ADDICTION & SUBSTANCE USE THERAPY IN ONTARIO
You don't have to hit rock bottom to deserve support.
You can begin before things fall apart. You can begin again. You can begin exactly where you are.
Maybe you've started questioning your relationship with alcohol or other substances. Maybe you've tried cutting back, only to find yourself returning to familiar patterns.
Perhaps you're already in recovery, but the anxiety, shame, trauma, or relationship difficulties haven't disappeared.
At Théla, addiction and substance use therapy offers a confidential, compassionate space to understand your experiences, explore change, and develop support that reflects your circumstances and goals.
BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION →Virtual individual and couples therapy · Ontario & Saskatchewan
You are more than the behaviour you're trying to change.
Your story deserves curiosity, not judgment.
A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION ABOUT ADDICTION
It's not simply about willpower.
Substance use can be influenced by many factors, including reward and learning processes, stress, mental health, social environments, physical dependence, and personal history.
For some people, using a substance becomes a way to relax, sleep, manage painful emotions, feel connected, or temporarily escape overwhelming experiences.
Understanding what substance use has been doing for you does not mean ignoring its consequences. It creates an opportunity to explore safer, more sustainable ways of meeting your needs.
DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?
You don't have to wait until things become unbearable.
People seek addiction therapy for many reasons, including uncertainty about whether their substance use has become a problem.
01.
Questioning Your Use
You wonder whether your drinking or substance use is becoming difficult to control, even if others haven't noticed.
02.
Repeated Attempts to Cut Back
You set limits or make promises to yourself, but maintaining those changes is more difficult than expected.
03.
Using to Manage Emotions
Alcohol or other substances have become a familiar response to stress, loneliness, anxiety, anger, or emotional pain.
04.
Shame & Secrecy
You hide how much you're using, minimize concerns, or feel ashamed of choices you've made.
05.
Relationship Difficulties
Substance use has contributed to conflict, broken trust, emotional distance, or concerns from people close to you.
06.
Recovery & Fear of Relapse
You've made changes but worry about maintaining them, especially during stressful or emotionally difficult periods.
WHEN PART OF YOU WANTS CHANGE
"I know this isn't helping me anymore. But I'm not sure I'm ready to stop."
You may recognize the consequences of substance use while also feeling reluctant to give up something that has provided comfort, relief, connection, or familiarity.
This ambivalence is common. It does not mean you're unwilling to engage in therapy.
Motivational Interviewing provides a collaborative way to explore what matters to you, what you want to change, and what makes change difficult—without confrontation or pressure.
Questions worth exploring
What does substance use give me?
What has it started to cost me?
What concerns me about changing?
What would I want my life to look like?
What support would make change more manageable?
AREAS OF SUPPORT
Support for different experiences with substance use.
Your therapist can help explore your concerns and whether outpatient psychotherapy is an appropriate level of care.
Alcohol Use
Exploring drinking patterns, emotional triggers, social pressures, attempts to reduce drinking, and recovery goals.
Cannabis Use
Understanding the relationship between cannabis, sleep, stress, motivation, anxiety, and everyday functioning.
Prescription Medication Misuse
Exploring concerns about using prescribed medication differently than directed, alongside appropriate medical coordination.
Other Substance Use
Discussing concerns involving opioids, stimulants, or other substances, with referrals to specialized or medical care when indicated.
Early & Long-Term Recovery
Supporting adjustment after reducing or stopping use, rebuilding routines, and maintaining meaningful changes.
Family & Relationship Impacts
Helping individuals and couples navigate boundaries, trust, communication, and the effects of substance use on relationships.
UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S UNDERNEATH
Sometimes substance use has been a way of surviving difficult experiences.
For some people, substance use is connected to trauma, anxiety, depression, loneliness, grief, or longstanding emotional distress.
A substance may temporarily reduce distress or make difficult experiences feel more manageable. Over time, the same pattern may create additional challenges.
Trauma-informed addiction therapy considers the role of these experiences without assuming that every person with substance use difficulties has a trauma history.
The work may involve strengthening emotional regulation, developing alternative coping strategies, exploring relationship patterns, and addressing underlying concerns when clinically appropriate.
RELAPSE PREVENTION & RECOVERY
A setback doesn't erase the work you've already done.
Returning to substance use after a period of change can bring disappointment, shame, fear, or hopelessness.
A return to use deserves attention, including an assessment of immediate safety and whether additional support is needed. It does not mean that previous progress was meaningless.
Therapy can help you understand what contributed to the setback, strengthen your support network, and develop a plan for responding to future high-risk situations.
Recovery planning may include:
Recognizing triggers and early warning signs
Understanding emotional and environmental vulnerabilities
Developing responses to cravings and urges
Identifying supportive people and services
Creating a plan for setbacks and high-risk situations
FOR PARTNERS & FAMILY MEMBERS
When someone you love is struggling with substance use.
Substance use can affect the entire relationship system. Partners and family members may experience fear, anger, mistrust, financial stress, emotional exhaustion, or uncertainty about how to help.
You may find yourself monitoring someone else's behaviour, making repeated attempts to prevent harm, or putting your own wellbeing aside.
Individual therapy can help you explore boundaries, communication, emotional needs, and the difference between supporting someone and taking responsibility for their recovery.
Couples therapy may be appropriate when both partners can participate safely and meaningfully. Your therapist can help assess whether joint sessions or individual support would be the better starting point.
ASK ABOUT INDIVIDUAL OR COUPLES SUPPORT →HOW THÉLA APPROACHES ADDICTION THERAPY
There is no single path to meaningful change.
Therapy is collaborative, individualized, and informed by your goals, readiness, clinical needs, and circumstances.
