Addiction and mental health are deeply interconnected. For many people, addiction develops as a way to cope with emotional pain, anxiety, or trauma — yet it often worsens those very struggles. True recovery requires healing both the mind and the behaviour. At Mental Health Benoni, Laurika Lubbe, a compassionate and experienced counselling psychologist, offers professional Addiction Counselling in Norwood, Johannesburg that addresses the emotional roots of addiction while supporting long-term mental wellness.
Understanding the Link Between Mental Health and Addiction
Addiction is not simply about substance use — it’s about what lies beneath. Many individuals turn to alcohol, drugs, or other habits as a form of self-medication for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or unresolved trauma.
When left untreated, this cycle becomes self-perpetuating: addiction worsens mental health, and poor mental health increases dependency. Counselling provides the essential bridge between these two struggles, helping individuals uncover and treat both.
At Mental Health Benoni, Laurika helps clients explore:
- How emotional distress contributes to addictive behaviours
- The psychological triggers that lead to relapse
- Ways to build healthy coping mechanisms
- The impact of past experiences and trauma on current choices
Through Addiction Counselling in Norwood, Johannesburg, clients receive the support needed to heal both their emotional wellbeing and their relationship with themselves.
How Addiction Affects Mental Health
Substance use may initially offer relief from emotional pain, but it often leads to increased psychological distress over time. Addiction can intensify feelings of guilt, isolation, and hopelessness, making it even harder to break free.
Common mental health effects of addiction include:
- Heightened anxiety and mood swings
- Worsening depression and low self-worth
- Emotional numbness or detachment
- Strained relationships and social withdrawal
- Poor concentration and motivation
Laurika’s therapeutic approach focuses on identifying these emotional and behavioural patterns and helping clients restore balance and stability through empathy, insight, and guided self-discovery.
How Addiction Counselling in Norwood, Johannesburg Promotes Healing
At Mental Health Benoni, Laurika Lubbe takes a holistic approach to recovery, recognising that healing must involve both mental and emotional transformation. Her counselling sessions are designed to help clients understand their triggers, strengthen emotional resilience, and develop practical coping skills for daily life.
In therapy, clients learn to:
- Identify and manage emotional triggers
- Challenge negative thought patterns that fuel addictive behaviour
- Develop self-compassion and forgiveness
- Strengthen resilience through mindfulness and reflection
- Build healthy coping strategies to prevent relapse
Each session is tailored to the individual’s needs, ensuring therapy feels supportive, respectful, and genuinely transformative.
The Role of Counselling Psychology in Recovery
Unlike clinical approaches focused solely on diagnosis, counselling psychology explores the personal and emotional factors that contribute to addiction. Laurika’s work combines evidence-based techniques with warmth and understanding, allowing clients to process both their struggles and strengths.
Her approach is guided by three key principles:
- Empathy – creating a non-judgmental, supportive space
- Insight – helping clients understand the “why” behind addiction
- Growth – fostering long-term emotional healing and self-awareness
Through this compassionate method, clients develop a deeper sense of self-worth and confidence that extends beyond addiction recovery.
Breaking the Cycle: Treating Both Addiction and Mental Health
Recovery becomes more sustainable when both mental health and addiction are addressed together. By working with a counselling psychologist like Laurika, clients can heal the emotional pain that underpins their addictive behaviours while learning to manage stress, anxiety, and depression in healthy ways.
This integrated approach helps individuals:
- Build awareness of their emotional needs
- Create healthy boundaries and routines
- Reduce relapse risk through self-regulation
- Reconnect with personal goals and values
At Mental Health Benoni, this dual focus on emotional wellbeing and behavioural change offers clients the tools to rebuild their lives with clarity and purpose.
Reclaiming Confidence and Control
Addiction can make individuals feel powerless, but counselling restores agency and self-trust. Through Addiction Counselling in Norwood, Johannesburg, Laurika helps clients move from self-blame toward self-understanding, empowering them to rebuild their confidence and sense of identity.
As clients gain insight into their emotional world, they begin to feel stronger and more capable of making choices aligned with their values and wellbeing. This inner confidence becomes a powerful defence against relapse.
Take the Next Step Toward Healing
Healing from addiction starts with understanding — understanding yourself, your emotions, and your journey. If you’re struggling with both addiction and mental health challenges, know that recovery is possible with the right support.
Reach out to Mental Health Benoni today to schedule an appointment with Laurika Lubbe. Through Addiction Counselling in Norwood, Johannesburg, you can rebuild balance, strengthen resilience, and move forward toward a life of clarity and emotional freedom.