Loving Someone with an Addiciton

Written By Graham Hastie

Loving Someone with an Addiction

Loving someone with an addiction is not for the faint-hearted. The heartache and heartbreak are real and felt often in isolation. The environment that addiction creates for the whole family is one of uncertainty and more often than not, chaos. The cost of putting out fires, day in and out for your loved one can take its toll on your self-esteem. You can start to feel like the addiction has taken on a life of its own, and you are along for the ride, trying at every turn to protect what you love. The absence of addiction can also be difficult to navigate as its presence has so significantly altered your life in the first place. Questions like “Who are we now”?, “who am I; apart from the role of protecting” and most importantly, seeing ways you failed to protect yourself along the way. These are a few of the obstacles that loving someone with addiction brings.

At Changing Course Counselling, we are committed to caring for those who carry too much- and for too long. We understand the desperation of not being able to affect change in your relationship due to active addictions. We are here to help support you. Know your limits, take this free survey to assess for trauma. The link is located below.

new.recoveryzone.com/PublicSurvey/Create?SurveyTypeID=59

Graham Hastie

Susan Hastie M.A.,CCAC,CCPS,CPCS,CSAT

Member of ACTA (Alberta College for Counselling Therapists)

Licenses: 15-000-686, #207AB03

Susan Hastie received her undergrad in Family Studies from the University of Manitoba with an emphasis on cognitive and behavioural development of children, and a Masters in Counselling from Providence Theological Seminary. Susan is a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist (APSATS Association of Partners of Sex Addicts

trauma specialists), is a Certified Addiction Counsellor (CACCF Canadian Addictions Counselling Certification Federation) and a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (ITAP International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals). She has also completed her skills training and working towards becoming an Emotionally Focused Therapist .

She is an adjunct faculty and holds a successful private practice of more than 20 years providing individual, marital and group counselling.

Susan has professional training/certification in ART(accelerated resolution therapy), Trauma informed counselling, somatic therapy, ASSIST (Suicide Intervention Certificate), SASSI (Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory certification), TJTA (Taylor Johnson Temperament Analysis certification), DiSC workplace profile certification, Marriage and Enrich certification, Gottman certification for couples, Power and Control in Abusive Relationships certificate, and DAPS Detailed Assessment of Post traumatic Syndrome.

She specializes in trauma and addictions, grief and loss, marriage relationships, self-esteem and identity, assertiveness, abuse, anxiety and depression in her counselling practice.

She supervises interns and holds the status of Certified Supervisor (PACCCP) Professional Association of Christian Counsellors and Psychotherapist of Canada). She is a frequent guest speaker at local and national conferences.

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