Addiction
Everyone has an idea of what addiction is, this can be based on what we see in the media, news, or what we have experienced in our personal life. Different people experience different types of addiction, for some people it is a substance, such as alcohol or drugs, for others it is a behaviour, such as gambling or social media use. People who are experiencing addictive behaviours can experience a range of emotions, but the strongest negative emotions tend to be shame and guilt, which can lead people to seek self-soothing methods, and feed back into the addictive behaviours.
It is important to have someone in your corner to help guide you through, as certain substances people can be addicted to should not be stopped cold turkey, particular if the previous usage was high. If you are experiencing active addiction and planning to stop, I urge you to consult a medical professional to ensure you do so in a safe environment.
There is hope if you are experiencing addiction, and just because you may have struggled to overcome this in the past does NOT predict your future outcomes.
There are ways in which we can work together to improve the symptoms of addiction you are experiencing. By utilizing methods developed in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and various other methods we can assess those opportunities for improvement, develop plans, and reassess progress.
I believe that therapy shouldn’t be something that is done to you, but that you are engaged in. I practice from a feedback informed model, meaning that I am looking for your feedback. What is working, what you enjoy, what is difficult, and if you feel that the environment is a safe place where you’re able to express yourself. Part of this therapy will be doing things outside of our sessions together, but it is important that we agree upon these goals, as your investment into the treatment plan is important to me. This is the goal, and when this is achieved it will allow us to work together to create the life you want to aim at.
