Drug & alcohol counselling in Byron Bay | Psychotherapy for addiction

No-nonsense understanding with good humour and practical know-how

You probably don't need someone to tell you there's a problem.

What you need is someone who's sat across from a lot of people in the same bind that you’re in. Someone who knows how to untie the bind and who has the patience to show you how to do it. Someone who isn’t intimidated by the tricky, addictive part of you. Someone who will call that part out with good humour.

Someone who understands that addiction isn’t a character flaw. It’s a solution that really did solve a problem at some point, and probably still does, to some extent.

But now you’ve had enough of that solution. That solution is creating problems. So here you now are, with two problems. The addiction, and the original problem that you’ve been using the addiction to solve (or block out). No wonder you haven’t been able to stop!

It’s a difficult situation to be in, but there are practical techniques for stopping the addictive behaviour and addressing the underlying problem.

My experience in addiction support

Twenty-six years ago, I worked at The Buttery, one of Australia's most respected residential drug and alcohol treatment services, here in the Northern Rivers. And I’ve worked for years with Northern NSW Health’s Alcohol and Other Drugs Service.

In my younger years, I had my own addiction issues, which I eventually solved.

You won’t be able to shock me. Or scare me. Or make me feel sorry for you. No matter how bad you think you are, I’ve seen worse. And I’ve seen all sorts of messed up bad do what needs to be done and get to somewhere good.

All of that might make it easier for you to be honest with me about what you’re doing. From that square of harsh but honest reality, I’ll do my best to help you find a practical path from where you are to where you want to be.

What therapy looks like

My style

There are three tasks. (1) Stop the problematic alcohol and drug use. (2) Learn to tolerate feelings. (3) Do the things you would be doing if you were living the life you want to live.

Is it OK to consume some alcohol and drugs? Sure, if that doesn’t get in the way of the life you want to live.

I’m good-humoured, but if you don’t change your drinking and drug-use behaviour, I’ll be on that like a dog on a bone. Not angry. Not disappointed. Just very interested. I’ll be very focused on working out with you what practical things you need to do so that you do change your drinking and drug-use behaviour. After all, that’s the problem you want to solve, right?

My general orientation is Gestalt psychotherapy, and I teach the ACT model.

How long are sessions?

50 minutes.

Where?

In person at my Byron Bay practice or by video link.

How many sessions will I need? How often will I need to go?

Good questions. I answer them here.