Addiction
Addiction is commonly be associated with drugs and alcohol, i.e. substances that have a clear physical effect on the body. But, it is possible to be addicted to any range of activities such as technology and gaming including the internet, sex, shopping, prescription drugs, solvents, work.
When you no longer have control over what you are doing, and it becomes something detrimental to your health, you may be addicted. It may have progressed to something which becomes obsessive and is an overwhelming desire to do. In these cases you may benefit from addiction counselling. At this point your habits are controlling you and it may have reached the point at which it is harming you.
Symptoms of Addiction
Regardless of what kind of addiction you have, you may experience a variety of physical and emotional symptoms that are having an impact on your overall health. You may have difficulty sleeping, poor concentration, low mood and depression, deteriorating relationships with your friends and family, lack of interest, poor work performance and your addiction is affecting multiple aspects of your life. The rush of dopamine, our ‘feel good’ hormone can have an impact on our body. Depending on where it is coming from and contributes to that ‘high’ feeling and rush that compels us to keep doing whatever it is. Addiction therapy will aim to support you to find more of a balance and a healthier and more productive life.
If your addiction is interfering with your daily life you may benefit from addiction counselling and psychotherapy.
Different types of addiction
- Technology addiction
- Gaming addiction
- Shopping addiction
- Internet addiction
- Sex addiction
- Solvent addiction
- Work addiction
What is addiction counselling?
If you feel your habits are controlling you, I will work with you to identify the nature of the addiction you have. I will work with you to identify the behaviours, thoughts and feelings behind your addiction. Together we will help you understand the causes and origins. We will work to build an increased self-awareness of what is going on for you and what propels you to your addiction. Importantly, we will also establish potential triggers as well as healthier coping strategies to support you through.
In addiction therapy our work will be focused on recovery.
If additional help is needed and your addiction is of a more serious nature, specialist help may be needed. I may advise on more specialist support such as rehab or maybe support groups to work alongside our therapy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The terms ‘Psychotherapy’ and ‘Counselling’ are often used interchangeably and essentially they are both characterised by a form of “talking therapy”. You will see many practitioners will use both terms when referring to themselves.
Fundamentally both psychotherapy and counselling have the same goal of providing relief to someone with some sort of psychological symptom or obstacles although there are some subtle differences.
‘Counselling’ is often used to describe a shorter-term process than psychotherapy. A goal in counselling is to enable someone to make better use of resources they may already have in place. Counselling often focuses on a specific issue, life event or experience or on a particular symptom.
‘Psychotherapy’ is often a longer process of treatment and focuses on facilitating the exploration and development of new resources for a person. In psychotherapy you will have the chance to look deeper into the root of your issues. You will have the chance to explore patterns of behaviour, thinking and feeling in your life at a greater depth that allow you to focus more on your way of being in the world.
Psychotherapy training is also a more rigorous and academic process.
Someone who may be in training to be a Psychotherapist may refer to themselves as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor until they have completed certification to be known as a Psychotherapist.
I hope that my website has given you an overview of who I am and how I work and if you are interested in finding out more I would recommend an initial consultation to meet each other to see if it feels right for you when we are in the room together. We will probably be able to establish quite early on if I am the right person for you.
Choosing a therapist is a very individual choice and I recommend you take the time to meet at least a couple people with a view to having some thought about who you may work best with. I believe that each relationship is individual and unique and it is a privilege for me to get to know people I see and to support them on their therapeutic journey. Relationship is central to building a therapeutic alliance and working together, so trust your instinct to make a decision and start your own journey.
I look forward to meeting you!
Following our initial assessment, if you would like to start sessions together we will agree a day and time for your sessions. I will send you a standard therapy agreement that outlines my commitment to you and it details much of what I would have discussed in the assessment session. This includes details of my professional commitments and of the administrative aspects of our therapeutic relationship. We will both have a signed copy of this agreement.
Payment is due each session and I accept cash or BACS transfers. Any missed sessions with less than 48 hours notice will be payable on the following session.
If you want to work longer term I am also happy to work on monthly payments.
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If you have any questions at all about therapy or would like to make an appointment, get in touch. I will usually be able to respond to you within 24 hours.