Many people struggling with addiction aren’t only trying to escape a substance — they’re trying to escape pain. Unresolved trauma often lies at the heart of addiction, shaping how individuals think, feel, and cope. Through Substance Abuse Counselling in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, psychologist Pakeeza Carrim at Therapy in Benoni helps clients understand the deep connection between trauma and addiction, offering a path toward both emotional and physical healing.
When trauma remains unprocessed, it can create overwhelming emotions, anxiety, and self-destructive behaviours. Counselling provides a safe, supportive space to explore these experiences and begin breaking the cycle of pain and avoidance that fuels substance use.
Understanding the Connection Between Trauma and Addiction
Trauma — whether from childhood experiences, relationships, or life-altering events — changes how the brain responds to stress and emotion. Many individuals turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to manage the intense feelings of fear, shame, or numbness that follow trauma.
Substance Abuse Counselling in Bedfordview, Johannesburg helps you uncover the emotional roots of addiction by exploring:
- How past trauma influences present behaviour
- The role of substances in coping with pain or distress
- Emotional triggers that lead to substance use
- Healthy coping tools that support long-term recovery
By addressing trauma directly, therapy allows genuine healing to take place, rather than simply managing symptoms.
How Unresolved Trauma Fuels Addiction
People who have experienced trauma often struggle with emotional regulation — feeling either overwhelmed or completely detached. Substances may initially bring relief, but over time, they reinforce dependency and deepen emotional suffering.
Common trauma-related experiences that contribute to addiction include:
- Childhood neglect or abuse
- Loss of a loved one
- Physical or emotional violence
- Ongoing stress or relationship trauma
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Through guided therapy, Pakeeza Carrim helps clients at Therapy in Benoni confront these painful experiences in a safe and structured way, reducing their hold over everyday life.
Healing the Root Cause Through Therapy
True recovery means addressing the why behind substance use. Substance Abuse Counselling in Bedfordview, Johannesburg focuses on helping clients process trauma while developing healthier ways to manage emotions.
At Therapy in Benoni, sessions with Pakeeza Carrim may include:
- Trauma-informed counselling: Gentle, evidence-based approaches designed to help you process difficult memories safely.
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT): Identifying and changing harmful thought patterns that drive addictive behaviour.
- Mindfulness and grounding techniques: Tools to reduce anxiety and help you stay present in moments of emotional distress.
- Relapse prevention planning: Understanding emotional triggers and creating a sustainable support system.
Each step of therapy helps you replace avoidance with empowerment, pain with peace, and addiction with awareness.
The Emotional Benefits of Addressing Trauma in Recovery
By working through trauma in counselling, individuals not only reduce their dependency on substances but also experience emotional growth and resilience.
Clients often report:
- Improved emotional regulation and self-control
- Decreased anxiety, shame, and guilt
- Better relationships with loved ones
- Renewed sense of self-worth and confidence
- Greater ability to find joy and meaning in daily life
Through this process, recovery becomes more than sobriety — it becomes transformation.
Why Choose Therapy in Benoni for Substance Abuse Counselling
With years of professional experience, Pakeeza Carrim provides a compassionate, client-centred approach that integrates trauma recovery with addiction treatment. At Therapy in Benoni, her sessions are tailored to each person’s emotional needs, ensuring therapy feels safe, validating, and empowering.
Her approach focuses on helping you rebuild your life through understanding, empathy, and self-awareness — guiding you toward long-term emotional and psychological wellbeing.
Take the First Step Toward Healing
Healing from trauma and addiction is possible with the right support. Substance Abuse Counselling in Bedfordview, Johannesburg with Pakeeza Carrim at Therapy in Benoni provides a safe, compassionate environment where you can confront the past, find freedom from addiction, and move toward a healthier, more peaceful future.
Reach out today to schedule a confidential session and begin your journey toward lasting recovery and emotional healing.