Substance Use Recovery in Hamilton, Ontario

Reclaiming Your Power Through Whole-Person Healing
Substance use often begins as a way to survive emotional pain. It may numb distress, quiet anxiety, or soften shame when feeling becomes too much. Over time, however, it can turn into a source of further disconnection, physical strain, and emotional exhaustion.

At eFIT, we understand addiction as more than a behavior problem. Recovery requires bringing emotional, physical, and relational parts of the self back into connection. That is why our approach integrates emotion focused therapy, somatic regulation, structured movement, nutrition support, and community. Healing becomes more sustainable when the whole system is supported, not just substance use alone.

You can book a free consultation to explore our group-based Evolve Therapy Program or individual Embark Therapy Program.

What Drives Substance Use? The eFIT Perspective

From the eFIT perspective, substance use often develops as a way of managing emotional experiences that feel unsafe or overwhelming. Trauma, grief, shame, loneliness, and chronic stress may not have had space to be felt or held. Over time, substances can become a way to cope with the belief that emotions are too much, that numbness is safer, or that support is unavailable.

While substances may provide temporary relief, they often reinforce isolation, shame, and disconnection from the body and from others.

Emotion Focused Therapy offers a different path forward by helping individuals:

• Safely access and process painful or avoided emotions underlying substance use
• Transform maladaptive coping into adaptive emotional responses such as turning anger into boundary-setting, grief into release, shame into self-compassion, and fear into trust
• Build a stronger relationship with oneself that can tolerate emotional experience without relying on external numbing

When this work is supported by nervous system regulation, stable routines, movement, nourishment, and community, recovery becomes deeper and more durable.

Common Substance Use Concerns We Work With

• Reliance on alcohol, stimulants, opioids, or other substances to cope emotionally
• Repeated relapse linked to emotional overwhelm or triggering events
• Shame, guilt, or harsh self-criticism that fuels the cycle of use
• Disconnection from the body, emotional awareness, or meaningful relationships
• Mood disorders, anxiety, or trauma symptoms alongside substance use
• Physical health concerns, disrupted routines, or withdrawal challenges

How the eFIT Model Supports Recovery

Psychotherapy
Our psychotherapy is emotion focused and trauma aware. We help you understand what substance use has been trying to manage and support the development of internal capacity to feel, regulate, and respond differently. Rather than focusing only on sobriety mechanics, we work at the emotional level, rebuilding trust in your ability to tolerate life’s ups and downs.

Somatic Regulation
Substance use often disrupts nervous system regulation. Through grounding, paced breathing, and body-based awareness, we help your system settle and come back online gradually and safely. This can reduce the intensity of cravings and increase your ability to stay present with discomfort without acting on it.

Physical Activity
Movement supports recovery both physiologically and emotionally. Regular, structured activity helps stabilize mood, normalize stress responses, reduce cravings, and build resilience. We tailor movement so it feels supportive and restorative rather than overwhelming or punitive.

Nutrition Support
Addiction commonly disrupts appetite, digestion, energy levels, and brain chemistry. Our nutrition team supports gentle realignment through regular meals, blood sugar stabilization, and nourishing food patterns. This helps stabilize mood, reduce physiological stress, and rebuild trust in the body.

Community and Group Work
Isolation increases the risk of relapse. Our Evolve groups provide a space to be seen, supported, and challenged with compassion. In group, connection becomes part of recovery rather than something to manage alone.