Substance Use Concern
Substance use can be complex, personal, and deeply misunderstood. You might be questioning your relationship with alcohol or drugs, feeling shame, confusion, or caught in a cycle you didn’t intend to be in. Or perhaps someone you care about is struggling, and you don’t know how to help.
Counselling offers a non-judgemental space to explore what’s happening — without labels, assumptions, or pressure. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to substance use. Together, we can look beneath the surface, make sense of patterns, and understand the role that substances may be playing in your life.
You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. Sometimes the first step is simply speaking things aloud.
Understanding the Whole Person
Substance use doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s often linked to stress, trauma, disconnection, grief, or attempts to manage overwhelming feelings. It can be a way of coping — even if it’s no longer helping.
Rather than focusing only on the behaviour, I take a relational and person-centred approach. This means we’ll explore your story with curiosity, not judgement — and at a pace that feels safe.
You might be:
Feeling out of control or dependent
Struggling with shame or secrecy
Using substances to numb pain or manage anxiety
Wanting to change but not sure how
Supporting a loved one through their use
Whatever your experience, you are not alone. Change doesn’t always mean stopping immediately or forever — it can also mean understanding what’s going on and deciding what feels right for you.
Gentle, Respectful Support
This isn’t about quick fixes or harsh interventions. It’s about connection, understanding, and restoring your sense of choice and agency.
In therapy, you can:
Talk openly about your substance use, without fear of judgement
Explore what you need emotionally, physically, and relationally
Work through underlying pain, loss, or distress
Develop healthier coping strategies
Reconnect with parts of yourself that may have been lost or numbed
Counselling is a space to feel seen and supported as you move toward whatever change feels meaningful to you.
You Are Not a Problem to Be Solved
Sometimes, people fear they’ll be judged, diagnosed, or dismissed. But you are not a problem — you are a person doing your best to get through life with the tools you have.
Therapy can help you expand your options, heal what hurts, and build a relationship with yourself based on care and respect.
You don’t need to be in crisis to reach out. Whether you’re in the early stages of wondering, feeling stuck in a pattern, or wanting to support someone else — your experience is valid.
“Shame dies when stories are told in safe places.” – Ann Voskamp
If you'd like to talk through what’s been happening or explore whether counselling feels right for you, I offer a free 15-minute phone call. You’re welcome to reach out — gently, at your own pace.
I offer a free 15-minute phone call to help you explore whether this feels like the right next step.
Book a Free Call
or
Contact Me — I’d be glad to hear from you.
“The question isn’t, ‘What’s wrong with me?’ The question is, ‘What need am I trying to meet — and how can I meet it in a way that serves me?’”
– Annie Grace