Addictions therapists in Chester, England ENG, United Kingdom GB

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Chester, England therapist: Estelle Dooley, counselor/therapist
Addictions or Substance Abuse

Estelle Dooley

Counsellor/Therapist, Accredited, MA in Counselling & Psychotherapy, MBACP Reg
I bring over a decade of experience as a trusted counselor and psychotherapist. Through evidence-based interventions and a compassionate, non-judgmental approach, I empower individuals to overcome the grip of addiction and reclaim control over their lives. With a proven track record of success and a commitment to ongoing professional development, rest assured that you're in capable hands as we embark on your journey towards lasting recovery and holistic well-being.  
18 Years Experience
Online in Chester, England
Chamonix, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes therapist: Sara Aicart-Pendlebury, art therapist
Addictions or Substance Abuse

Sara Aicart-Pendlebury

Art Therapist, Human Givens Practitioner (HG.Dip.P), Member of Human Givens Institute, IFS therapist Levels 1&2, Narm Practitioner
You may choose to call it a craving, a fancy, a bit of a dependence but the truth is that anyone who becomes overly drawn to or obsessed by any activity – whether drinking alcohol, taking drugs, over- or under-eating, shopping, gambling, sex or even doing good deeds – is trying to fill a void or block out something that is missing in their lives. (Even smoking may start for that reason.) That’s why the human givens approach, which focuses on helping people in distress find healthy ways to meet their emotional needs, is such a successful method for overcoming addictions. We know, from research, that people who feel fulfilled in their lives do not need (or stop needing) to indulge in addictive activities. In one famous experiment, rats were offered either morphine-laced water or ordinary water. When rats were kept alone in small cages, they tended to opt for the morphine, but when they were kept in groups in areas similar to their natural habitats, they preferred to drink the water. When the rats in the natural habitat were then put singly into cages, they started choosing the morphine-laced water, while the rats originally in the cages stopped choosing the morphine when put into natural-style habitats. This showed clearly that, when needs were met, rats did not want drugs. The same effect is found in humans. Most young people give up drug experimentation when they start careers and families. People are much more likely to get caught up in addiction when important needs cease to be met, perhaps because of loss, caused by the death of someone close, a relationship ending, redundancy or illness, or by dissatisfaction arising from boredom or feeling trapped. Sometimes such circumstances lead first to depression and then to addiction. It is now known that all addictive behaviours work through the same common pathway in the brain – the expectation pathway. So, when human givens practitioners help someone to overcome an addictive activity, they focus first on helping people knock out the expectations of pleasure that addiction falsely feeds us. If you have ever tried to stop an activity you are rather over-partial to, you may recall that, when you first decide not to have that drink or that cigarette or switch on the shopping channel, you don’t feel any great discomfort. It is as time goes on that the craving grows, often until it is irresistible. What happens in the brain is this: when we first decide not to indulge in the activity, we feel calm; however, there is a structure in the emotional brain, called the amygdala, whose job it is to notice when anything out of the ordinary is happening and raise the alarm if it could mean danger. On this occasion, it notices that we haven’t had our usual cigarette, drink, shopping-channel fix. A sequence of chemical events takes place in the brain, which results in our being flooded with arousing emotional memories of how wonderful it was to smoke, drink, order goods when watching the shopping channel – and so we succumb. Once strong desire is experienced, we recall only expectations of pleasure associated with the addictive activity. This makes our craving powerful, even overwhelming, instead of the very mild physiological discomfort we experienced at the start. But the memories are usually false because, as we know, when we feel we are being deprived of something we want, we exaggerate the joys of it. So we remember being the life and soul of the party and not being sick and having a hangover; we remember the thrill of buying new clothing and not the self-loathing while stuffing it, still in its glossy packaging, at the back of the wardrobe. In other words, the satisfaction is all in our heads. Human givens practitioners help people change their expectations by relaxing them and then guiding them to visualise the downsides of the addictive activity – such as disabling illness, loss of loved ones, financial hardship, etc, instead of the false memories of fulfilment. When only these more realistic associations come to mind on experiencing a craving, withdrawal symptoms remain mild physiological ones, such as the sensation of gentle butterflies in the stomach or a furry tongue. After a while, if all false memories are rejected and only the fearsome ones are accessed from our emotional memory stores, craving ceases altogether. People then need to be helped to find ways to meet their needs more healthily again, such as by starting or resuming social activities (most people with addictive behaviours gradually give less and less time to what they previously valued); facing whatever may have led to the addiction in the first place, such as a troubled marriage or work difficulties, and finding solutions; and learning ways to deal with future stress – or temptation – without relapsing. This will usually involve changing attitudes towards problems or setbacks, learning to see them as challenges that can be coped with; learning to calm aroused emotions down instantly; and being ready to take ‘emergency action’ to distract oneself from temptation, such as going for a walk or calling a friend. When people genuinely realise that they have been hoodwinked into false expectations of pleasure and fulfilment from an addictive activity, they find that they can stop, and not miss it, however long they have been in its thrall.  
15 Years Experience
Online in Chester, England
Toronto, Ontario therapist: Gui Mansilla, registered psychotherapist
Addictions or Substance Abuse

