings, and your loved ones are worried? If any of any of this sounds familiar, counselling can help. Let's work together to break free from the chains of addiction and regain control of your life. Imagine building stronger relationships with family and friends, living a healthier life, and finding emotional balance and inner peace. Take the first step towards a brighter future today. Book your free 15-minute consultation now.

[I OFFER VIDEO SESSIONS THROUGHOUT ALBERTA AND ONTARIO]. I know what it is like to be an addict. I have been in recovery from my addiction for several years now. I am also an international expert in this field. My American textbook called “Addictions Counseling Today: Substances and Addictive Behaviors” was published recently. I have been a practicing psychologist since 1986. If you need a competent psychologist, book now at https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14249112

As a counsellor with years of experience working with addiction and its effects on the family, I have the skills to help you gain insights, change your behaviours, heal your pain and recover a sense of wholeness for life. My goal is to help you find a way out of the bondage of self hate, shame, and pain that is often caused by living with addiction. I believe that with hard work, you can regain the hope that this disease steals.

For every woman, the first step towards freedom from addiction is always the step of coming to believe in freedom and to believe that freedom is possible. We can show you a way out of the guilt and away from the shame that keeps you from the love your heart longs for. Reject the lie that you will always be an addict, reclaim your ability to know truth and choose life!

Having worked previously at an addictions treatment facility for over 9 years, I have seen both the damage caused by a variety of addictions and the ability of individuals to arrest addictive behaviors and re-build healthy addiction-free lives. Whether you are attempting to moderate your use of an addictive substance or behavior, or abstain completely, therapy is an important tool. Together we will explore your triggers for addiction, relapse prevention strategies, and look at the resources available to you as you recover.

I will work with you to understand the underlying emotional and psychological factors contributing to your addiction. I employ a harm-reduction approach to substance abuse treatment as opposed to complete and sudden abstinence. I will work with you to build effective coping strategies, heal trauma and provide techniques which will help you navigate the stress and complexity of long-term recovery.

Do you ever wonder what it would feel like to truly be free? Not just hanging on for dear life and hiding a life of secrets, but to be truly able to look in the mirror and say, "I'll never go back again?" You don't need to wonder anymore. Let us walk with you as you discover how to be free of that hunger inside and to never feel that fear again. Our Registered Christian Addictions Counselling can help you set love in order and you can truly live again!

An addiction, whether to a substance or a behaviour, is an attempt to alleviate distress, self-soothe or fill an emptiness. The substance or behavior cannot bring relief because it is not what you truly need. No matter how you have been self-medicating your stress and pain thus far, I can help you treat the underlying issues in ways that are life-sustaining rather than destructive. The earlier you get help, the better. I will compassionately help you no matter how many times you have tried to quit and will help you establish ways that will help you stay quit. I provide therapy for various addictions with a sex addiction specialty. I help those addicted as well as their families.

The question is not why the addiction, but why the pain (Dr. Gabor Mate). Addictions can be difficult to overcome because it both causes problems AND medicates the pain of life in the short-term. Also, there is great stigma from society around addiction--so many have said, Why dont you just stop using? Motivational interviewing, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Relapse-Prevention techniques can be very helpful in supporting people through recovery rather than shaming them towards quitting a substance without dealing with whatever is underlying the addiction.

In our early environments, we absorb a lot of information about ourselves and the world. Sometimes this stuff is positive – like language or self-soothing, but sometimes it comes from a disruptor and is not. Things like criticism, alcohol used by a parent, detachment from parents, perfectionism, or whatever can cause limiting beliefs about one’s self.

Addiction is a beast; one I have fought for most of my life, and beating it (and continuing to beat it every day) is one of the hardest things I've ever done. I'm also living proof that it can be done. I'm different in that I'm not here to enforce any programs on you and will never judge you. I will work with who you are as a person to determine how best you can recover, on your terms.

Addiction is often the surface problem, it's a way of staying away from a greater pain that is below the surface. Doing addiction counselling with me is a gentle and compassionate process of tending to the real issues below the addiction, so that there is no longer a need to engage in this harmful behaviour. When you pull out the roots of a weed, the weed will not grow back, and real change has been achieved!

This isn't who you are. Is it time for a change? Ready to consider doing something different in your life? My approach to addictions looks at behavioral, emotional and cognitive changes that can support your recovery, building a new you and a new life. Drawing on CBT and other approaches, the supportive, non-judging space I provide teaches you practical strategies to cope with life, alternative (aka more rewarding and fulfilling) behaviors (and to learn to like them!), and helps you heal. You'll come to know greater freedom and satisfaction with who you are, your relationships, and with your life.

I help clients with addictions using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a research-based form of therapy in which I am certified. Strategies include avoiding high-risk situations and activities, managing urges and emotions, thinking of the benefits of staying on track and the downsides of using, and countering permission-giving thoughts.

What emotions are your addiction trying to mask? What are you escaping from? Is your addiction costing you your relationship, your family, your work? Your addiction or dependency, is serving a purpose. Let’s explore, understand and uncover what that purpose is and what the core issues are. It’s time to lead a healthier and more intentional life.

Overcoming addiction is a challenging journey that requires support, understanding, and effective strategies. I offer specialized therapy to help individuals address substance abuse and addictive behaviors. Through a combination of evidence-based practices, including CBT and motivational interviewing, we will work on developing healthier coping mechanisms, understanding the underlying causes of addiction, and creating a personalized recovery plan. My goal is to support you in achieving lasting recovery and rebuilding a life free from addiction.