Addiction Therapists in Stouffville, ON.

Addiction can occur with many substances and activities - alcohol, street drugs, prescription drugs, caffeine, food, porn, sex, gambling, Together, we will gain insight into the root of your addiction and the purpose it has served in your life. I will provide us with the compassionate and supportive dynamic essential to your journey of creating the life experience you desire.

Approaches to addressing addictions really vary from one treatment setting to another. My approach focuses on helping people manage their addictions. Not everyone chooses abstinence, and not everyone needs to. In fact, for many problem drinkers learning to become a controlled drinker can offer a more sustainable way of living. I tend to work with people to help them manage their addictions in a way that is sustainable, and in a way that works for their personal situation.

Contrary to what is believed, addiction usually starts with a positive impact on a person’s life and even sometimes saves their life. However, as the time goes by, this creative adjustment becomes outdated and turns into a problem. Therefore, working with addiction should not be about illuminating the symptoms or the manifestations of the addiction, but rather trying to understand the reasons underlying the addiction and the function that it used to serve. A successful recovery is only possible through understanding and even respecting the addiction. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit.

Are you experiencing difficulties with alcohol and substance use or abuse? Are you concerned that you have an addiction? Perhaps you are family member or friend who is concerned that someone close to you has an addiction. In therapy, we can explore your alcohol or drug use and its impact on your life and relationships. Together we can look at what decisions might be beneficial for you and your goals and we can work to unearth what is underlying some of the choices you have made and continue to make in your life. As a non-judgmental, caring professional, I can work with you to help reach the goals you set for yourself. I provide support and guidance to concerned family members and friends.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse or addictions, please contact one of our trained professionals at Reflection centre. We provide a safe, compassionate, nonjudgmental environment to support you and your family’s needs through this difficult time. "The question is not why the addiction, but why the pain." - Gabor Maté

Transform your approach to overcoming addiction with a blend of Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Emotionally Focused Therapy. This unique combination empowers clients by identifying personal goals, building on strengths, and addressing the emotions behind addictive behaviors. Motivational Interviewing fosters commitment to change, Solution-Focused Therapy enhances resilience, and Emotionally Focused Therapy deepens self-awareness. Together, these approaches offer a compassionate path to lasting recovery, helping clients regain control and reconnect with their best selves.

"Addiction", whether it be over-using drugs, internet, sex, etc., is a means of seeking pleasure in order to mask difficult feelings and thoughts that you may be dealing with. Sometimes, the pain of difficult or traumatic experiences becomes so intense that we unknowingly turn to unhealthy means of gratification. It is my goal to collaboratively, delicately and thoughtfully explore the underlying reasons of your excessive use of drugs, internet, etc., and support the working through and acknowledgement of the feelings and thoughts associated with the underlying reasons. If you are persistent in obtaining health and a happier existence, you will experience healing and release from pain.

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.

Merriam-Webster’s definition states: Addiction: a strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such as a drug) or do something (such as gamble). The key word is harmful. In this light, one could even postulate people can be addicted to arguing and fighting, to the chemicals released from the adrenal gland during "fight or flight"? Did you know the actual term “addiction” was originally used in the slave trade? (S. Luper-Foy C. Brown (ed.) (1994). Drugs, Morality, and the Law. Garland). When a slave was sold to the “owner”, they were said to be addicted to their master which meant “tied to”. Well, if you and I can be tied to something… yes… we can be untied! www.jeffpacker.com

As smart as we humans are, we can so easily fall into habits and addictions that defy reason and rationale, yet every habit is born from a positive intent. From my deep understanding of classical conditioning and behavioral change, I can help you to uncover the origins of your addiction and work to break free once and for all. I currently have a 90% success rate for smoking cessation using hypnosis using methods that are tailored specifically to each of my clients, since I truly believe that one size does not fit all. Are you ready to get the help you need?

I provide a cognitive behavioural approach to addictive behaviours. During therapy sessions we work together to identify the thoughts and habits that lead to unwanted behaviours. We then discuss and develop new thoughts and habits to change the addictive behaviours. Addictive behaviours addressed in session include; alcohol, food, drugs . In session we also discuss changes in mood related to the addictive behaviours

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

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques for addictions are used in the form of reinforcement and conditioning as learning processes in the development of addictive behaviours. There are various skills that clients learn to identify and change problem behaviours to reduce or abstain from drug use. This entails monitoring early warning signs for drug or alcohol cravings, identifying high-risk environments and situations associated with substance use, exploring negative consequences of continued substance use, and developing effective strategies for coping with temptations to use and avoiding triggering high-risk environments.

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.

With the fast pace and challenges of life, you do not have to face them alone. Sometimes you need a helping hand and a friendly ear to talk to. It's my passion to help people. I offer counselling and psychotherapy for individuals, couples and families. I work with clients to improve their resiliency, and uncover their strengths using a client centered approach and different modalities to meet needs .

In my approach to addictions I work with clients to understand how the addiction may be helping them to cope and help them to learn alternate healthy coping mechanisms. Addressing related underlying issues may also be important in helping clients to leave the addiction behind. Although clients often find it difficult to let go of the addiction, they slowly feel ready as they begin to take steps and have more positive life experiences, which are also explored during therapy. Client strengths, motivations, hopes, and values are also considered and through these approaches clients begin to feel safe, satisfied, and happy living their life without the addiction.

I am a Psychotherapist and Addictions Counsellor and having been through an addiction myself I understand what it takes to work through an addiction. I have built up a number of tools and modalities to teach others to gain strength and self-esteem. Addiction is a very broad topic, one that can't be written in a few sentences. I have the confidence in my abilities to help you through your addiction(s) I will create a safe environment for you and your loved ones while going through your challenging time. If you’re not sure if you have an addiction, feel free to call or email me. I have the patience and understanding to meet your needs where ever you’re at today.

Addictive behaviours may feel like comfort to the vacuum left by aloneness or detachment. The feeling of aloneness can start early. Children require a lot of emotional interaction to develop trust that their needs for support and caring will be met. If they don’t experience positive attachments, they may turn their needs for love and caring into physical cravings, which are easier to fill, and develop relationships with their addictions because they're more in control of them than those they look to for love and attention. I create a therapeutic environment in which individuals can deepen their understanding of their feelings and learn to trust their inner resources to connect with others.

Addiction brings pain and chaos individuals, couples and families. I see addictions as poor and destructive coping mechanisms and work with individuals and couples to interrupt the behavior and work to process the pain underlying the behavior. I am very familiar with 12 step programs and CSAT work that help individuals and couples make sense out of the addiction. I also work within a complementary framework of attachment and the importance of strong close inter-dependent, not co-dependent relationships with the most important people in one's life, family. Call me for a consult about your particular needs and situation.