Counselling for Substance Use and Behavioural Addictions

Addiction can feel isolating. Whether it's substances, gambling concerns, or any behaviour that feels like it has too much control over your life, you don't have to face it alone. Layla can help you find a therapist who understands substance use or potentially problematic behaviour and is trained to support you.

Start your journey

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Content on this page has been clinically reviewed by Dr. Danielle Rice, Certified Psychologist, College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO)

Understanding addiction

Addiction may look different for everyone, but it often shows up as a way of coping with something such as low mood, pain, stress, isolation, uncertainty, or trauma. It's often considered a coping mechanism that's used to provide some form of relief from a feeling.

There is a widely used clinical framework to describe the pattern of addiction, frequently called The Four C's:

Craving: a strong urge to use or engage in the behaviour

Loss of control: using higher amounts or more often than intended or wanted

Compulsion: feeling driven to use or engage in the behaviour despite trying to stop

Continued use despite consequences: continuing in the behaviour even as it causes harm

Engaging in addictive behaviour is not a failure in willpower, it's a more complicated mechanism involving biological, psychological, and social factors. Recognizing it is the first step towards change.

If this sounds familiar, know that help is available and therapeutic treatment can be a supportive approach to working through addiction.

Find support for addiction

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Common types of addiction

While addiction involves a pattern of behaviour that's difficult to control, it can show up differently for everyone. While the following isn't a complete list, they reflect some of the most common addiction presentations:

Substance use

This could be alcohol, cannabis, nicotine or another substance, use can shift from feeling purposeful to feeling like you have less control over your use.

Gambling

A pattern of betting or wagering that gets difficult to control, and continues despite financial or personal consequences.

Sex or pornography addiction

Strong sexual thoughts, urges or behaviours that feel hard to control, causing stress, shame or other consequences.

Co-occurring conditions

It's common for addiction to co-occur with other conditions like anxiety, depression, trauma or OCD.

Internet or gaming addiction

Whether it’s gaming, social media or another online activity, it can become hard to log off, even when it’s affecting sleep, work or relationships.

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Seeking Support for Substance Use or Behavioural Addictions?

You don’t have to navigate substance use or addiction alone. With Layla, we can match you with a therapist specialized in addiction or substance use to support you in your journey.

Star your journey to finding support

Therapy approaches for addiction counselling

There is no single best approach for addiction counselling, the right fit often depends on the individual and what you're working through. Layla works with registered therapists experienced in evidence-based approaches, including:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

CBT

Helps identify thoughts and situations that drive addictive behaviour, and builds practical skills to respond differently.

Motivational Interviewing

Focuses on building your own motivation for behaviour change, at your own pace without judgement or pressure.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

DBT

Builds practical skills for managing emotions and relationships, often used alongside other emotion regulation concerns.

How Layla guides you to finding a therapist

With support from a dedicated care coordinator, Layla guides you toward finding a therapist you align with. Before your matching call, you might consider what types of therapy feel right for you, the qualities you value in a therapist, other personal context or concerns you might want the therapist to have experience with, and your short and long term goals. Having a clearer sense of what you need can make finding the right fit feel easier.

Step 1

Tell us what you’re looking for

Complete our intake form to help us understand what your goals, preferences and needs are.

Step 2

Complete our matching call

Over the phone, a Care Coordinator will ask a few questions to guide their selection of therapists who they think best align with you.

Step 3

Start your first session

After you choose your therapist, you’ll book your first online or in-person therapy session.

Take the first step

Start by filling out our secure intake form. It helps us find therapists who are the best fit for your goals and preferences. You can then connect with our care team shortly after.

Frequently asked questions

View all FAQs

The most effective approach depends on your needs, goals, and the type and severity of the concern. Evidence-based options include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and contingency management. For some substance use disorders, combining therapy with medication provides the strongest outcomes. A therapist can work with you to develop an individualized plan focused on reducing harm, making meaningful changes, and supporting recovery.

We do our best to match you with a therapist in our community experienced in supporting addiction or substance use and on your needs and preferences, with both online and in-person availability depending on your location. Your care coordinator is able to discuss your options in more detail.

Layla’s community includes therapists experienced with different types of addiction, whether that’s substance use, gambling, sex addiction or something else. When you share your concerns during your matching call with a care coordinator, they will help to find a therapist suited to your needs and preferences.

Not necessarily, addiction counselling aims to meet you where you are, including if you're still engaging in the behaviour or haven't decided whether abstinence is your goal. Many Layla therapists take a harm reduction approach, focusing on reducing risk, decreasing behaviour that is causing problems for you, and building support in a safe, supportive and non-judgemental space.