Addiction Counselling in Barrie, ON
You don’t have to have it all figured out to get started.
Not a Flaw. A Pattern That Can Change
Addiction is not a character flaw or simply a lack of willpower. It can develop through a complex combination of emotional distress, trauma, anxiety, depression, life circumstances, and learned coping patterns.At SACH Psychotherapy, we provide addiction counselling for individuals who want to better understand what may be driving their substance use or compulsive behaviours and develop healthier ways of coping. Sessions are available in person in Barrie and online throughout Ontario, including Brampton.
Addiction Therapy at SACH Psychotherapy
Addiction can take many forms, from substance use to compulsive behaviours. Over time, it can affect your emotional well-being, relationships, responsibilities, and sense of control, making it difficult to imagine a different way forward. We provide personalized addiction counselling to help you understand underlying patterns, develop healthier coping strategies, and move toward meaningful, lasting change.
If it’s interfering with your relationships, your work, or your sense of who you are, it’s worth talking about.
Addiction counselling at SACH Psychotherapy supports individuals experiencing substance use concerns and behavioural addictions, including:
- Alcohol and cannabis
- Opioids and prescription medication misuse
- Stimulants and other substances
- Gambling, gaming, and technology
- Other compulsive behaviours affecting daily life
- Compulsive sexual behaviour (Sex and porn addiction)
About the Therapist
Angad Sachdev, RP (Qualifying)
Angad Sachdev has spent over three years working in addictions and mental health. His individual therapy sessions are direct and honest, shaped around what you actually need rather than a fixed process.
Addiction Therapy Support
How Addiction Therapy Can Support Your Recovery in Barrie
Recovery is not simply about stopping a substance or behaviour. It involves understanding the emotional experiences, triggers, and patterns that may be maintaining it – and developing healthier ways to respond. Addiction therapy at SACH Psychotherapy provides a supportive, non-judgmental space to explore what is happening beneath the surface. Counselling is personalized to your circumstances, goals, and readiness for change rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.
Therapy may help you:
Recognize personal triggers and recurring patterns
Understand how stress, anxiety, or depression may affect addictive behaviours
Develop practical coping and emotional-regulation skills
Manage cravings and high-risk situations
Strengthen motivation and confidence
Rebuild relationships, routines, and personal boundaries
Create a realistic plan for recovery and relapse prevention
The Approach
Our Approach to Addiction Therapy
We draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Narrative Therapy, not as a rigid protocol, but as tools shaped around what you actually need.
CBT helps identify the thought patterns and triggers that maintain addictive behaviour. Motivational Interviewing meets you where you are, without pressure or judgment, and builds momentum toward change. Narrative Therapy helps you separate your identity from the addiction: it’s something you’re experiencing, not something you are.
Sessions are collaborative and honest. You set the direction.
Addiction
Counselling Shaped Around Your Goals
Whether your goal is complete abstinence, harm reduction, or something you haven't fully named yet, that's your decision to make. SACH Psychotherapy does not impose a single definition of recovery.
What matters is that the goal is meaningful to you and that the work is actually moving you toward it.
IN PERSON & ONLINE
However You Connect, We’re Here
SACH Psychotherapy offers addiction counselling in person at its Barrie office and online throughout Ontario. Whether you live in Barrie, Brampton, Mississauga, or elsewhere in the province, virtual sessions are available through a secure and confidential platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of addiction do you work with?
We work with substance use (alcohol, cannabis, opioids, stimulants, prescription medication) and behavioural addiction (gambling, gaming, technology, and other compulsive patterns). We also support clients dealing with concurrent disorders, addiction alongside anxiety, depression, or trauma.
Do I need to hit rock bottom before starting counselling?
No. Early intervention leads to better outcomes. You don’t need to have lost everything to deserve support, if something feels out of control, that’s enough of a reason to reach out.
Can I still come to counselling if I'm not ready to stop?
Yes. You don’t have to have decided to quit before reaching out. Many people come to counselling still using it, the goal is to understand what’s driving the pattern, not to show up already fixed. We work from wherever you are.
Do I need to be sober before starting counselling?
No. You don’t need to be sober to begin. If you’re using and want to understand why, or want support in making a change, that’s a place to start.
Is addiction counselling covered by OHIP in Ontario?
OHIP does not cover Registered Psychotherapy sessions. However, many extended health benefit plans (Sun Life, Manulife, Green Shield Canada) cover psychotherapy with a Registered Psychotherapist. We recommend checking your plan before booking.
How long does addiction counselling take?
This varies depending on the complexity of what you’re working through and the goals you’re moving toward. Some clients make meaningful progress in 10–15 sessions; others benefit from longer-term support. We discuss realistic timelines early and reassess as the work progresses.
Addiction Counselling in Barrie & Online Across Ontario
SACH Psychotherapy offers in-person addiction counselling in Barrie and online sessions for clients in Brampton and across Ontario.