Rates:

Video Conferencing and Telephone Sessions - $200 per 50 minute session 

In-Person Session - $200 per 50 minute session 

Addiction Counselling

Addiction does not discriminate. It knows no age, gender, race, or socioeconomic class. Addiction is a complex condition that is caused from compulsive substance use or compulsive behaviours. People with addiction or severe substance use disorder experience intense cravings and a loss of control over its use regardless of the consequences. Addiction changes the way the brain experiences pleasure. When the addictive behaviour is engaged in, pleasurable hormones are released in the brain. This makes normal levels of pleasurable hormones feel not high enough so the person may seek out to spike the level of pleasurable hormones by engaging in the addictive behaviour once again. Drives to learn and motivations may be inhibited as the person with addiction may spend most of their time engaging their addiction. The person may struggle and experience feelings of despair because of their addiction and the consequences it has on their family, friends, work, school, and future aspects. People who have addiction may also be high functioning, continuing to work and fulfill social obligations. They may desire assistance with their addictive behaviour due to it getting out of control,  it beginning to negatively impact their life, or to make a positive health change.

Private addiction counselling is an alternative to counselling through medical interventions to keep the history of addiction off a person’s medical records.

What Can Addiction Feel Like?

• Lack of control when engaging in the addictive behaviour or substance
• Experience an inability to stay away from the substance or behaviour
• Decrease the amount you socialise so that you can engage in addictive behaviour
• Engage in high risk behaviour so that you can engage in addictive behaviour despite consequences
• Experience intense cravings
• Experience extreme mood changes
• Difficulty cutting down or controlling the addictive behaviour
  

Types Of Addictions

Substance addiction

• Alcohol (beer, wine, or liquor)
• Amphetamine or like acting substances (Adderall or crystal meth)
• Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium, or klonopin)
• Cocaine or crack cocaine
• Hallucinogens (LSD and MDMA)
• Inhalants (aerosols, volatile solvents, gases, and nitrites)
• Opioids (heroin, morphine, or painkillers)
• Sedatives, hypnotics, or anxiolytics (sleeping pills or downers)

Behavioural addiction

• Computer (internet, video games, social networking sites, or online gambling)
• Eating (overeating, bingeing, or purging)
• Exercise 
• Gambling (video lottery terminals, casinos, or slot machines)
• Shopping 
• Work

Benefits Of Addiction Counselling

Feel free to be yourself and live your best life. Live without restrictions and ties to addiction. Follow your dreams and live your days without compulsive addictive thoughts. Together we will work to motivate you to stay free from your addictive behaviour and light a path of healing to rebuild ruptured relationships, strengthen your social responsibilities, increase social opportunities, and set SMART goals. We will work to identify the reasons for your addictive behaviour and together build healthy coping strategies for cravings and conflict resolution.

Is it your time?