Addiction Therapists in Lions Bay, BC.

Drugs, alchol, food ,sex, gambeling...these do not cause addiction. Many people use or have used these in their life and do not become addicted. Some people are much more vunerable to addiction than others. I understand this and work form a bio/phycho/social and mostly spiritual model. I have worked for many years with people in recovery...YOU can recover and re build your life now, you can have the life you deserve. If you or a loved one is suffering because of addiction please call me or go to any AA NA or ALONON meeting that you can.

I've worked in Addiction for many years at treatment centres and in corrections. I'm well versed in the 12-steps approach and will apply this approach only when a client is interested and open to this. The 12-steps approach is not for everyone and so I also provide alternative ways to overcome or reduce one's addiction. Treatment of addiction starts with identifying one's triggers and then goes into alternative coping strategies that are proven to be effective. Time is also spent on examining the source of one's addiction so that change can happen more deeply. I view addiction as a symptom of a larger problem and believe if we mend the larger problem, the addiction will decrease.

A person with addiction usually goes straight from feelings into behaviour. And it is usually such an unbearable feeling that the person resorts to 'self-cure', i.e. substance abuse in order to bury it deep down inside. So after building trust, I carefully inquire about the painful events in the person's life. As alcohol and drug abuse is often sustained by denial, the client learns levels of discounting the problem (How am I lying to myself?). Often, clients will embrace alcohol/drugs because they have given up on people; sometimes, they don't know how to protect themselves from poisonous relationships: "discovering a 4-step approach to assertivity" can be of much help!

Stuck in a rut? Trying to get out, but don't know how? Don't like AA? Let me help you unshackle yourself from that annoying addiction. Personalized help, skill building, and non-judgemental support in overcoming an addiction. Call 604-657-9534 now if you are ready to take a step into the first day of the rest of your life.

As a therapist with a specialty in Addictions Counseling, I can help you work through the underlying issues that may be a contributing factor to your addiction. I can help you identify triggers and help you with coping skills, which are also a contributing factor to addiction. Developing a strong sense of self is key to a healthier and happier you. I can help you learn how to set boundaries, increase your self-respect, and how to give yourself what you need.

I use a type of therapy called EMDR for addiction. This stands for Eye Movement Desensitizing and Reprocessing. Originally used for PTSD, it is very effective against addictions. It is a short term therapy that can be extremely effective in very little time. We identify triggers or urges that emerge just before one uses and we reprocess them so they are no longer triggering!

I provide support for those considering or determined to reduce or eliminate substances, problem gambling, or other compulsion. Whether the goal is cutting out the addictive behaviour or minimizing its impact, I work through motivational interviewing to help people access addiction treatment if needed. If treatment is not needed, I target the underlying problem such as anxiety, depression, or family conflict. So if you have a family member who requires assessment and direction, or you yourself need to know that you addiction is in good hands while you focus on another problem, I can help.

Addiction can affect every area of your life, from your physical health, mental health, emotional health, social life to your core values. I view addiction problems not through a lens of a lack of willpower, but through a lens of brain dysfunction and see that through brain training with Neurofeedback (NFB), processing with EMDR or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) there is a great potential for improvement.

Addiction counseling provides a holistic approach to supporting individuals struggling with substance use disorders and their loved ones. A safe and non-judgmental therapeutic relationship is used to explore the underlying causes of addiction, address co-occurring mental health issues, and develop personalized recovery plans. Additionally, counseling helps loved ones understand addiction as a complex disease and offers guidance on setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and fostering healthy communication within the family system. Through education, empathy, and ongoing support, addiction counseling empowers individuals and their loved ones to navigate challenges.

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.

As is often said in AA, your very best thinking has gotten you here. In other words, it's time to let yourself have the outside support you need. It's time to do something different. An important part of my role in working with clients who have addictions is helping them conceptualize what recovery means: while sobriety and/or abstinence are goals - they are merely steps along the journey of recovery. That is, without doing the inner work of healing, sobriety and/or abstinence are short-lived. Learning to identify and process one’s emotions in healthy ways, as well as establishing/re-establishing relationships with others and with self, are some examples of what recovery work entails.

My approach is that people seek out addiction unconsciously to mend a deep hurt inside and to fix feeling alone. I can walk beside you and over time help you to feel unalone, hopefully while in the process starting to look at your ways of coping with your addiction and how it affects you and your life. Finding new and healthier ways of living is something I hope to shed some light on for you, in hopes you may trust enough to step out into it.

I help individuals cope with addiction by aiming to understand the root cause of the addiction and how this is currently serving the individual by keeping them safe. Often individuals who have addictions have underlying issues such as anxiety, trauma, or mental health disorders. I work with individuals to identify their triggers and dysfunctional thought patterns and help modify their thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours that lead to addiction. Therapy can help to improve coping skills to manage stress, recognize triggers, and navigate through challenging moments in recovery.

I am adept at support clients in finding the root of their addiction whether it be trauma or challenges with emotional regulation. Addictive behaviour always makes sense. Unfortunately, there is still so much shame, judgement and misunderstanding when it comes to addiction. I will help you make sense of your addictive behaviour and achieve freedom.

Instead of viewing addiction as "bad" or something to get rid of, we'll look at the role addiction is playing in your life so that you can begin to develop a compassionate relationship with it. Addictions are very often protective mechanisms that help people numb, manage, and cope with overwhelming emotions, trauma, and stress. Understanding addiction in this light creates the conditions for healing the underlying traumas that are keeping us stuck in the addictive cycle. I'll help you develop new internal resources that will help you cope with cravings and triggers so you can make the shift from self-destructive behaviors to self-empowerment.

Clients with lifelong addictions have found freedom and hope again. "The first time I saw Kathryn I was a mess! ...I was depressed, confused, hurt, angry and desolate and almost to the point of ending it all. Life just didn't seem worth living... Kathryn was so understanding and kind and helped me to change my negative thoughts into positive ones ...She also taught me that no one can make me feel anything happy, sad, lonely, miserable - these are my own thoughts and they come from my own guilt or shame,people just trigger them... I now want to live and I understand how important it really is to live an honest clean life and to care for and love myself like I never knew how to before."

We employ addiction counseling as a specialized form of therapy to support clients in their journey toward overcoming addictive behaviors and fostering self-acceptance. Addiction counseling provides a compassionate and non-judgmental space for clients to explore and understand the underlying factors contributing to their addictive behaviors. Our skilled counselors employ evidence-based approaches such as motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and relapse prevention strategies to guide individuals in gaining insight into their addictive patterns, identifying triggers, and developing effective coping strategies.

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.

There is an interesting connection between trauma and addictions. When events or situations are perceived as life threatening or overwhelming (even though this might not be a conscious realization), the response to such overwhelming pain is logically to self-medicate. Treating addictions requires gently addressing how clients manage emotional, physical, and mental pain and sensitively building resources to find better coping strategies while healing old wounds.

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.

Whether you are struggling with an addiction such as alcohol or drug abuse, video gaming addiction, shopping addiction, gambling, ecc, most likely life is an emotional roller coaster for you AND the person who loves you. Addiction recovery is not about willpower but about identifying the underlying causes of your addiction OR your enabling behaviour and finding appropriate coping mechanisms to deal with stress and emotional overwhelm in healthy ways. As a certified Addiction Counsellor I specialize in working with LOVED ONES of addicts as well as the individual struggling with addiction using a blend of somatic and cognitive psychotherapy which has proven to be extremely effective.