Sometimes substance use, addiction, or substance dependence starts as a way to cope with painful emotions. When you find that this coping strategy is no longer working as well as it used to, or it’s starting to cause other issues in your life, work, and relationships, counselling can be a good place to address the root causes that led to initial or continued use. We can discuss what goals make the most sense for your personal situation, whether that’s to change, reduce, or stop your substance use or to learn to use more safely.