Addictions & Dependency Therapy
Dependencies on substances or behaviors are highly individualized conditions. Often beginning as a way to alleviate uncomfortable emotions, chronic stress, or deep physical pain, dependencies can quickly lead to physiological changes that make breaking the habit incredibly difficult. Lisa provides tailored, non-judgmental therapy to help you understand what lies underneath the behavior, giving you the practical tools to regain control and reconnect with your sense of purpose.
Understanding Dependency & Recovery
Whether you are facing a dependency on a substance (such as alcohol or other drugs) or a process/activity (such as excessive eating, gambling, shopping, or sexual behaviors), effective treatment must look at the whole person, not just the behavior itself.
Click through our core treatment pathways to explore how we navigate recovery together:
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Core Treatment Focus
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Emotional Support
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Clinical Framework
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Relapse Prevention
Uncovering What Lies Underneath
To address overuse, we must first build a deep understanding of why and how the behavior originally developed. This includes exploring the underlying emotional pain, personal context, and the physiology of the brain's reward system, ensuring you are equipped with the awareness needed for lasting change.
Holistic & Individualized Care
No single treatment is right for everyone. We design highly individualized treatment plans that address all of your unique cognitive, emotional, and physical needs. Our goal is to free you from dependencies so you can fully reconnect with your sense of self, work, relationships, and daily social life.
Evidence-Informed Therapies
We actively integrate evidence-based modalities like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) to tackle intense urges. Lisa has completed comprehensive specialist training with South Pacific Private, the Drug and Alcohol Services of South Australia (DASSA), and international expert Dr. Cathy Moonshine.
Long-Term Support & Follow-Up
True healing is an ongoing process. We integrate systematic strategies to help you actively navigate withdrawal and sudden craving symptoms. Through frequent milestone reviews and long-term follow-up care, we modify your treatment plan to continually fit your evolving life and milestones.
Key Pillars of Effective Dependency Care
Rapid Accessibility
We recognize that when a decision to change is strong, quick access to professional, specialized treatment is vital to capitalize on that momentum.
Co-Occurring Support
We screen for and actively treat co-occurring mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, which frequently maintain dependency cycles.
Medical Liaison
Where appropriate, we work and liaise closely with your GP to coordinate safe psychopharmacological options and medical support.
12-Step Integration
We gladly assist with and incorporate outer supportive community networks and therapeutic modalities, including established 12-Step Programs.
The Roadmap to Reclaiming Control
Comprehensive Assessment
We establish a thorough initial evaluation to deeply map out your history, identify primary emotional or environmental triggers, and safely evaluate your overall mental health needs.
Skill Building (CBT & DBT)
We engage in structured, focused clinical counseling using Brief Motivational Interviewing, CBT, and DBT skills to alter unhelpful behavioral patterns and better regulate sudden, intense cravings.
Action & Adjustment
We execute your tailored plan in real-world scenarios while holding frequent review sessions. This allows us to smoothly adapt the strategies to match your changing life circumstances and energy.
Relapse Prevention
We construct a robust, permanent long-term toolkit to protect your choices. We focus on establishing stable, positive coping mechanisms to ensure you maintain complete self-direction and connection.
Meet Lisa
- Clinical Social Worker
- Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
- 10+ years experience
- Trauma-informed
- Couples and individual work
