Addictions therapists in Asbestos, Quebec, Canada

Addictions or Substance Abuse

Freedom & Hope Counselling and Therapeutic Services

Licensed Professional Counsellor, RPC #3875, CT #2438, LSCC

By embracing and respecting you and comprehending your struggles with addictive tendencies, I facilitate a journey toward shedding secrecy and embracing a sense of normalcy. My expertise lies in providing specialized care for individuals grappling with such disorders.

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8 Years Experience

Online in Asbestos, Quebec

Addictions or Substance Abuse

Michelle Directo

Registered Psychotherapist, MDiv, RP, ExA

"Not all addictions are rooted in abuse or trauma, but I do believe they can all be traced to painful experience. A hurt is at the centre of all addictive behaviours". - Gabor Mate, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction Addiction or substance use is not an identity but a behaviour, a way for us to cope with our hurt and pain. There is often guilt and shame associated with addictive behaviours. My hope is that we can work together to access resources, understand the addictive/substance use behaviour and find ways to to help you manage the risks of substance use.

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6 Years Experience

Online in Asbestos, Quebec

Addictions or Substance Abuse

Heal(ing) Trauma Therapy

Counsellor/Therapist, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

From a trauma-informed perspective, addiction is understood to be a manifestation of unresolved trauma for which the addiction is a coping method. I work to help clients better understand both their addiction and their trauma, and how to resolve both by learning more healthy and helpful ways of coping and by doing trauma processing. As Gabor Mate says "do not ask why the addiction, ask why the pain".

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12 Years Experience

Online in Asbestos, Quebec

Addictions or Substance Abuse

Nina Hopmeier

Licensed Professional Counsellor, Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)

An addiction involves a constant need to perform a behaviour or consume a substance. Addictive behaviours vary and can include shopping, gambling, hoarding, drugs and alcohol, and exercising. When people engage in addictive behaviours, they often feel as if they are unable to control their actions. They may also feel distressed or anxious if they were to abstain from the behaviour. Due to the perceived inability to control actions, people often feel disempowered and hopeless, which significantly impacts happiness and wellbeing. In therapy, rather than solely focusing on the detrimental effects of the addiction, we focus on the purpose and function of the addictive behaviour. People frequently engage in addictive behaviours due to experiencing beneficial effects. If the behaviour would fail to be reinforcing, they would have no reason to continue with the addiction. Once clients acknowledge the purpose of the addictive behaviour, they often view their situation through a compassionate, rather than judgmental lens. Gaining insight and self-compassion are essential ingredients for change and growth. Another fundamental aspect of therapy is gaining insight into the cause of an addiction. Individuals with addictions often engage in dysfunctional behaviours in order to compensate for something that is lacking in their lives. The addiction may also be linked to past events, such as trauma or abuse. As a result, we explore the underlying cause of the addiction in order to assist with targeting core issues. With the incorporation of multiple treatment models, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness approaches clients also learn to sit with uncomfortable thoughts and feelings that accompany the addiction. Over time they learn that having urges does not mean they have to act on them. Instead, they learn how to replace the urges with adaptive coping styles. As clients gain control over their addiction, they often feel a sense of empowerment and strength, which instils hope for a new and improved future.

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13 Years Experience

Online in Asbestos, Quebec