Addiction Therapists in Murrayville, BC.

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.

I have worked in a number of treatment centres and I am able to help clients face the fear of not having their addiction to deal with life's difficult times and the subsequent emotions . I work with clients struggling with addictions to the internet, gambling, shopping, drugs and alcohol, exercise and work. By looking at the purpose/reason behind the addictive or compulsive behaviour the client is able to begin to resolve their relationship with their addiction and to be free!!

Addictions can crowd out everything else that was once important to you; counselling can help you reclaim things you have lost. I will support you and I will not judge you. I am consistently positive and hopeful in the Lord. Together we will come up with a plan detailing your goals and ways of getting there and discuss reintegrating meaning in your life. We will also pursue practical strategies for maintaining your gains. Jesus catches you when you fall. He never forsaken you no matter what. Trust in the Lord's healing is there. I connect and provide referrals to physicians, residential treatment facilities, support groups, detox, acupuncture or naturopathic medicine.

I consider myself an expert in addiction therapy. My focus is not the addictive substance or activity. I focus on the root cause for why you engage in the various activities for the purpose of self-medication. As we flesh out the emotional and traumatic scars from past life events, you will find that your desire to self-medicate reduces significantly.

My approach to substance use counselling is influenced by my experience in this field. Whether your goals are for moderation or abstinence, I will work with you to create your substance use goals and we will work on strategies that support you reaching and maintaining your goals. Without judgement and with compassion, I will support your path toward your personal goals.

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.

Have you ever had fresh baking in the house that were saving for Christmas or some other celebration? You had to stop yourself from eating it. How it called your name while you were watching TV, or sent visions of sugar plums dancing in your head while you were hungry cooking dinner? Well that is a small snap shot of the feeling of addiction. Having such a strong compelling desire to experience the rewarding outcome, regardless of how short-lived it might be. Well not all compulsions ( or addictions) are only as dangerous and life changing as a 5 lb weight gain encountered by January 2. Some addictions can own us to the point that there is nothing left of who we really are, or were.

If you have an addiction you are likely using a substance or addictive behaviour to manage your life and to help you get through the night ... Addictions have a down side, of course, which is why you are looking for help. There is often trauma or grief waiting to be managed and these feelings can be very intense. The consequences of your addiction often impact your relationships and may be connected to past relationship stresses. You don't need to face these things alone. We can explore your situation together and find ways to support you in creating new strategies for managing your addiction. From there, you can create a healthier and happier life.

After working with clients that struggled with drugs and alcohol addiction, I learned that these clients need ongoing support after they leave their treatment programs. I help clients explore their stresses, traumas, and their mental and physical vulnerabilities to address the issues behinds their addictive behaviour patterns. The treatment plan includes an incorporation of mindful exercise and CBT techniques to regulate stress responses and reduce the stressors. Other evidence based techniques and literature is included in the plan to assist the client in adjusting to physiological and mental changes with no addiction and replacing it with positive changes.

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.

Individuals who suffer from addiction could come from a very complicated background. This could include complications, crises, and trauma from the first few years of life up until the present time. To treat addiction, we use a biopsychosocial model of treatment which is focused on all aspects of the individual's life. In treating addiction, we use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Human-Centered Approach, Emotion Focused Therapy, and other therapeutic approaches as needed. Since individuals who suffer from addiction come from diverse backgrounds, we help each individual through their recovery by focusing on their unique needs and helping them toward their best healing journey.

I view addiction with true compassion as it can be so painfully difficult to battle. I feel for those suffering and those who love them. Well-recognized addictions include use of cigarettes, alcohol, street drugs, and marijuana, but I personally believe that issues like self-harm and trichotillomania (skin-picking) can be seen as addictions as well. I support people no matter where they are in their substance use or behaviour, from those ready and wanting to stop to those not there yet. I also support harm reduction, abstinence, or a combination of these. EMDR Therapy and DBT are both effective approaches depending on your story, your goal, and where you are at.

