Addiction presents in two different forms; psychological addiction and physical addiction. A person may be physically or psychologically addicted, or both simultaneously.  

Kinesis addiction therapy is focused on treating psychological addiction.  A person may be actively engaging in addictive behaviour when they start therapy, or they may be trying to “stay clean”.  Addiction may present as a substance abuse such as to alcohol or drug, as an impulse control issue such as theft or gambling, or as a process or behaviour pattern like over-exercising. 

As with physical addiction, once you stop or slow the addictive behaviour, psychological withdrawal symptoms may begin.  Typically, this involves a sharp intensification of emotional distress or thinking about whatever the addictive behaviour was being used to obscure.   

While anyone may become addicted to a behaviour, substance or impulse, many factors have been shown to increase the likelihood of addiction, such as exposure to single or multiple event trauma, abuse or neglect, domestic violence, prior history of addictions, mental health issues, stress – the list goes on.  

At Kinesis, we help people cope with all aspects of psychological addiction and provide a safe space in which to gently unfold the issues which have led to it, demystifying the process to effect real and positive change.