Addiction Therapists in South Surrey, BC.

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.

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.

I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for addiction treatment. Through this approach we will look for connections between the thoughts, feelings and actions for clients and how this is impacting on their recovery. We will go over if there are other co-occurring disorders as well such as anxiety or depression. We will go over tracking the urges weekly and go over distress tolerance skills and mindfulness skills in practicing to not act on the urges that do come up.

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.

My qualifications include a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology and I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. I am also completing the education and supervision hours needed for certification as a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT-Candidate) and Certified Couples Betrayal Recovery Therapist (CCBRT-Candidate) with the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP). The programs offered by IITAP have provided me with specialized training, strategies, and tools to support and rebuild relationships that have been shaken by infidelity, problematic sexual behaviors, complex trauma, mistrust, and addiction.

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.

My hope for clients facing challenges with addictions is that they will develop an openness and willingness to explore the underlying issues related to the addictive behaviours. Clients will benefit from looking at childhood factors and relationships issues, both past and present. Clients will identify any limiting and self-defeating beliefs which may have contributed to harmful and alienating behaviours. Clients will learn to replace negative thought and behaviour patterns with self-affirming thoughts and behaviours. They will also explore and create support systems. It is my hope that clients will develop greater self-acceptance and kindness to Self.

Addiction treatment is a challenging and ongoing process that requires a lot of support. What is often helpful for clients is using a CBT approach or a DBT approach which has been shown with evidence-based research to help manage addiction. Some of the focusses in counselling with addiction is often to prevent relapse, have better communication, improve family relationships, discovering better and healthier ways to cope than using the addiction. We would also discuss other factors that can help manage the addiction, such as meditation, religious involvement, and others.

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.

Working through addiction can be a raw and difficult process, that often reveals the pain that the addiction was helping to disguise. My approach to treating addiction applies cognitive awareness and mindfulness strategies to managing and reducing addictive tendencies and impulses. Addiction tends to thrive in isolation, so having a guide to help anticipate the struggle of addiction, identify and exercise strategies that are clinically effective in relief of addiction, and trauma.

Darcy Bailey & Associates offer specialized intervention for teens, youth and young adults with potential drug and alcohol problems. We will provide a treatment plan specific to the issues a well as explore any possible underlying issues related to the substance use. Counselling can help a teen and parents: -to cope and manage in healthy ways - deal with the underlying uncomfortable feelings the drug and alcohol use may be covering up - understand the role of substances - assisting and supporting parents as to how to help their youth and how to respond

“It was a long and heavy day and I just need to break the edge.” “I communicate better after few drinks” “I can’t fall asleep if I don’t have my…” When a substance becomes a “priority”, or becomes overused, it begins to creep into and destroy an individual’s health, family, relationship and even work. The question becomes "Do I have control over it or does it have control over me?". Often substances are used as coping mechanism without realizing that it often creates even more anxiety and depression, leaving a person feeling more stress and low down the road. Feeling anxious without a "quick fix" or a “temporary Band-Aid” is a strong indicator that a person is or has lost control with the desired substance. In counselling, we work to support...(view profile to read more)

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.

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.