Addictions Counselling
You may be wondering whether alcohol, cannabis or other drug use is taking up more of your time than you want, or whether it is affecting your relationships, work or how you feel about yourself. You might have tried to change on your own and found that certain situations made it hard to follow through. At Maria Schmid & Partners, addictions counselling offers a place to look at the role substance use plays in your life and talk through the changes you want to make.
People reach out at different points. You may be deciding whether to cut back, aiming to stop, or looking for support to continue a change you have already made. You can describe what is working for you, what concerns you and what you would like help with.
Book an appointment or call 403-801-4839 for help choosing a counsellor.
When addictions counselling may help
Counselling may be useful when your use is affecting sleep, mood, finances or commitments, when you are relying on it to cope with difficult feelings, or when you keep using more than you intended. A partner, family member or colleague may have raised a concern, or you may have noticed changes yourself. You can bring your questions about substance use even if you are unsure what you want to do about it.
Support may also be useful after a period of change. You may want help preparing for social situations, managing cravings, or understanding what made an earlier change hard to sustain. If someone else’s substance use is affecting you, ask us about support for yourself or your family. We can help you find out whether family counselling or an individual appointment would be a useful starting point.
How we work with substance use concerns
You and your counsellor can look at when you tend to use, what you get from it in the moment and what happens afterwards. For example, use may be tied to winding down after a shift, getting through a social event or avoiding a difficult memory. Understanding those connections helps you identify where a change might be possible and what other support you may need.
The work may include setting a goal, practising ways to handle a high-pressure situation, and planning how you will respond if you return to an old pattern. Where medical care, withdrawal management or a more intensive program would be useful, your counsellor can discuss how outpatient counselling may fit alongside those services.
What to expect at your first appointment
Your counsellor may ask about your current use, when you first noticed concerns, how use affects your day and what you have tried before. You can also talk about other concerns that matter to you, including stress, relationships or mental health. Together you can agree on a realistic first step and discuss what kind of support will help you take it.
If you think you may experience withdrawal when you cut down or stop, speak with a medical professional before making a sudden change. Withdrawal may need medical care.
Meet the counsellors who offer Addictions Counselling
Jason Stein
Registered Social Worker
Jason is a registered social worker with experience counselling people with substance use disorders. He draws on motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy to help clients understand what keeps a pattern going and choose practical steps towards their goals.