Addiction Therapists in Smiths Falls, ON.

Substance use/ Addiction is on a continuum. It can be something we occasionally due to numb out some distressing feelings, or it can be something that we can't function without. Wherever you are on the continuum, there is always room to shift. In therapy, we can help you gain new perspectives and learn strategies for managing your use, including exploring the areas of your life your use affects (i.e. relationships, emotions, healing, functioning, etc.). Our clinicians greet each of our clients with non-judgment and meet you where you’re at. If you're wanting to feel more in control of your substance use- Book a consultation or session today! www.kaleidoscopecounsellingco.com

Sarah has experience working with clients dealing with addictions in many areas including alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling and in less obvious areas such as food, work and shopping. Sarah can assist you in exploring the ways in which addictions are negatively impacting your life and those you love, the root causes and triggers for your addiction and can assist you in resolving the emotional and practical issues which drive your addictive patterns. She will work with you to develop accountability networks, connect you with community support groups and will provide you with practical strategies/resources to assist you in gaining control over the addictions in your life.

I specialize in work with couples post sobriety. If you have completed an in patient treatment program or are in process of maintaining sobriety or maintaining a clean lifestyle I can help. I understand the changes in relationships that addictions bring. I also understand relationships can shift dramtically when one partner becomes clean and or sober. I will help you find a new way of being together or in relationships now that the path to sobriety is the one you are on.

I provide individuals with a safe space where they will have the opportunity to openly address any aspect of their life that may present difficulties while trying to overcome addiction. Psychotherapy can also be effective for individuals who have a history of addiction and are emotionally and interpersonally vulnerable. I can offer coping-focused psychotherapy to help you learn the practical and specific ways in which you can cope with your problems. These may be addiction, relapse prevention, panic, anxiety, and depression.

Addiction is a multifaceted challenge, and understanding its roots is key to recovery. While I do not offer therapy sessions for addiction, we have several addiction specialists at Psychotherapy Collective who are available to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with you to ensure they are the proper fit for your journey. Visit our profiles at https://www.psychotherapycollective.ca/our-team

Having an addiction is not a sign of weakness or lack of character. In fact, reaching out for help and being open to change takes a great deal of strength. My approach is one of openness and non-judgment. I follow a harm reduction approach meaning that I respect my clients right to set their own goals which will then guide our sessions. I appreciate that not everyone is ready to, nor wants to, work towards full sobriety. Harm reduction is about reducing the negative impact that substance use has on that person’s well-being and life. I strongly believe that any positive change is a success. If you think that my approach would work for you, please book a free consultation.

In a supportive and empathic environment I help people suffering from an addiction to develop trust, build motivation to change, implement and maintain strategies to change as monitor their recovery process and journey of self-discovery. I work with both cognitive and behavioral techniques on the cycle of addiction as well as insight-oriented methods to develop a healthier and more productive whole person.

Addiction is my specialty. I am an addict with 16 years of recovery and I have seen hundreds of clients with all kinds of addiction issues. My method is to address past issues that drove the formation of the addiction while simultaneously dealing with the daily here-and-now issues that prevent it from ending. I use a task-based approach to recovery where each task includes a combination of a variety of therapies. It gives the therapy a framework and backbone. And it also involved some homework on your part. Addiction recovery is not as complicated as it may sound. You do have to give it your all. And it helps to have someone in your corner.

Addictions, are characterized by an over focus and dependence on something (even a relationship) that serves to keep us disconnected from inner pain, and thus the ability to deal with that pain. Being locked in this pattern of dependence, can be quite destructive to your inner and outer worlds. I work with helping you to reconnect with your essential self, with helping you identify and address limiting and painful patterns, and navigate your way to the life that you want. If you are someone struggling with being in a codependent relationship I provide support to assist you with accessing your own wisdom to move towards a life and relationships that are more peaceful and fulfilling.

[I OFFER VIDEO SESSIONS THROUGHOUT ALBERTA AND ONTARIO]. I know what it is like to be an addict. I have been in recovery from my addiction for several years now. I am also an international expert in this field. My American textbook called “Addictions Counseling Today: Substances and Addictive Behaviors” was published recently. I have been a practicing psychologist since 1986. If you need a competent psychologist, book now at https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14249112

Gaining recovery from addiction will help you to feel empowered and more in control of how your life enfolds. You can begin to proactively choose beneficial goals and outcomes, rather than being at the mercy of a behaviour or a substance. Gaining the ability to live in the present--rather than, consciously or unconsciously, constantly focusing on capturing a future state promised by a substance or behaviour--can offer you new-found appreciation and joy in your everyday surroundings and bring you back to self-love.

We are social beings who thrive when we feel connected to others. When we are unable to connect with our loved ones, we feel painful disconnection. These feelings of disconnection can lead us to explore other strategies to feel good, even temporarily. The use of substances or addictive behaviours can temporarily reduce our feelings of emotional and physical pain while increasing our sense of pleasurable feelings. Because it is temporary, we must continue to engage in these addictive practices to cope with feeling disconnected, and our use becomes more problematic and destructive. Together, we will explore the disconnection that is driving the addictive behaviour.

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.

Feeling out of control and unable to stop engaging in harmful behaviours can feel shameful, over-whelming and hopeless. My approach to addiction treatment is based in a harm reduction model. This approach acknowledges that maintaining abstinence may not be a realistic goal. Without judgement we will work together to set realistic goals that seek to reduce the negative impacts of your addiction. You may choose to explore the roots of your addiction and any other related issues. It will always be up to you. Please reach out for a consult so we can assess whether I am the right therapist to help you move toward change and stability.

Addiction is a jump into a pool of dopamine (the reward hormone) before you've had a chance to earn it. Emotional sobriety begins when you learn how to avoid overreacting Substance sobriety occurs when you stop making your best friend a drink or a drug. Shopping sobriety occurs when you stop accumulating articles to feel better at the moment. Sexual sobriety occurs when you choose to stop using people as desired objects. Gambling sobriety occurs when you bet on yourself. All addictions are examples of the reward system being hijacked. Sobriety often requires support, which means you begin by giving up your secret. I may be able to offer you the non-judgemental therapy you need.