Addiction Therapists in Whitby, ON
Johann Kong
MSW,RSW
I can bring in our work together a wide range of expertise and experiences from a seasoned professional mindset that puts your needs at the centre. More importantly, I understand pain and trauma and know how hard it can be to navigate through these experiences towards health and wellness. I am committed to providing a safe, caring, non-judgmental space to support you in your journey.
Horace Spence
RSSW, Psychotherapist
Coach Spence Wellness & Therapy Services provides trusted, culturally grounded therapy and holistic coaching for individuals, couples, and families. We support healing from stress, anxiety, and conflict while strengthening communication, resilience, and self-care. Through counseling, workshops, and wellness tools, we help clients build balance across mind, body, and spirit.
Courtney Hayman
Registered Psychotherapist
I provide services for young people, adults, couples and families who are looking for someone to work through their struggles with. My approach is non-judgmental, kind and empathetic. I focus on strengths to support your goals for counselling. Looking for a brief, solution-focused therapy, strategies to improve your coping skills, or a more intensive therapeutic venture, I am here to help you.
Tharshiga Elankeeran
Registered Psychotherapist MA RP, IMD (candidate)
I embrace the profound truth that we are all interconnected when we mindfully inhabit the present moment. As therapists, we acknowledge the intricate web of human experiences, emotions, and relationships. This awareness creates a nurturing space where clients can explore their inner landscapes with compassion. Together, we embark on a journey of empathy, resilience, and shared transformation.
Chris Pankewich
Registered Psychotherapist (RP)
My therapeutic approach is collaborative and non-directive, partnering with you to develop a customized toolkit that includes conceptual frameworks, practical skills, and a solid knowledge base. This toolkit is designed to enhance your quality of life, help you overcome obstacles, and achieve your personal and professional goals.
Brayden Keeler
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Brayden (she/her) obtained a Master’s in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. Diagnosed with ADHD as a young adult, Brayden is particularly attuned to the challenges faced by others with neurodivergence, especially recognizing symptoms often overlooked in youth identifying as female.
Carly Quintero
Registered Psychotherapist (RP)
I have over eight years of experience counselling individuals from predominantly person-centred and narrative approaches, with a specific focus on developing treatment tailored to each client's unique needs and personality. I am confident working with anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional effects of chronic pain, substance abuse, eating disorders, grief, LGBTQ+ issues, and adjustment disorders.
Therapy Collective
Registered Psychologist/Counselling Therapist/Certified Counsellor
We are a group practice with psychologists, CCC's, CT's, and a therapy dog who offer counselling and formal psycho-educational assessments. We cover a broad range of presenting concerns for children, youth, families, couples, and individuals. We offer a variety of approaches as well: EMDR, Cognitive-Hypnotherapy, Art Therapy, Play-Based Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Attachment-Based, Somatic.
Chris Graham
Professional Counsellor, MPCC-Provisional designation with the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA).
I work with pilots and men in high-pressure careers who are navigating anxiety, burnout, identity challenges, or major life transitions. Many of the people I support are looking for counselling that is practical, confidential, and respectful of their professional context. For pilots concerns about career impact, medical implications often create hesitation around seeking support.
Acsana Fernando
Master of Social Work (M.S.W, R.S.W) -Social Worker/ Psychotherapist
I am passionate about supporting clients in their efforts to change and grow by uncovering their abilities and strengths to overcome challenges. I have worked with diverse populations, including youth, adults, students, parents, families, and caregivers, as they cope with anxiety, depression, autism spectrum, interpersonal conflict, grief, life transitions, stress and cultural identities.
Joey Mercer
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I support adults and young adults healing from addiction, social anxiety, and depression, and guide trauma recovery through an EMDR-informed lens. As a non-Indigenous person working with Indigenous clients, I strive to honour a Two-Eyed Seeing perspective and practice with cultural humility. Recovery doesn't happen to you, it happens because of you. I'll be there beside you.
First Step Men's Therapy
Registered Psychotherapist
Disconnected. Isolated. Angry. Stuck. Many men we work with feel this way. You may be struggling with anxiety, depression, anger, shame, trauma, addiction, or relationship difficulties while trying to hold everything together alone. At First Step Men’s Therapy, we help men better understand themselves, build healthier coping strategies, and reconnect with the life they want to live.
Jamie Smith
Registered Psychotherapist
"My life is fine, why do I feel like this?" "I don't really know how I feel" Depression, loneliness, addiction, anxiety, feeling stuck, people pleasing often point to complex or developmental trauma with no quick fix. If you're reading this you can tell that something is wrong, but might not know where to start. The power to change and heal is inside you waiting to be found.
