Addiction Counselling for Family, Friends & Loved Ones.

If a loved one’s substance use has affected you—whether it's your child, partner, or parent—we offer specialised counselling support. We help you cope with the chaos of addiction by listening to your story and the pain it brings. We understand that addiction changes everything, leaving you feeling hurt, alone, and confused. Remember, there is always hope, and you don’t have to face this journey alone.

“Ask not why the addiction, but why the pain?” — Gabor Mate

Counselling Approach

If there was just one thing I would like to change within the space of problematic substance use, it would be the shaming, judgement, stigmatisation, rejection, and cruelty dished out on a societal level.

The harm reduction counselling approach I use, views substance misuse issues as being seperate from the person. Not as a character flaw, defect, rebelliousness, or an untreatable disease.

I hold firmly to the truth that we heal through deeper connection to self, our fragmented parts, and establishing greater social engagement. I cannot think of any other life struggle that so often comes attached to conditional support. Often leading to further isolation, self-hatred, pain, and feeling misunderstood.

My counselling service provision is completely centred on working from where the individual is at. I don’t set the goals, or demand total abstinence to ‘prove’ someone’s commitment and desire for change.

I approach this work with utmost respect, a zero judgement policy, and integrity. I show up authentically, in genuine hope those who enter into counselling with me feel able to do the same. A colourful vocabulary is welcome here.

Harm Reduction Approach

  • Individual Addiction Counselling

    Addiction Counselling for Individuals, Family, and Loved Ones

    Maybe this time it might be different.

    So life got messy, chaotic, and out of hand. You may have tried it all before… detox, rehab, groups, counselling. you name it- you have tried it. Maybe you won! Maybe you had a little lapse. Or, maybe things have steadily gone from bad to worse.

    Or? Perhaps it would just be nice to have your part of the story heard? To iron out some of the remaining creases. After all, no one knows you better than you do.

    Individual Counselling can offer a space to attempt to make sense of life. Offering support for depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, anger, isolation, self-loathing, relationship and family problems, or to figure out your next step. Reconnecting you to a sense of meaning and purpose.

    Regardless of where you currently are at, support is available.

    Our counsellors meet you where you’re at. No tricks or coercion involved. We journey with you so that you can feel a greater sense of control, freedom and hope within the areas that have been weighing you down. You might even be surprised to find counsellors who get it!

    If you’re ready to rediscover who you are, or just want to get reacquainted with feeling your feelings; minus the fear of being completely derailed.

    Get in touch!

  • Counselling for Family & Loved One's

    If a loved one’s problematic substance use is weighing you down, counselling is available for you also. You didn’t sign up for this; but here you are.

    Regardless if this is new or a road you are starting to feel will never end. Filled with anxiety, fear, and uncertainty; questioning where to from here?

    Maybe you are here as a worried parent, wife, partner, sibling or as an adult child. Unsure how much more you can handle. Wondering if there is something you can do to fix or heal your loved one. Maybe the truth is you have become co-dependent and sucked in to the vortex of of your loved ones drinking or drug use.

    With so much conflicting advice on what to do and not to do; how does anyone figure out the way forward? All you know for a fact is that your heart is breaking and you question how much more you can physically handle; before you yourself reach breaking point. Perhaps, you’re already there?

    Satu and Jaana approach this space with a healthy dose of lived experience. Having had walked this road in the past.

    Despite where you’re loved one might be on their journey, remember you can’t pour from an empty cup. We would be honoured to walk awhile with you.

  • What Makes Harm Reduction Different?

    Where there is Breath- There is Hope.

    This is the mantra I (Jaana), adopted during my brother’s struggle with alcoholism. I wish I could share an all inspiring recovery story with you, but such a story is not to be.

    After losing him back in 2017, I have been introduced to new ways of viewing Addiction. Forever changing how I approach this space.

    Harm reduction offers a more compassionate and person centred approach. Moving away from the often shaming, stigmatising, and abstinence based frameworks we have known in the past.

    Rather than going into detail… I will share some links to some of my favourite thought leaders within this space.

    Gabor Mate: The Warm embrace of Addiction

    Gabor Mate: The Best Explanation of Addiction I’ve Ever Heard

    Johann Hari: Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong

    Mark Tyndall: The harm reduction model of drug addiction treatment

    Dean Taraborelli: Be Recovered: Breaking free from the Disease of Addiction