Substance Use Therapists in Petawawa, ON

As a proud mom and coach to three young adults, I understand life can throw you a curve ball. My strengths as a therapist include, answering the “why” and “how”. I love helping adolescents, and adults with their families, to get on that road to healing. I specialize in substance use disorder, and ADHD coaching. I have an abundance of experience working with university students, helping with organization skills, time management and perfectionist. Each client is unique, so I have a tool box with many approaches such as, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, DBT and CBT to name a few.

Welcome! I'm Erika a Registered Counsellor (RPC-C) My professional journey has been shaped by the diverse life experiences I've had. I've always been passionate about mental health and supporting others. I hope both my training and lived experiences can help others find hope and healing. I have specialized training in Eating Disorder Care and trauma. I’m so glad you’re here and hope to walk alongside you on your journey to healing.  ​ ​

Disconnected. Isolated. Broken. Hopeless. Powerless. Stuck. Many men we work with tell us this is how they feel. You may be struggling with anxiety, anger, depression, shame, guilt, grief, sadness, trauma, or depression - and struggle with an addiction (sex/porn/alcohol/marijuana/video games/gambling/fantasy) or underlying thoughts, beliefs, and feelings you have held since childhood. Relationships with those you care about, including the one with yourself, may have been impacted by your behaviours. Ready to take the first step? Prêt à faire le premier pas? Suivis/ services thérapeutiques offerts en français.

Imagine feeling trapped in a whirlpool of anxiety, unable to pause and take a breath. Or envision a racing mind that won’t slow down enough to focus on the strategies that could help. Conventional therapies might have all the right answers, but the body refuses to cooperate. You know WHAT to do, but your body and brain won't listen! Whether it’s extreme anxiety, hypervigilance, or attention deficit problems, challenges often lie in a constant battle between the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous systems that leave many people caught in an unproductive cycle.

Hi there! I'm so happy you stumbled across my page! Choosing the right therapist, who truly makes you feel seen and heard, is quite possibly the most difficult yet important decision you will make on your therapeutic journey. The development of trust, honesty, comfortability, vulnerability, and authenticity required for you to feel safe and continue forward on your healing, growth, and development is a complex process, to say the least. As a therapist, and a human, I value the relationship with my own therapist, and strive to provide the same authenticity and connection to you. You deserve to be seen, and you deserve to be heard.

Throughout life, we come to face challenges that we struggle to understand and cope with. I seek to help individuals achieve their innate potential and help them navigate their hardships, moving towards growth and healing. I believe that with a trusting therapeutic alliance, clients can explore moving to a place of acceptance and of well-being.

I am a trauma therapist who specializes in eating disorders and addictions. I am frequently taken by the amount of pain and suffering in the world, I have learned that through these moments we can find the most growth, strength, and beauty. Often we can get stuck in-between these painful moments and a new way of being, That's often what brings people to therapy. Our work together may be a journey to help you get unstuck or out of the place of crisis and to find a sense of safety. I feel it is a privilege to be able to be a part of someone's journey and be able to walk along beside them.

My current practice is focused on helping men address addiction issues including substance use disorder and sexual addictions, as well as major life transitions including divorce and major career changes. I focus on evidence-based approaches to healing and offer a non-judgmental and empathetic connection with my clients. I believe that therapy is most effective when the therapeutic relationship is strong and client-centred. I adapt my approach based upon the individual needs and goals of each client and use a number of different modalities including cognitive-behavioural therapy, mindful self-compassion, and trauma-focused therapy.

My current practice is focused on substance use disorder, depression, anxiety, trauma, and major life transitions. I offer an empathic and connective presence and engage each client with unconditional high regard while focusing on evidence-based approaches to healing.

I aim to work collaboratively with clients on various issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship counselling, substance use and addiction, 2SLGBTQ+ support, life transitions and more. I incorporate Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and mindfulness into my interventions with clients, acknowledging that each client holds a unique and individualized life story. I value compassion, empathy, empowerment, and the development of coping skills and emotional regulation.