Substance Abuse
Substance use exists on a wide spectrum, but drugs and alcohol can become problematic when they feel difficult to control, or they interfere with your health, relationships, or overall well-being.
There is no single picture of what substance abuse looks like. Many people “function well” despite experiencing cravings, withdrawing from their loved ones, or lying about their habits. Others feel consumed by their substance use and feel deeply stunted in their daily lives.
At Boreal Therapy Collective, we approach substance abuse with curiosity and compassion, and we honour the strength within you to seek support. We will help you explore the role substances play in your life, understand what may be beneath your use, and clarify what you want to change. Recovery is personal, and our therapists will meet you where you are.
To begin therapy for substance abuse, book with:
Andrea Elliott
When Does Substance Use Become a Problem?
There is a significant distinction between recreational substance use and a substance use disorder. Using drugs or alcohol does not mean someone has an addiction, and therapists consider numerous variables, including how frequently you use and the impact that substances have on different areas of your life. Some signs that substance use may be becoming problematic include:
Using alcohol or drugs more frequently or in larger amounts than intended
Experiencing strong or frequent cravings for a substance
Trying to reduce or stop your use without being able to do so
Needing larger amounts to experience the same effects
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you reduce or discontinue use
Spending significant time obtaining, using, or recovering from substances
Neglecting other important responsibilities due to substance use
Losing interest in activities that used to be important to you
Continuing to use despite physical or mental health concerns
Experiencing conflict with partners, friends, or family members
Driving or engaging in other risky activities while under the influence
Concealing or minimizing how much you use
Many people dismiss or minimize aspects of their use. But substance use can and does progress, and if drugs or alcohol are affecting your quality of life, this concern is worth taking seriously. There is no single cause of addiction, but understanding the function of substance use is an important part of recovery. Drugs and alcohol offer a sense of relief and pleasure, but they can evolve into the primary way of managing distress.
Understanding Substance Tolerance, Dependence, and Withdrawal
Repeated substance use affects how your body responds to drugs or alcohol. Tolerance refers to needing more of a substance to experience the desired effect. An increased tolerance often goes hand-in-hand with physical dependence.
Physical dependence happens as the body adapts to the substance’s presence. Your body starts feeling “normal” when intoxicated or high. Reducing or stopping use may then result in withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the substance and level of dependence, withdrawal can range from mildly distressing to life-threatening.
How Can Therapy Help With Substance Use?
Therapy creates a safe environment to understand your relationship with substances, and it can help you take steps to move forward in your recovery process.
Clarifying your relationship and patterns with substances: Some people enter therapy knowing exactly what they want to change, but others feel far more conflicted or ambivalent. Therapy allows you to explore how substances impact you and whether your current patterns fit with your goals and values.
Understanding what perpetuates your substance use: Rather than just focusing on the substance itself, therapy helps you recognize what makes using appealing or difficult to stop. This includes learning how substance use has helped regulate certain emotions or offered comfort or relief during difficult circumstances.
Working through underlying experiences or co-occurring concerns: Substance use closely intersects with other concerns, including trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, stressful family dynamics, low self-esteem, and health issues. Addressing these other factors can be an important part of comprehensive treatment.
How Can Therapy Help With Substance Use?
Navigating relationships, intimacy, and trust: Substance use rarely occurs in isolation. Partners and family members may experience fear, anger, hurt, or uncertainty, and you may feel misunderstood or judged. Therapy can support healthier communication patterns, clearer boundaries, accountability, and relationship repair.
Preparing for cravings and setbacks: Returning to old patterns can feel tempting, especially during challenging situations. Therapy helps you recognize warning signs and decide how you will respond to setbacks with more grace and self-kindness. Lapses do not mean abandoning the changes you have made, and struggles with progress do not mean you are failing.
Rediscovering who you are and who you can become: As your relationship with substance use changes, you may naturally start questioning your relationships, identity, values, and purpose. This is a common part of the recovery process. While self-exploration can feel disorienting, it can also be deeply meaningful to build a life that reflects what matters most to you.
Therapy for Substance Abuse Setting in Fort McMurray
How to Start Therapy for Substance Abuse
Beginning therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment here.
Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment
Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals.
After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! In the treatment phase, you will be introduced to a variety of skills to practice and implement to set effective boundaries. Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. Effective therapy typically takes somewhere between six to twelve appointments (for some more, others less). Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice.
Therapy for Substance Abuse at Boreal Therapy Collective
Where We Are Located
We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here.
Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here.
Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you!
Rates & Benefit Coverage
Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking).
Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing.
If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here.
