Addiction Therapists in West Vancouver, BC.

There is no magic bullet to treating addictions. Many addictions stem from a trifecta of circumstances: (1) a biological / chemical dependance (eg. alcohol leads to chemical changes how our brain and body's nervous system functions and communicates) , (2) a cognitive dependance (I deserve a drink at the end of the day, it helps me relax), and (3) a behavioural (eg. having a drink at a social event is normal, or helps me loosen up). Often addiction is a (not so) perfect storm of these three issues. The good news is that the Cognitive and Behavioural components are quite easy to begin to address; and, in turn, the biological / chemical component is also adjusted.

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.

Recovery from addiction is often challenging, but with the right support it is within reach. EMDR, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Enneagram Theory, and CBT are all useful techniques that Molly might use to address root causes for addictive thought patterns and behaviors. Molly hopes to work with you on strengthening your motivation to create lasting, healthy change and find true fulfillment in life.

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.

“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)

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.