How do I know if counselling is right for me?

If emotional distress, stress, relationship challenges, or life transitions are affecting your wellbeing or daily functioning, counselling may be helpful. You do not need to be in crisis to benefit from counselling.

Is counselling confidential?

Yes. Counselling services are confidential and follow Alberta privacy legislation and professional ethical standards. Information is only shared with consent or when legally required.

Do you offer virtual counselling in Alberta?

Yes. We provide secure virtual counselling for clients located anywhere in Alberta. Virtual sessions follow the same professional and ethical standards as in-person counselling.

Is counselling covered by insurance?

Many extended health benefit plans cover counselling services provided by registered or provisional psychologists. Coverage varies by plan, so clients are encouraged to confirm details with their insurance provider.

How long does counselling take?

The length of counselling varies depending on individual goals and needs. Some clients attend short-term counselling focused on specific concerns, while others choose longer-term support.

Who provides counselling at WJW Counselling & Mediation?

Counselling services are provided by registered psychologists, provisional psychologists, and trained mental-health therapists. Clients are matched with a clinician based on their needs and preferences.

Substance Abuse

Home » Counselling » Substance Abuse Counselling

21% of Canadians will experience addiction at some time in their life

Yet, the stigma still attached to addiction can stop people from getting the help they need.

We offer a safe, non-judgemental space for you to work through addiction struggles and heal the core of the issues that are keeping you stuck in this downward cycle

What is Addiction?

Addiction is the constant need to use certain substances or engage in particular behaviours.

It isn’t limited to substance use (drugs and alcohol); addiction can also show up as impulse control (gambling, self-harming, kleptomania, pyromania) and behavioural (internet, pornography, sex, video games, working, exercising, shopping, food).

An activity or substance becomes an addiction when you use it to avoid or deal with activities, emotions or thoughts. Once you stop or slow down, the withdrawal symptoms begin.

These Symptoms Can Present

Physically: The body is addicted to the substance and shows physical signs (changes in heart rate, blood pressure, thinking ability, physical cravings, agitation) when they can no longer access the addictive substance.
Psychologically: Shows psychological response (anxiety, depression, irritability, anger, mood swings, obsessive thinking, poor judgement) when they can no longer access the addictive substance or engage in the addictive behaviour.

Signs of Addiction

Constantly thinking or talking about addiction
Repeatedly engaging in the addiction even though it hurts themselves or others
Trying to convince others to engage in the addiction
Hiding/denying addictive behaviours

Unable to limit or stop addictive actions
Denial
Blaming others for chronic problems
Financial stress

What to Expect

There is no ‘one size fits all” to addiction therapy and we tailor our approach to the client’s unique needs.

Our therapists take a Harm-Reduction Approach and focus on reducing the problematic effects of the behaviour or substance rather than requiring abstinence. Through non-judgemental conversations, we explore reasons for change and teach practical strategies to change the behaviour according to the client’s goals. This highly-research approach respects the client and their capacity to make changes for themselves.

The goal of the first session is to discuss confidentiality, work to identify the client’s specific addictive behaviours and their causes as well as develop a treatment plan that establishes the client’s goals in addition to the length and frequency of sessions.

Goals of Addiction Therapy

Introduce healthier ways to cope with negative thoughts and feelings
Help you learn to confront triggers
Establish healthy thought patterns to deal with cravings
Improve your interpersonal relationships
Improve your self-confidence and self-worth
Implement healthy lifestyle changes
Treat any underlying causes of addiction
Understand the process of addiction and how you got to where you are today

Our Approach

We will do an assessment of your specific situation and goals, to come up with a targeted and individualized approach to therapy that draws from a variety of the listed modalities

Harm Reduction Approach

Meets our clients where they’re at and focuses on reducing the negative consequences associated with your addiction

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Change unhelpful and problematic ways of thinking got change unwanted or unhealthy behaviour

Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Utilized techniques like meditation, stretching, and breathing to increase awareness of our thoughts, feelings and actions

Dialectal Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

Develop healthy coping strategies and mindfulness skills like living in the moment to improve relationships and regulate emotions

Person-Centred Approach

The therapists takes a supporting role to empower and motivate you as you work towards reaching your full potential

Problem-Solving Therapy

Provides tools to identify and solve problems and learn how to cope with your stressors

Somatic Therapy

Combines psychotherapy and physical therapy to connect your mind and body and release pent up trauma

Solution-Focused Therapy

A strengths-based approach that focuses on your current and future problems and goals rather than past experiences

Family Systems Therapy

Focuses on the family as a unit and how generational, social, community and cultural factors influence the family members

About WJW

Locations

Individual Counselling

Couples Counselling

Family Counselling

Assessments

Specialties

Mind-Body Wellness

Available Treatments