Jason Lavery
Registered Psychotherapist
I am happy to work with an extensive range of clients and organize my practice around providing Client-Centred Therapy grounded in empirically-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I have lived experience as a first responder and am passionate about addressing the unique challenges associated with fulfilling such roles.
Lisa Cross
Registered Social Worker
In our work together, I will draw from mindfulness-based strategies, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, strengths-based, solution-focused, and various other counselling modalities and techniques in a welcoming, accepting, and supportive environment to help you advance towards your goals.
Lester Vega
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I offer psychotherapy rooted in both psychodynamic and Jungian approaches for adults living with the lasting impact of early adversity, complex trauma, and attachment wounds. Together we explore anxiety, burnout, relationship patterns, grief, shame, spirituality, and dreams at a pace that fits your nervous system. I provide secure online therapy across Ontario and a free 30‑minute consultation.
Kathryn Jones
Registered Social Worker
I provide evidence-based therapy for Anxiety, OCD, Depression, ADHD, Behavioural Addictions (ie., shopping, gambling, pornography, gaming), Stress, Unhealthy Relationships, Body Image, and Trauma. Together, we'll clarify your goals and identify the thoughts, beliefs, or behaviours getting in your way. We'll create a roadmap with realistic, meaningful steps toward living your best possible life.
Athena Zambelis
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), Registered Nurse, MSc.
There’s a tenet in life that if you run towards your fears, you'll unlock your full potential and the future you always dreamed of. Let’s run towards those fears together.
Brittany Peddle
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I work with individuals who are looking to overcome their trauma by learning healthier coping skills and more helpful resources, and who want to do deeper processing work to resolve and release trauma in order to let go of the past and move forward in life. I offer both support and solutions, using a client-centered approach utilizing DBT, ACT, EMDR, Somatic Therapy and other modalities.
Michelle Mailhiot
Registered Psychotherapist
The approach I use is trauma-focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), attachment-based Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Compassion Focused Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for complex trauma. EMDR is an effective form of trauma therapy that has been extensively researched to help people who have experienced trauma resume the brain’s natural healing process.
How do therapists in Whitby, ON compare?
Number of therapists listed
Average years in practice
Currently accepting new clients
Therapists in Whitby, ON who prioritize treating:
How therapists see their clients
Top therapy approaches used in Whitby, ON:
Frequently Asked Questions About Addiction
What is addiction and how does therapy help?
Addiction is a complex condition characterized by compulsive substance use or behaviour despite negative consequences. It involves changes in brain circuitry affecting reward, motivation, memory, and impulse control. Therapy helps by addressing the underlying psychological drivers of addiction — trauma, mental health conditions, emotional dysregulation, social isolation — as well as the thought patterns and triggers that sustain addictive cycles. Therapy is most effective when combined with other supports such as medical care and peer support.
What types of addiction can therapy address?
Therapy addresses a wide range of substance and behavioural addictions, including alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, cannabis dependence, cocaine and stimulant misuse, prescription medication misuse, gambling disorder, sexual addiction, internet and gaming addiction, and food addiction. Many addiction counsellors are also trained to address co-occurring mental health conditions, which are extremely common among people with addiction — often called dual diagnosis.
What therapy approaches are used for addiction?
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is widely used to help people explore their ambivalence about change in a non-judgmental way. CBT for addiction addresses the thoughts and patterns that trigger substance use and builds skills for managing cravings and high-risk situations. Twelve-step facilitation, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), trauma-informed approaches, and community reinforcement are also evidence-based. Many therapists integrate multiple approaches based on where you are in your recovery journey.
Does therapy require me to commit to abstinence?
Not necessarily. Many therapists and programs work with a harm reduction model, which supports safer use and reducing negative consequences without requiring abstinence as the only goal. Others work within an abstinence-based framework. Some people want abstinence; others want to reduce use or improve their relationship with a substance. Discuss your goals openly with a potential therapist — a good therapist will work with your goals rather than imposing a single approach.
Is addiction counselling covered by insurance in Canada?
Coverage varies by province and plan. Many extended health benefits cover psychotherapy for addiction when provided by a registered psychologist, social worker, or counsellor. Some provinces offer publicly funded addiction services through health authorities — waitlists vary by region. It is worth contacting your province's addiction services line for information on publicly funded options, and checking your extended benefits for privately covered therapy.