Expert Addiction and Substance Use Therapy Services in Canada

Taking Your First Step: Initial Contact & Assessment

Starting your journey toward healing from addiction takes courage. You're here. That matters. This first step creates the foundation for everything that follows, and we're honoured to walk alongside you.

What to Expect During Initial Contact

Your healing begins before you even walk through our doors. We start with a free 15-minute consultation where you can meet Melissa Davies, our registered clinical counsellor, and share what brought you here today. No pressure. No judgment. Just connection.

This conversation happens however feels most comfortable for you. In person at our Nanaimo office. Online from your own space. Or by phone while you take a walk. The choice is yours because your comfort guides our process.

During this consultation, we'll explore what you're experiencing with substances right now. Whether it's alcohol, drugs, or other dependencies that have taken hold of your life. Melissa listens with deep understanding, having supported countless individuals through similar struggles using approaches rooted in trauma informed care and Indigenous healing practices.

Your Comprehensive Assessment Process

After our initial consultation, your first full session lasts about 50 minutes. This intake session dives deeper into your unique story and circumstances surrounding substance use.

We'll complete intake forms together that gather important information about your history with substances, any underlying trauma, family dynamics, and current life stressors. These aren't just forms to fill out. They're tools that help us understand the whole person behind the addiction.

Melissa uses various assessment approaches during this session. She might explore your relationship patterns, emotional triggers, and physical responses to stress. Sometimes this includes gentle questionnaires about mood, anxiety, and substance use patterns. Nothing invasive. Everything collaborative.

The assessment also considers cultural factors, especially if you identify as Indigenous. Melissa specializes in culturally inclusive approaches that honour traditional healing alongside evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and somatic approaches.

Building Your Personalized Treatment Plan

By the end of your first session, you'll have a clear roadmap forward. Melissa collaborates with you to create treatment goals that feel meaningful and achievable. Maybe that's reducing substance use gradually. Perhaps it's addressing underlying trauma that fuels your addiction. Or learning new coping strategies for difficult emotions.

Your treatment plan might include individual counselling sessions, family therapy if appropriate, and integration of holistic approaches like mindfulness, art therapy, or even Reiki. Everything depends on what resonates with you and supports your unique healing journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Multiple Ways to Connect

Ready to take this important first step? Choose the contact method that feels most comfortable:

• Email: [email protected] for detailed questions or to request your free consultation
• Online Booking: Visit our website to schedule your free 15-minute consultation directly
• In-Person Visit: Our office at 1601 Bowen Road, Nanaimo, BC V9S 1G5 welcomes you during business hours

What Happens Next

After your initial contact, we'll schedule your first full session within a timeframe that works for your needs. Some people prefer to start immediately. Others need time to prepare mentally and emotionally. Both approaches are valid.

Between now and your first session, consider reflecting on what you hope to gain from counselling. What would your life look like if substances no longer controlled your choices? What relationships might heal? What dreams might become possible again?

Remember, seeking help for addiction shows tremendous strength, not weakness. You're taking control of your life and choosing a path toward healing. That deserves recognition and celebration.

We're here when you're ready to begin.

Step 2: Assessment & Intake Session

Your intake session is where we truly begin. This is your time to share your story. We listen deeply, assess your unique needs, and create a roadmap together for your healing journey from addiction and substance use challenges.

What Happens During Your Assessment

Your 50-minute intake session unfolds naturally through conversation. We explore your relationship with substances, your triggers, and your strengths. Together, we identify patterns that may be holding you back and discover the resources you already possess for recovery.

During our time together, we'll use gentle assessment tools to better understand your experience. These might include questionnaires about mood and anxiety that help us see the full picture of how substances have affected your life. We also explore any trauma history, family dynamics, and cultural factors that influence your healing process.

This isn't about judgment. It's about understanding.

Goal Setting That Feels Right for You

Recovery looks different for everyone. Some clients aim for complete abstinence. Others work toward harm reduction. Many focus on rebuilding relationships or managing co-occurring mental health concerns.

We'll identify what success means to you personally. Your goals might include developing healthy coping strategies, addressing underlying trauma, or strengthening your support network. These goals can evolve as you grow in your recovery journey.

What to Bring and How to Prepare

Common Concerns About Assessment

"Will I be judged for my substance use?"Absolutely not. Addiction is a health condition, not a moral failing. Our approach is rooted in compassion and understanding, free from judgment or shame.

