Addictions - Including Substances, Life Transitions, Personal Growth Life Stress Reduction (LSR)

Addictions - Including Substances, Life Transitions, Personal Growth

While some people can use prescription or recreational drugs with no negative effects, many others become addicted and face dramatic health and lifestyle problems as a result. Substance addictions negatively affect relationships, home, school or work, leaving the person feeling ashamed, helpless and isolated.

Physical symptoms of substance abuse and addiction are varied depending on the drug of choice, but the symptoms of the addiction itself are similar. People who are addicted to substances may neglect their responsibilities, take potentially dangerous risks and get into trouble with the law. As their drug use spirals out of control, they will lose interest in activities that used to be enjoyable and continue to take drugs despite knowing the harm it causes.

Substance addicts tend to build up a tolerance to their drug of choice, and get angry when they can't get more of it. Withdrawal symptoms are highly probable when an addict goes without it for too long. Depression, nausea, insomnia, sweating, restlessness, anxiety and shaking are all common withdrawal symptoms.

Psychotherapy can help you to overcome substance addiction by focusing on correcting maladaptive behaviors. Substance abuse is usually a coping mechanism against emotionally overwhelming past events or memories. Substances are often used to provide instant gratification instead of facing certain issues.

Therapists are equipped to help clients deal with addiction recovery through empowerment and helping them set simple short term targets. The first target is sobriety, followed by empowering the client with adaptive skills and finding new coping strategies that deal with the issues that caused the addiction. Substance addiction can be ended, allowing the person to live a healthy, productive life.

If you need a counsellor or psychologist to help you address the effects of substance addiction, you can search the directory below to find a professional with the approach best suited to your situation.

Life transitions can be rewarding, but that doesn't mean they are necessarily easy. Change usually comes with mixed emotions, challenges and stress. It's natural to feel anxious, confused, unsettled and fatigued, no matter how you have looked forward to a change. While promotions at work can be positive and exciting, there are also negative transitions that could make you feel hopeless and negative, anxious and unable to see the solutions to the inevitable problems you face.


Some of the common transitions that people face include moving house, divorce, remarriage, empty nest syndrome, concerns about aging, adjusting to a new job, illness, or death of a loved one.

During periods of transitions, it's common for emotions from some of your past experiences to be triggered, which can make the current situation feel so much worse. That's when confusion takes over, leaving you feeling out of control and confused.

Transition counselling can help you deal with your life changes and the emotions that you are feeling in a safe and effective manner. You will be able to find the root causes of your reactions and you will be able to face the changes head on. You may even be able to push past your self-imposed limits to broaden your horizons and find a strong, new you.

You will gain clarity and understanding, as well as self-confidence to help you feel more grounded and you will develop a sense of purpose in your life. Transition therapy  has helped hundreds of thousands of people to come to terms with difficult issues in life and you can too.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who addresses transitions, you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

Personal growth is an essential part of the human experience. Life is ever-changing and ever evolving, and as productive members of society, we have the responsibility to expand. This need and inevitability of constant change could cause us to feel a lack of security and stability.

Personal growth reflects the changes of life transitions and changes. It shows your desire and ability to be an active participant in life and in your journey as a human being.

There are many personal growth goals that will help you better deal with life changes and moving through the stages presented. Therapy can help you define your goals and determine ways for you to reach those personal growth outcomes that will help you become the person you want to be. The most important benefit of counselling is that it can help you to turn challenges into opportunities for personal growth.

Counselling can help you to improve interpersonal communication, overcome self-doubt, reach your potential, maximize your strengths, minimize weaknesses, achieve personal goals, manage time better, become more organized and improve your mindset. If you need to learn to say yes to life and no to unnecessary demands, abuse or mediocrity, personal growth counselling is for you.

Personal growth counselling will help you assess where you find yourself right now, and where you want to go. It will help you find the path to your personal growth success through exploring your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your current behaviors and beliefs. A therapist will guide you through your own inner wisdom to find your path to success.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who offers personal growth  to help identify your stumbling blocks to success and other issues you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

Life Stress Reduction (LSR)

Life Stress Reduction (LSR) therapy is an effective, yet simple method that helps eliminate unwanted emotions and reduce stress. It has the potential to rapidly relief emotions, such as anger, anxiety, fear and depression.

A Life Stress Reduction therapist will deliver the sessions and offer exercises and practical techniques to help resolve the client's issues.

Life Stress Reduction offers clients a unique journey  of self-discovery which starts by addressing his or her concerns.  By releasing the emotional charges associated with these emotions, clients can experience significant emotional breakthroughs. Whether the source of stress is relationships, career, health, self-esteem or past traumas, LST can help to resolve the related emotions.

Life Stress Reduction typically leaves a client with a general sense of well-being, and renewed hope.

If you are looking for a therapist who offers Life Stress Reduction, please browse our list of practitioners below..

Note: You may narrow your search by selecting more than one filter below.

Judith Setton-Markus

M.Ed., R.Psych
Judith Setton-Markus is a Registered Psychologist licensed with the College of Psychologists of BC #1712. She is also a Psychoanalyst and Psychoanalytically Oriented Psychotherapist, a member of the Western Branch... Read more

Norma Hoeppner

M.S.W., RSW
In private practice since 2007, Norma has been a dynamic clinical therapist across diverse health settings since 1989. Currently she practices with Clear Counselling Inc. in Vancouver, as well as an office through... Read more

Tracey Dahl

M.A., RCC
In the room with neuroscience, attachment and the core self Sometimes we feel unsettled, worried or stuck. Maybe it is a sense that we must to do something different to get out of a rut, but all our efforts don't... Read more

Adrienne Moya

M.S.W., RCC
    • Online booking
Welcome, I'm Adrienne, owner of Camas Mental Health. Camas offers therapy services with a specialization in supporting reproductive mental health and wellbeing across the lifespan through... Read more

Alexandra Stewart

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Welcome, and congratulations on starting your search for a therapist. It's important you feel a connection and find the right fit. I welcome consultation calls where we have a brief chat over the phone to ... Read more