Addiction

Addiction is a common and understandable response to pain. However, the impact can be devastating to not only the individual but those around them. It often begins as a way of coping, such as a means to escape pain, numb distress, or feel a sense of relief or control. Over time, the behaviour or substance that once seemed to help can take on a life of its own, creating a cycle that is hard to break.

Addiction doesn’t only refer to alcohol or drugs. It can also include compulsive behaviours such as gambling, gaming, pornography use, shopping, or food-related struggles. At its core, addiction is not about a lack of willpower, it’s often rooted in emotional pain, unmet needs, or long-standing patterns of coping.

Therapy offers a safe, non-judgmental space to explore your addictive behaviours in order to understand unhelpful patterns and work towards change.

When Coping Becomes Costly

Many people who struggle with addiction describe feeling stuck in a cycle: turning to a substance or behaviour for short-term relief, only to feel guilt, shame, or regret afterwards, which then fuels the need for further escape. Over time, addiction can impact all areas of life, including:

• Emotional wellbeing (anxiety, depression, shame, emotional numbing)
  
  
• Relationships and trust
  
  
• Work, study, or financial stability
  
  
• Physical health and sleep
  
  
• Self-esteem and sense of control
  
  
• Identity and connection to values
  
  

If something in your life is starting to feel unmanageable, or is getting in the way of the life you want to live, therapy can help.

Understanding the Roots of Addiction

Addiction rarely exists in isolation. For many people, there is a complex interplay between addictive behaviours and mental illness, trauma, stress, or unmet emotional needs. Early life experiences, such as emotional neglect, abuse, or unstable attachments, can shape how we learn to self-soothe, manage distress, and seek comfort or connection.

Social and environmental factors, personality traits (such as impulsivity or sensitivity), and mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or can also contribute to vulnerability.

Addiction often makes sense in the context of a person’s life story. Understanding that context without judgment is key to developing healthier, more sustainable ways of coping.

How Psychologists Can Help

Therapy for addiction focuses not just on reducing the addictive behaviour, but on understanding why it’s happening, addressing the underlying emotional drivers, and building the tools, insight, and support needed for meaningful change.

Psychologists provide a safe, supportive space to:

• Understand the emotional function of the addiction
  
  
• Reduce shame and self-blame
  
  
• Develop healthier coping strategies
  
  
• Process trauma or emotional wounds that may be fuelling the cycle
  
  
• Strengthen motivation, self-worth, and emotional regulation
  
  
• Reconnect with values, relationships, and identity beyond addiction
  
  

We tailor therapy to your goals and pace, drawing from evidence-based approaches that support long-term recovery and personal growth.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps you identify the thoughts, triggers, and behavioural patterns that contribute to addictive cycles. You’ll learn practical tools for managing cravings, reducing high-risk situations, and developing alternative ways to respond to emotional distress. CBT also supports the development of new routines, improved self-talk, and healthier boundaries.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT supports recovery by helping you develop a more flexible and accepting relationship with cravings, urges, and difficult emotions. Instead of trying to eliminate discomfort, ACT teaches skills for making room for it, while still taking action aligned with your values. Therapy focuses on building a meaningful life alongside vulnerability, rather than waiting for things to feel easy.

Schema Therapy

For many people, addiction is linked to deep emotional patterns formed in childhood, such as feeling defective, emotionally deprived, or unworthy of care. Schema Therapy helps uncover and heal these schemas, reduce harsh self-judgment, and build a more compassionate, stable sense of self. It is particularly helpful when addiction coexists with long-standing self-worth issues or early relational trauma.

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