Motivational Interviewing
Exploring ambivalence, personal values, motivation, and readiness for change without judgment or confrontation.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Identifying triggers, thoughts, behaviours, and patterns associated with substance use and developing alternative responses.
DBT-Informed Skills
Building distress tolerance, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and skills for navigating difficult moments.
Trauma-Informed Therapy
Recognizing the potential role of trauma and prioritizing safety, collaboration, and appropriate pacing.
Relapse Prevention
Creating practical plans for cravings, high-risk situations, warning signs, setbacks, and ongoing support.
Relational & Person-Centred Therapy
Exploring relationship dynamics, identity, trust, and emotional needs while respecting your autonomy and goals.
HARM REDUCTION & ABSTINENCE
You don't have to arrive with a perfectly defined recovery goal.
Some people begin therapy wanting to stop using substances. Others want to reduce use, understand their patterns, or explore whether change is necessary.
A harm-reduction approach recognizes that reducing risk and improving wellbeing are meaningful goals, while abstinence may be important or medically indicated for some people.
Your therapist can help explore your goals while considering safety, physical dependence, medical risks, and whether additional addiction services are needed.
MEET YOUR ADDICTION & SUBSTANCE USE THERAPIST
Support grounded in understanding, not judgment.
ADDICTION · SUBSTANCE USE · RECOVERY · TRAUMA · COUPLES
Jennifer Gibbons
MA, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Jennifer works with adults navigating substance use, addiction recovery, relapse prevention, trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties connected to addiction.
She brings experience working in a specialized intensive treatment setting for adults recovering from substance use disorders. This experience informs her understanding of the challenges involved in treatment, recovery, and maintaining change outside structured treatment environments.
Her approach is compassionate, direct, and nonjudgmental. Jennifer integrates Motivational Interviewing, CBT-informed relapse prevention, DBT-informed skills, trauma-informed care, and relational approaches according to individual needs.
Whether you're uncertain about changing, actively working toward recovery, or supporting someone you love, Jennifer offers space to explore what comes next.
You don't need to convince Jennifer that you're ready to change. You can begin with an honest conversation about where you are.
Areas of focus: Substance use, addiction recovery, relapse prevention, trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties
Services: Individual and couples psychotherapy
Format: Virtual therapy across Ontario and Saskatchewan
BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION WITH JENNIFER →WHAT TO EXPECT
Therapy begins with understanding your experience.
01.
Explore Your Relationship With Substances
Discuss your experiences, current concerns, goals, and the role substance use has played in your life.
02.
Understand Patterns & Needs
Identify triggers, emotional experiences, behaviours, strengths, and supports that influence your substance use.
03.
Build a Collaborative Plan
Explore strategies, recovery goals, relapse prevention, and additional supports as needed, with regular review and adjustment.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions about addiction therapy?
Do I need to be sober before starting therapy?
No. You can seek support while questioning your substance use, considering change, reducing use, or maintaining recovery. Your therapist will assess whether outpatient psychotherapy is appropriate and safe for your circumstances. Sessions require sufficient capacity to participate meaningfully and safely.
What if I'm not ready to stop using?
You can begin by exploring your concerns and goals. Motivational Interviewing and harm-reduction principles allow room for ambivalence while taking safety and clinical needs seriously.
Do I need to identify as an addict?
No. You do not need to adopt a particular label to receive psychotherapy. Therapy can focus on your experiences, relationship with substances, and desired changes.
Can therapy help after a relapse?
Yes. Therapy can help you explore contributing factors, reassess your safety and support needs, strengthen relapse-prevention strategies, and reconnect with your recovery goals.
Can I attend therapy after residential addiction treatment?
Yes. Outpatient psychotherapy may support the transition from structured treatment into everyday life, including coping skills, relationships, routines, and relapse prevention.
Does Théla provide medical detoxification?
No. Théla provides psychotherapy, not medical detoxification, withdrawal management, or medication prescribing. Withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines, and certain other substances can be medically dangerous. Consult an appropriate medical professional before abruptly stopping if physical dependence may be present.
Can addiction therapy address trauma and anxiety?
Yes. Jennifer offers trauma-informed psychotherapy and can explore how anxiety, depression, stress, or past experiences interact with substance use and recovery.
Can couples attend addiction therapy together?
Jennifer offers couples psychotherapy, including support for relationships affected by substance use. Joint therapy is considered when clinically appropriate and safe for both partners.
Can I seek support if my partner or family member is using substances?
Yes. Individual therapy can help you explore boundaries, emotional wellbeing, communication, and how to respond to the effects of another person's substance use.
Is addiction therapy available online?
Yes. Jennifer provides virtual individual and couples psychotherapy for eligible clients in Ontario and Saskatchewan.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
When additional or immediate support is needed.
Psychotherapy is not a substitute for emergency care, medical withdrawal management, or specialized addiction treatment when those services are needed.
If someone is experiencing a possible overdose, severe withdrawal symptoms, loss of consciousness, or another medical emergency, call 911.
Naloxone can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. Free take-home naloxone kits are available through participating Ontario pharmacies and other distribution sites.
For confidential information and referrals to addiction and mental health services in Ontario, contact ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600.
For suicide-related crisis support in Canada, call or text 9-8-8.
A PLACE TO BEGIN
You don't have to figure everything out before reaching out.
Whether you're questioning your substance use, navigating recovery, or affected by someone else's addiction, your concerns deserve to be heard.
Start with a conversation. You don't need to arrive with all the answers.
BOOK WITH JENNIFER CONTACT OUR TEAMVirtual addiction and substance use therapy in Ontario & Saskatchewan