Gui Mansilla

Registered Psychotherapist, Lawyer (Arg) M.Div (USA) Reg. Psychotherapist (CA) Coach (Ca)
My journey with addiction is deeply personal, having been marked by the impact of my father's functional addiction from a young age. Despite the challenges it posed to our family, his struggles provided a unique perspective on the insidious nature of this illness—one that systematically dismantles lives, relationships, self-esteem, and even financial well-being. While some may find it surprising, I consider it a fortune to have experienced the profound effects of addiction within my family. This experience became a catalyst for my healing and understanding of this intricate and complex illness. Today, as a specialized therapist and coach in addiction, I draw upon my personal journey to not only care for myself but also guide countless others through their path to recovery. Working with addiction is powerful because, behind the façade of this illness, attempting to soothe deep-seated pain, there is always a remarkable human being waiting to actualize their full potential. I view addiction as an illness that, with proper care, can transform into a blessing, unleashing newfound superpowers. Those who have survived the grip of addiction, embarked on a healing journey and acquired wisdom and tools can become agents of positive change in the world. Witnessing individuals transition from the depths of addiction to a purposeful and passionate life is akin to witnessing a superpower in action. The trauma, pain, and neglect that fueled the addiction often become the driving force behind a life dedicated to health, well-being, and positive impact. Approaching this work requires delicacy and depth. The individual undertaking the healing journey needs perseverance, a thorough understanding, and decisive action to transform the dark tunnel of addiction into a sea of light. It would be my utmost honour to guide you through this challenging and isolating experience, helping you emerge into a world of your own creation—a world filled with choices that fulfill your life and enrich the lives of those around you.  
19 Years Experience
Online in Chester, England
Weybridge, England  therapist: Joel Cantor, Weybridge Hypnotherapy & Mindfulness, therapist
Addictions or Substance Abuse

Joel Cantor, Weybridge Hypnotherapy & Mindfulness

Therapist, MCH, BSc(hons), SQHP
Covid and the ensuing lockdown has produced a stark increase in the number of those seeking help for various addictions. It is not surprising perhaps that alcohol tops the list. It is the easiest to come by of course, and suddenly it was possible to drink during a work day with colleagues being none the wiser. It is the ability to indulge in any addictive behaviour, free of the constraints associated with normal day to day life, that has emerged as the most common factor for those attending our clinics in the last year or so. Illegal substance abuse also continues to be on the rise, and at Weybridge Hypnotherapy & Mindfulness we continue to provide a comprehensive program of therapy to finally overcome any and all addictions.  
12 Years Experience
Online in Chester, England
Abergavenny, Wales  therapist: Miranda Seymour-Smith, registered psychotherapist
Addictions or Substance Abuse

Miranda Seymour-Smith

Registered Psychotherapist, UKCP registered psychoanalytic psychotherapist
I work with people who have drug and alcohol dependency issues  
15 Years Experience
Online in Chester, England