"Do I have to share everything in the first session?"Share only what feels comfortable. Trust builds over time. We'll gather information at a pace that feels safe for you.

"What if I'm not ready to quit completely?"That's perfectly okay. We meet you where you are in your journey. Harm reduction and gradual change are valid approaches that we fully support.

"Will my information remain confidential?"Yes, with very limited exceptions required by law. We'll explain confidentiality clearly during your session so you understand exactly how your privacy is protected.

Session Format Options

Your intake can happen in person at our Nanaimo location, online through secure video, or by phone. Choose the format that feels most comfortable and accessible for you. All formats provide the same thorough assessment and caring attention.

After your intake, we'll schedule regular sessions based on your needs and preferences. Some clients benefit from weekly meetings. Others prefer bi-weekly sessions. We'll find a rhythm that supports your recovery goals.

Remember, seeking help for addiction takes tremendous courage. You've already taken the hardest step by reaching out. Now let's work together to build the foundation for lasting change and healing.

Step 3: Active Treatment and Ongoing Support

This is where the real work begins. Your healing journey unfolds through regular sessions, meaningful homework, and continuous support between appointments.

What Your Sessions Look Like

Each session follows a gentle rhythm designed around your needs. We start with a brief check-in. How are you feeling today? What's been happening since we last met? This connection time helps us understand where you are right now.

The heart of our work happens in the middle portion of each session. Here, we dive deep. We might explore triggers that led to recent substance use. We could practice mindfulness techniques to manage cravings. Sometimes we'll work with art therapy to express feelings that words can't capture. Other days, we might use cognitive behavioural approaches to challenge thoughts that fuel addictive patterns.

Your sessions are completely tailored to you. If you're struggling with anxiety alongside addiction, we'll weave in stress reduction techniques. If trauma underlies your substance use, we'll incorporate trauma informed approaches that honour your pace and comfort level.

We wrap up each session by summarizing what we've discovered together. What insights emerged? What tools did you practice? Then we'll discuss your homework and between-session activities.

Therapeutic Techniques We Use

• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: Breathing exercises and meditation to manage cravings and emotional overwhelm
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Identifying and changing thought patterns that contribute to substance use
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy: Building skills for emotional regulation and distress tolerance
• Art Therapy: Creative expression to process complex emotions and experiences
• Somatic Therapy: Working with body sensations to release stored trauma and stress
• Motivational Enhancement: Strengthening your internal motivation for change
• Relapse Prevention Planning: Developing concrete strategies for high-risk situations

Your Homework and Practice

Growth happens between sessions too. Your homework isn't busywork. It's carefully chosen to reinforce what we're building together.

You might keep a daily journal tracking your moods, triggers, and coping strategies used. This helps us identify patterns and celebrate your progress. We often assign mindfulness practices. Five minutes of breathing exercises each morning. A brief body scan before bed.

Some weeks, you'll practice specific skills we've learned in session. Maybe it's using grounding techniques when cravings hit. Perhaps it's challenging negative self-talk with more balanced thoughts. We might ask you to engage in one meaningful self-care activity daily.

For clients working on relationship issues connected to their addiction, homework might include practicing assertive communication with family members. Others might work on building a support network by attending one social activity per week.

Tracking Your Progress

We measure progress in ways that matter to you. Not just days without substances, though that's important too. We look at how you're sleeping. How relationships are improving. Whether you're feeling more hopeful about your future.

Every few weeks, we'll complete brief questionnaires about your mood, anxiety levels, and quality of life. These aren't tests to pass or fail. They're tools to show you how far you've come and where we might adjust our approach.

We track your use of coping skills. Are you remembering to use breathing techniques when stressed? How often are you reaching out for support instead of isolating? These small victories add up to significant change.

Your progress isn't always linear. Some weeks feel harder than others. We normalize this reality and use setbacks as learning opportunities rather than failures.

Between-Session Support

You're not alone between our meetings. We establish clear communication boundaries that support your recovery while respecting professional limits.

If you're having a particularly difficult day, you can send a brief email letting me know. While I can't provide therapy via email, I can offer encouragement and remind you of tools we've practiced. For crisis situations, we'll create a detailed safety plan including emergency contacts and local resources.

Many clients find it helpful to schedule their sessions at consistent times. This creates structure and gives you something to look forward to during challenging periods.

We also connect you with community resources and support groups that align with your values and comfort level. Having multiple sources of support strengthens your recovery foundation.

