Addiction Therapists in Keswick, ON.

While I have had little training for addiction, I can offer counselling for the anxiety, depression, family relationship challenges, and boundary-setting related to the addiction. Addiction often requires medical professionals, counsellors, family and a strong support system so I am often a member of a team helping a person and/or family. My passion is to find a cause for the use of addiction and this is explored with family of origin history and processing of past trauma experiences.

With 20 years of experience supporting clients with concurrent mental health and substance use issues, I provide a compassionate, evidence-based approach to addiction counseling. I help clients understand the connection between mental health and substance use, addressing underlying challenges such as trauma, mood disorders, and psychosis. Using CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing, I guide clients in developing healthier coping strategies, reducing cravings, and working toward lasting recovery. My goal is to support clients in regaining control, rebuilding their lives, and achieving long-term stability.

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.

Addiction often overtakes whole lives and keeps its victims in captivity taking away the joy and freedom. I work with you and support you to fight it off and rebuild your life. You develop skills to effectively cope with cravings, how to go through your emotions during rough time with no judgement, and keep moving forward towards healing the relationship you have with yourself and the relationships with the close ones and begin to savor the taste of life, free of 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.

Addiction can be a scary thing that is often surrounded by ambiguity and confusion: why do I continue to use when I know it is bad for me? Why do I want to use in the first place? Why can't I seem to stop using and why cant I change? In working with clients, step 1 of our work is figuring out the answers to these questions and figuring out why addiction occurs in the first place. After this, we explore tools, resources, and therapies that will best work for clients in helping them create the changes they need and to promote the lives they want.