Therapy Builds Resilience against Future Urges

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Stopping the addictive behaviour is usually not the problem – People tell me they have stopped many times.  The problem is that they have also started again many times.

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An addictive behaviour, by definition, occupies a lot of time and energy.  For example, this might be time actually engaging in the behaviour; or could be time spent planning the behaviour; working out how to pay for it or how to keep it secret.  All up, if we remove that from your life without introducing alternatives, you are making it hard to be successful.

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Additionally, we will look at what specific circumstances could make you vulnerable to slipping into the behaviour again.  In addition to the common obstacles, for you it might be to do with certain places and people; particular feelings such as feeling stressed, bored, rejected or lonely; or it might be related to inadequate excitement and stimulation – particularly if you have an ADHD-like style to your personality.

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In particular, childhood abuse and neglect; chronic stress or other traumas across the lifetime, leave us susceptible to addictive behaviours and, if this is the case for you, we will work to resolve the residual effects of those events and reduce their present-day impact.

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We will work to understand you and to anticipate when you might be vulnerable to slipping up and put in place strategies to avoid that in both the short- and longer-term.