Your Role in Treatment

You're the expert on your own experience. I'm here to guide and support, but you make the choices. We work collaboratively to adjust our approach based on what's working and what isn't.

Your feedback shapes every session. If a particular technique doesn't resonate, we'll try something else. If homework feels overwhelming, we'll modify it. This is your journey, and you have complete agency in how we navigate it together.

Recovery takes courage, and you're already showing that by being here. Each session builds on the last, creating momentum toward the life you want to live.

Step 4: Celebrating Your Journey and Planning Ahead

You've reached an incredible milestone. This moment represents more than just completing a treatment program. It's about recognizing the strength you've discovered within yourself and the tools you've built for lasting recovery.

Your journey through addiction and substance use therapy has been unique to you. Every step forward, every challenge overcome, and every insight gained has contributed to where you stand today. Now we focus on ensuring these positive changes continue to flourish in your daily life.

Signs You're Ready for This Transition

Several indicators show you're prepared to move forward with confidence:

• Consistent coping strategies: You regularly use healthy techniques when facing stress or triggers
• Strong support network: You've built meaningful connections with people who support your recovery
• Clear personal boundaries: You can identify and maintain limits that protect your wellbeing
• Emotional awareness: You recognize your feelings and respond to them in healthy ways
• Future focused thinking: You're making plans and setting goals that align with your values
• Reduced substance cravings: When urges arise, you have effective ways to manage them

Your Personalized Maintenance Plan

Recovery is an ongoing process. Your maintenance plan serves as your roadmap for continued success. Together, we'll create strategies tailored specifically to your life circumstances and goals.

Measuring Your Continued Progress

We'll use simple, meaningful ways to track how you're doing. These aren't tests to pass or fail. They're tools to help you see your growth and identify areas where you might want additional support.

You'll have access to brief questionnaires that ask about your mood, stress levels, and overall life satisfaction. These take just a few minutes to complete and give us valuable information about your wellbeing. We also use scaling questions where you rate different aspects of your recovery on a scale that makes sense to you.

Your input matters most. We'll regularly discuss what's working well, what feels challenging, and what adjustments might be helpful. This collaborative approach ensures your maintenance plan evolves with your changing needs and circumstances.

Ongoing Support Options

You're not walking this path alone. Multiple levels of support remain available to you:

• Monthly check-in sessions: Brief appointments to review your progress and address any concerns
• Crisis support: Immediate assistance when you need it most, available by phone
• Booster sessions: Intensive support during particularly challenging periods
• Group programs: Connection with others who share similar experiences
• Family sessions: Support for your loved ones and strengthening of your support network
• Specialized workshops: Skills building sessions on topics like stress management or relationship building

Serving Communities Across Canada

Whether you're in Nanaimo, Vancouver, Toronto, Regina, or anywhere across British Columbia, Ontario, or Saskatchewan, our support continues. We offer flexible options including in-person sessions, phone support, and online meetings to ensure geography never becomes a barrier to your continued success.

When Life Presents New Challenges

Recovery isn't about perfection. Life will continue to present unexpected situations, stressful periods, and new challenges. This is normal and expected. What matters is how you respond to these situations using the skills and insights you've developed.

If you experience a setback, it doesn't erase your progress. Instead, it becomes valuable information about what additional support or strategies might be helpful. We're here to help you learn from these experiences and strengthen your recovery foundation.

Celebrating Your Achievements

Take a moment to acknowledge how far you've come. The person who first walked through our doors is not the same person you are today. You've developed new skills. You've gained insights about yourself. You've built resilience and hope.

These changes extend beyond just substance use. Many people find their relationships improve, their work satisfaction increases, and their overall sense of purpose becomes clearer. These positive ripple effects often continue to unfold long after formal treatment ends.

Looking Forward

Your recovery journey continues, but now you're equipped with knowledge, skills, and support systems that will serve you well. You understand your triggers and have effective ways to manage them. You've built meaningful connections with others. Most importantly, you've reconnected with your own strength and resilience.

We remain committed to supporting you for as long as you find it helpful. Recovery is not a destination but an ongoing process of growth, learning, and healing. You've proven you have what it takes to create positive change in your life.

The door remains open. Whether you need a brief check-in, want to explore new goals, or face unexpected challenges, we're here. Your success matters to us, and we're honoured to have been part of your journey toward healing and hope.