Having any kind of addiction places stress onto a person as well as his/her/they family and friends. As a clinical therapist, it is important to stress to the client that a person develops an addiction for a number of reasons, and that the identified addiction is a coping mechanism that was developed during a time of stress and emotional challenge. Providing an atmosphere of safety and acceptance is needed for a client to become vulnerable and to seek support. Addictions are both physical and physiological. Helping a person understand the nature and underlying needs that are being met is essential in the change process.

Feeling stuck and ready for a change? Not sure how to start? I have supported people of all ages to identify patterns in their lives that negatively impact their quality of life and their relationships. If you feel pushed around by addiction, I'd be happy to help you learn how to change your relationship with: substances, compulsive internet use or gaming, impulsive spending, unhealthy eating. smoking and/or attraction to toxic relationships so that you may take your power back and live the life you really want to live.

Addiction doesn't happen in isolation, nor does the recovery process. For those who are struggling with addiction, I work by helping you find yourself again through connection with others, whether it's the counselling relationship, AA, support or religious groups. Ideally, addiction is an inherent desire to feel connected to something or someone, regardless of the intensity and frequency of the behaviour. A trauma-informed approach helps address addiction by recognizing that substance use often develops as a coping strategy for unresolved trauma. By creating safety, fostering trust, and helping clients process underlying pain rather than just symptoms, this approach supports lasting healing.

In my approach to addictions counseling and treatment, I prioritize a holistic and compassionate approach that recognizes the complexity of addiction and its underlying factors. I provide a safe and non-judgmental space where clients feel supported as they explore the roots of their addictive behaviors. By utilizing evidence-based techniques such as motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based relapse prevention, I assist clients in developing insight into their triggers, coping mechanisms, and patterns of behavior.

Addiction can be debilitating. However, recovery is possible. In my 25 years working as an addiction counsellor, I have come to learn that addiction is usually the symptom of a deeper issue, perhaps an unresolved trauma or loss. My approach is to address and heal the initial trauma and then explore new ways of coping and being in the world. In this way, an individual can live life more authentically and be free from the grip of addiction.

Addiction can leave you feeling stuck, as though you’re trapped in a cycle that’s hard to break—even if life on the outside appears to be functioning. Whether or not you identify as a “functional addict,” addiction often impacts many areas of life, from relationships to mental and physical health. In therapy, we’ll help you understand the nature of addiction, identify your triggers, and develop practical tools to support lasting recovery. Our goal is to help you break free from the patterns that no longer serve you so you can move toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.

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.

Addiction isn’t the problem — it’s the solution your nervous system found to survive. In my counselling practice, I offer a compassionate, trauma-informed space to explore the pain beneath the pattern. Together, we slow down, listen to the body, and understand what your behaviour has been protecting. Healing begins with safety, honesty, and connection. If you’re ready to meet your story with gentleness and reclaim your freedom, I’m here to walk with you.

Olivia has a deep passion for helping individuals overcome addictions and specializes in guiding clients through various struggles. As a Certified Sexual Recovery Therapist, Certified Partner Betrayal Trauma Therapist, and Certified Partner Recovery Therapist, she brings expertise in addressing sexual addiction, love addiction, and their impact on relationships. Olivia has experience leading freedom and life transformation groups, empowering clients to reclaim their lives and find healing. She also works with those battling other addictive behaviours. Her compassionate and informed approach fosters hope, growth, and long-term transformation for individuals and their loved ones.

Has an addiction to sex, porn, alcohol, drugs, or any other addiction caused problems in your life? Has an addiction caused problems in your relationship or your family? If so, my counselling approach can bring understanding of the reasons of your addiction and ways you can manage issues more effectively. We will discuss your unique situation and address underlying causes of the addiction and offer solutions to get your life back on track and live a more fulfilled and happy 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.

In line with Gabor Mate, I am convinced that all addiction is rooted in pain, and this overwhelming pain is connected to unhealed trauma. I believe that addiction is a treatable condition, and that everyone has the capacity for healing and growth. Since trauma is an emotional wound/injury, true healing can only occur within contexts that provide corrective emotional experiences that will produce positive brain change.This is why therapy can be so powerful. A skilled therapist helps clients get back in touch with themselves, which results in recovery.

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.