Addiction counselling & therapy in Vaughan
Whether it is alcohol, drugs, gambling or another pattern that has started running your life, you do not have to face it alone or be judged for it. We help you understand what is driving it and build a way out, at your pace.
Takes 2 minutes. No credit card. No referral needed. Private and confidential.
Psychotherapists
supervision
support options
20 minutes
Clinically reviewed by Svetlana Antonyshyn, Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #001652). Last reviewed June 2026.
Addiction is not a lack of willpower
If part of you wants to stop and another part keeps reaching for the same thing, that push and pull is one of the most common parts of addiction, and it makes sense. Addiction takes hold because a substance or behaviour starts doing a job for you: numbing pain, quieting anxiety, or making a hard day bearable.
Canada’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) describes addiction as a treatable health condition shaped by brain patterns, stress and very often past trauma, not a moral failing. The good news in that is simple: patterns that were learned can be understood, and slowly, with support, they can change.
Addiction counselling is where that work happens. Working with a therapist, you look at what the addiction is protecting you from, learn skills to handle triggers and cravings, and rebuild a life that does not depend on it. No lectures, no shame, no being told what you already know.
Addiction counselling is confidential talk therapy that helps you understand the roots of an addictive pattern, manage triggers and cravings, and build a steadier life. It works alongside (not instead of) any medical care you may need, and you set the goals, whether that is cutting back or stopping completely.
Meet therapists who specialize in addiction
Both are Registered Psychotherapists and trauma-informed, with real experience supporting people through addiction and recovery. Watch a short intro, read their full profile, or let us match you in your free consultation.
Several other therapists also support addiction-related work, including trauma, anxiety and men's mental health. Not sure who fits? Browse all 24+ therapists or let us match you. You can switch anytime, and your file moves with you.
Ride the wave: a skill you will actually use
Cravings feel like they will last forever. They do not. An urge rises, peaks, and falls like a wave, usually within minutes. Urge surfing is learning to ride it out instead of fighting it or giving in. Pick a moment that sounds familiar.
“It has been a brutal day. One drink will take the edge off. I have earned it.”
This is a craving, not a command.
Naming it creates a half-second of space between the urge and your hand. In that space, you get to choose.
Set a 15-minute timer. Breathe slow, feel the urge rise and crest, and let it pass without acting. Notice it start to drop.
“It passed, and I did not have to. Every wave I ride makes the next one a little quieter.”
It is one of several tools you would build in sessions, around your own triggers rather than a generic list. Talk it through with a therapist, free for 20 minutes.
Addiction takes many forms. We meet all of them.
Substance or behaviour, occasional or daily, the pattern underneath is often the same, and it is exhausting to carry on your own. You are welcome here exactly as you are.
Addiction rarely travels alone. It often sits alongside anxiety, depression or trauma, and we work with the whole picture, not just the surface.
Addiction is common, and recovery works
You are far from alone, and reaching out is one of the most effective steps you can take.
Individual therapy, group support, or both
There is no single right way to recover. Some people want private one-on-one work, some find strength in a room of people who understand, and many do both.
Individual addiction counselling
Private, focused sessions with a therapist who gets to know your full story. Best when you want privacy and a plan built around your situation rather than a group curriculum.
Start with a free consultAddiction Recovery Support Group
A supportive, therapist-led group of people walking the same road. Connection and accountability can make the road feel less lonely and easier to stay on.
Learn about the groupPTSD & Addiction Therapy Group
For when addiction is tangled up with trauma. This group works with both together, because healing one usually means tending to the other.
Learn about the groupWhat reaching out actually looks like
The hardest step is the first one. Here is exactly what happens after you book, so nothing about it is a mystery.
We provide counselling, not medical detox. If stopping a substance could be physically dangerous, we will help you get safe medical support first, then do the deeper work together.
A 20-minute conversation, no commitment
You talk with a therapist about what is going on and what you would like to be different. No forms to confess on, no pressure to share more than you want. You decide if it feels right.
Understanding the whole picture
Together you map what the addiction has been doing for you, what tends to set it off, and what you have already tried. This is often where things start to feel lighter, because the pattern finally makes sense.
Building real skills and tending to the roots
You learn practical tools for cravings and triggers, and you work on what sits underneath, the stress, pain or trauma the addiction has been managing. Individually, in a group, or both.
A life that does not need it
Step by step, you build relationships, routines and a sense of self that the addiction used to crowd out. If you slip, we adjust and keep going. Progress, not perfection.
