COVID-19 has affected all our lives adversely. Here at ICL Psychotherapy we have resolved to keeping our clients and staff safe in line with the Minister of Healths guidelines and recommendations. We are still seeing clients online or by telephone until further notice.

Regulated by:

ADDICTION COUNSELLING

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE

Anyone who’s struggled with and handled addiction knows that it can ruin your life, as well as those around you. Addiction can change you from a loving, kind person into someone who’s willing to sacrifice anyone or anything in order to get your next fix. Addiction leads to misery, hopelessness, ruined relationships, broken trust, and profound shame. Sadly, many people who struggle with addiction feel powerless to change their behaviour, and they watch in horror as their lives crumble around them.

Addiction is one of the least understood forms of psychological distress. Addiction is not caused by a lack of willpower. It is a response to trauma, which means that the purpose of addiction is to help the addict to avoid overwhelming feelings of worthlessness, shame, terror, or loneliness. This has three important implications.

Most people in our society are addicted to something, whether it’s Social Media, Netflix, buying stuff, gambling, success, alcohol, sex, or benzos.
Addicts are not selfish monsters. They are people who are desperately trying to avoid their overwhelming suffering by any means necessary.
The only way to deal with addiction is to address the underlying psychological wounds that led to the addiction in the first place.

While many people believe that they can overcome their addictions by themselves, without any support, this almost never works. Support comes in many forms, ranging from family members to professionals in the physical and mental health arenas. In order for an individual to truly recover and have the ability to live a healthy, productive, enjoyable life, he or she needs an entire support network that encompasses family, close friends and caring professionals.

What is Involved with Addiction Counselling

Addictions rarely come out of nowhere. In most cases, they are the result of some underlying issues. Exploring these issues and resolving them is an essential part of recovery: if this step is not taken, the individual has a greater risk of relapse.

Regular one-on-one counselling sessions provide our clients with a safe, non-judgmental place for this exploration to happen. They are guided through the process of learning about themselves and their patterns of thought and behaviour. In a setting of complete confidentiality, clients are able to open up about things that might otherwise be left unresolved.

People with addictions tend to isolate themselves, either to engage in self-destructive behaviour by themselves, or because they feel alone. Group therapy helps to break this pattern while providing clients with a network of support. It enables residents to develop their social skills in preparation for building a new life after their inpatient treatment is over.

At ICL Psychotherapy we address addiction on two levels. On one level, we'll help you to identify triggers, manage overwhelming feelings, and begin to take care of yourself in more sustainable ways. On a deeper level, we'll help you to identify and heal the wounds that led to the addiction in the first place.

What Does Addiction Counselling

(Psychotherapy) Treat

Addiction is more than a physical dependence on things like drugs or alcohol. Even after detox, when your body is no longer hooked, you’re at high risk for relapse. Certain psychological and social factors can be powerful triggers that lead to relapse:

Stress, especially sudden life stresses
Cues in the environment, like visiting a neighborhood
Social networks, like spending time with friends who continue to use

These things can create a strong ongoing urge to use again. Counseling helps you escape cravings and learn to manage what life throws at you without drugs or alcohol.

Several counseling therapies treat substance abuse. No one method is known to be better than another. Likewise, no one approach works for everyone with opiate addiction. The right treatment plan will be tailored to your addiction and individual needs.