Addiction Services

I have worked with many clients to overcome serious levels of addiction. This spans alcoholism and drug abuse, to gambling addictions and the addictive use of antidepressants. I have substantial success with many clients, some of which are high profile personalities and require absolute confidentiality. I am used to working with clients who never expected themselves to require a service of this kind.

You can learn more about how I work with clients from outside Vancouver here.

"Hello Rob,   Hope you had a Merry Christmas, just thought I would contact you about how well I'm doing since my sessions with you. I haven't done any drugs or drank for two and a half months and my depression is alot better too. My brain is working alot better and I can remember things again. Im still working out and feel like a new person. The sessions worked really well. Thankyou so much, my experience made  a profound difference.

SK"

Almost anybody can become an addict. For some it is a learned process, for others a coping mechanism that gets out of control. For some it's possibly inherited. Many of my clients are professionals who few would be able to identify as addicts without very specific knowledge; the bank manager, the senior engineer, the quiet home maker and the A grade student in high school - who never hangs out with the bad crowd. Addiction knows no social or intellectual boundaries. Most of my clients would no more see themselves in an AA meeting than they would see themselves buying crack on Hastings and Main. My clients are, as one of them put it very eloquently, more likely to own the bank than to rob it.

"Hi Rob,

Just a quick text to let you know I am back with my family in England. I am still cocaine free. I feel I have my life back after 11 years. Thank you.

LL"

I not only work with clients on addiction issues, I also teach the advanced addiction module at Coastal Academy of Hyonotherapy, and have trained psychologists in the use of hypnosis to work with addiction as far afield as Rio de Janiero, in Brazil. My credentials in hypnotherapy for addictions are unsurpassed.

Many people have addiction characteristics and never become addicted to anything. For others it can come out in a somewhat obesive, but not particularly negative manner. For others it manifests itself in a somewhat masked way, such as the 'workaholic', bulimic (yes - most bulimics have extremely adictive natures) or even fanatical politics or religion. For some it moves to alcohol, drugs or gambling. All of these situations can be overcome with the proper use of hypnotherapy.

The first level of addiction work is ending the use of the substance in question. Exactly as we do with anti-smoking therapy, this is a simple process. Hypnosis has been used successfully for this for many years. I successfuly help clients off crack, crystal meth, cocaine (powder) and heroin on an almost daily basis.

For some clients this means a gradual weaning down the use of a substance, for others it's possible to apply a strict regime of non use. Hypnosis is used to reinforce the clients will to acheive these targets and stay within prescribed limits. Understanding what substances can be reduced safely, drug interactions and the use of homeopathic substitutes make this an area in which the hypnotherapist needs extremely specialist experience and knowledge. I regularly work with medical practitioners in the field of addiction. Addiction clients need to know their therapist is experienced in this work before committing to a planned reduction or cessation of narcotics or alcohol.

What follows weaning down, cessation and management of withdrawal is far more complex. The client has to be prevented from restarting their habit. This often requires a complete revision of the way they think about not only the substance they use, but many aspects of thier life and relationships. Again, hypnosis is extremely good at this.

Where rehabilitation often fails is when the client returns to their home and is once more surrounded by the influences and triggers they experienced before. Because hypnosis deals with these at a deep psychological level it can be extremely efective at preventing the restarting of the habit.

Finally there is the ongoing care required by a client. I provide period support for clients that require it. Most addicts will always be addicts - addiction is simply part of their nature. It's a fact of life. However, learning to live with addiction and ammending the way we expose ourselves to triggers can allow even the most serious addicts to go on and live ordinary and productive lives. It need not be something that consigns us to a living hell of addiction.

When it's time to end addiction everyone concerned has to put down any judgements, any regrets and any attachment to the past. Life begins right this moment. We move forward from here.

I do work out of town with clients. I charge my normal hourly rates, plus travel expenses.

If in doubt - ask.