Evidence-based, trauma-informed, and without the lecture
There is no single script for recovery. Your therapist draws on evidence-based approaches and tailors them to you, your goals and your pace. Recovery tends to go better with structure, so sessions build toward a concrete plan you can lean on between visits: practical coping tools, a relapse-prevention plan, and a rhythm you can actually follow.
InnerSight was founded by Svetlana Antonyshyn, RP, on the belief that healing should treat the person, not a label. More about our approach.
What addiction counselling costs in Vaughan
No hidden fees and no pressure. Most private insurance plans cover a portion of psychotherapy fees.
Meet a therapist, ask anything, and see if it feels right. No credit card and no obligation.
Most private insurance plans cover a portion of services from a Registered Psychotherapist. We bill Sun Life, SSQ and Green Shield directly, and provide receipts for other claims. Your first full appointment is a 70-minute initial assessment at $245.
Sessions with supervised therapists in training, at a lower rate, guided by experienced clinical supervisors.
Psychotherapy may also qualify for the medical expense tax credit in Canada. Worried about cost? See our reduced-fee program or call us, we are happy to walk you through it.
Your questions, answered
Do I need a referral for addiction counselling in Vaughan?
No referral is needed. You can book a free 20-minute consultation online at psychotherapyclinic.janeapp.com or call (905) 553-9507. Most people have their first full session within a week.
Is what I share confidential and private?
Yes. Our therapists are Registered Psychotherapists regulated by the CRPO, and everything you share stays confidential within the standard legal limits, which your therapist explains clearly in your first session. Sessions are private and can be online if you prefer.
Do you offer medical detox or prescribe medication?
No. We are Registered Psychotherapists, not a medical or detox facility, and we cannot prescribe medication. If you need to withdraw safely from alcohol or other substances, we will help you connect with the right medical care first, then support the emotional work alongside or after.
Do I have to be ready to quit completely to start?
No. Many people come to us unsure, or wanting to cut back rather than stop entirely. We meet you where you are, without pressure or judgment, and help you get clear on what you actually want. You do not need to have it figured out first.
What if I relapse?
Relapse is a common part of many recovery journeys, not a failure or a reason to stop. If it happens, we look at what led up to it, learn from it, and adjust the plan together. Progress is rarely a straight line, and you will not be judged for it here.
Should I choose individual therapy or a group?
Both work, and many people combine them. Individual therapy gives you private, focused attention; our addiction and trauma groups add connection and shared understanding. We help you choose what fits in your free consultation, and you can change course anytime.
How much does addiction counselling cost, and is it covered by insurance?
Individual sessions are $180 for 55 minutes, and your first full appointment is a 70-minute initial assessment at $245. Most private insurance plans cover a portion of services from a Registered Psychotherapist, and we bill Sun Life, SSQ and Green Shield directly, with receipts provided for other claims. Reduced-fee sessions with supervised therapists are available, and psychotherapy may qualify for the medical expense tax credit in Canada.
Can I do addiction counselling online?
Yes. We offer secure video sessions anywhere in Ontario, plus in-person sessions in Woodbridge, Vaughan and Barrie. Online counselling can feel more private and removes the commute, and works well for most people. Evenings and weekends are available.
How is addiction counselling different from AA or a 12-step program?
12-step programs like AA offer peer support and a structured set of steps, often at no cost, and many people find real value in them. Addiction counselling with a Registered Psychotherapist is different: it is one-on-one or group clinical work that digs into what the addiction has been doing for you, the stress or trauma underneath it, and builds a plan matched to your own goals. The two are not competing, many people use both together.
Is it addiction or just a bad habit?
The line is not always clear, and you do not need a label before reaching out. A useful signal is whether you have tried to cut back or stop and could not, or whether it is costing you relationships, work or health despite wanting to change. A Registered Psychotherapist cannot formally diagnose addiction, but a free consultation can help you understand what you are dealing with and what kind of support fits.
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Read article →Addiction support near you: Vaughan, Woodbridge, Barrie and online
In-person sessions at three locations, plus secure video sessions anywhere in Ontario. Evenings and weekends available.
Three steps, starting today
Book your free consult
Online in 2 minutes or by phone. No referral, no credit card.
Meet your therapist
Talk it through and get matched with the right fit for you.
Start your recovery
Build skills, tend to the roots, and reclaim your life at your pace.