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. Completely confidential.
Clinically reviewed by Svetlana Antonyshyn, Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #001652). Last reviewed June 2026.
If part of you wants to stop and another part keeps reaching for the same thing, that does not make you weak or broken. It makes you human, 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.
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.”
This is one of many tools you would build in sessions, tailored to your triggers. Talk it through with a therapist, free for 20 minutes.
Substance or behaviour, occasional or daily, the feeling underneath is often the same: stuck, ashamed, and tired of fighting it alone. 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.
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.
Private, focused sessions with a therapist who gets to know your full story. Best when you want depth, privacy, and a plan built entirely around you.
Start with a free consultA supportive, therapist-led group of people walking the same road. Connection and accountability are powerful protectors against relapse.
Learn about the groupFor 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 groupThe 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.
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.
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 where shame starts to loosen, because it finally makes sense.
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.
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.
There is no single script for recovery. Your therapist draws on evidence-based approaches and tailors them to you, your goals and your pace.
InnerSight was founded by Svetlana Antonyshyn, RP, on the belief that healing should treat the person, not a label. Every therapist here is a Registered Psychotherapist regulated by the CRPO and supported by monthly clinical supervision, so the care you receive is both compassionate and accountable. InnerSight has been recognized with the Canadian Choice Award for Best Psychotherapist (2026) and named a Best Psychotherapy Clinic in Vaughan, and our therapists are members of the CRPO, CCPA and OAMHP. More about our approach.
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 25+ therapists or let us match you. You can switch anytime, and your file moves with you.
No hidden fees and no pressure. Most clients pay little or nothing out of pocket after insurance.
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 provide receipts for direct claims.
Sessions with supervised therapists in training, at a lower rate. Same structure, same care, more accessible.
Psychotherapy is also tax-deductible as a medical expense in Canada. Worried about cost? See our reduced-fee program or call us, we are happy to walk you through it.
A 4.9/5 rating across 100+ Google reviews.
“I’ve been working with Carol McDowell for quite some time now and I can say that she is without a doubt the most compassionate therapist I ever met. She completed a very thorough intake in order to deeply understand my complications and why I was seeking help... I couldn’t ask for a more empathetic and knowledgeable therapist.”
Sam S. · Google Review
“Wonderful clinic! Welcoming and private. The therapists... are highly skilled, empathetic and professional... A life changer!!”
Jenny G. · Google Review
“The people here are genuinely kind, very professional, and deeply attentive. I feel supported, cared for, and I can see real progress from the work we’re doing together.”
Elena T. · Google Review
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Individual sessions are $180 for 55 minutes. Most private insurance plans cover a portion of services from a Registered Psychotherapist, and we provide receipts for claims. Reduced-fee sessions with supervised therapists are available, and psychotherapy is tax-deductible as a medical expense in Canada.
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.
In-person sessions at three locations, plus secure video sessions anywhere in Ontario. Evenings and weekends available.
Online in 2 minutes or by phone. No referral, no credit card.
Talk it through and get matched with the right fit for you.
Build skills, treat the roots, and reclaim your life at your pace.
In immediate crisis or having thoughts of suicide? Call or text 988 any time, or call 911. You deserve support right now.
