What is substance use?

Substance use is an attempt to escape, cope, and/or regulate emotions and pain with the use of substances.

What approach do you use?

Like most areas of my practice, I use an eclectic approach. This is a combination of cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, narrative therapy, family systems therapy, and the 30-Task model with a trauma-informed, psychosocial, and harm reduction lens.
For those interested in a 12-step model, I will follow aspects of this approach, but I also recognize 12-step philosophy isn’t for everyone.

Addiction is often a symptom of trauma. Often, there is underlying relational and/or developmental trauma and/or mental illness. Addiction is our attempt to cope and regulate.
Substance use can coexist with sex, porn, and/or love addiction, as well as other compulsive behaviours.

“I don’t really think I have an issue with addiction, but others do.”