Addiction Counselling in Cairns

Addiction can take many forms, from alcohol and drugs to gambling, food, technology, or other behaviours that feel hard to control. While the behaviour itself might provide short-term relief or distraction, it often leads to shame, guilt, and a cycle that feels impossible to break.

If you are struggling with addiction, know that it does not mean you are weak or broken. Addiction is often a response to deeper pain, stress, or unmet needs, and with the right support, change is possible.

Addiction is more than just a “bad habit.” It is often linked to:

• Using substances or behaviours to cope with stress, trauma, or painful emotions
   
• Underlying mental health concerns such as anxiety or depression
   
• Family patterns or early life experiences
   
• A need for comfort, connection, or escape
   

Counselling provides a safe space to look beneath the addiction and understand what it might be trying to soothe.

Healing from addiction is not about judgment or shame, it’s about compassion and rebuilding your relationship with yourself. In our sessions, I draw on a range of evidence-based and holistic approaches, including:

• CBT for AOD (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy): Identifying unhelpful thought patterns and triggers, while learning healthier coping strategies.
   
• EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques): Supporting nervous system regulation and helping reduce cravings, stress, and emotional overwhelm.
   
• Trauma-informed practice: Recognising that addiction is often rooted in past trauma and working gently at your pace.
   
• Strengths-based support: Focusing on your resilience and capacity for change.
   

You might be noticing that addiction is impacting your:

• Relationships with family, friends, or your partner
   
• Work, study, or financial stability
   
• Physical or mental health
   
• Self-esteem and confidence
   
• Ability to feel present and engaged in life
   

If you can relate, counselling can help you create new ways forward.

With support, many people find they can:

• Break free from cycles of guilt and shame
   
• Develop healthier coping strategies for stress and emotions
   
• Rebuild self-confidence and self-worth
   
• Improve relationships and communication
   
• Feel more in control of their choices and future
   
• Reconnect with what brings meaning, purpose, and joy
   

Addiction does not define you. It is one part of your story, and with support, you can create change and reclaim your life.

Click the Book Now button, to begin your counselling journey in Cairns and take the first step toward recovery and healing.