Omar Waheed, R.P.

The symptoms many men share with me include addiction to substances or gambling, gaming and sex.  The root causes are the real problem though.  These can include trauma, grief and various underlying mental health issues.  Client’s need a knowledgeable person who can guide them on a path of recovery and healing that fits their needs. 

 

With any client, I aim to create a therapeutic alliance.  It is based on trust as well as shared experiences.  Then we try to understand the root causes.  Using a holistic lens we see the whole person, not just the addictive behaviours. We implement interventions to help heal from the underlying issues as well as strategies to overcome addictive behaviours. 

 

Through my work, men develop the tools become un-stuck in life and are able to resume moving forward, growing and healing on their own with their new understandings and skills. They also re-construct their relationship with themselves.  

 

As a therapist, I have 15 years of personal and professional experience in my own recovery and helping others professionally.  I help men address their underlying issues with and without the presence of addictive behaviours. I have worked at many addiction agencies in the Greater Toronto Area and I have received training and certification as a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist. I also have extensive experience with problem gambling and gaming.  I have run intensive week-long therapy groups for gamblers and held many workshops for people suffering from gaming addictions.

 

I have also been extensively trained in trauma and grief and I frequently work with family members of people with addiction as they require support from an experienced therapist knowledgeable about addiction. 

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Favourite Book Recommendation: Anything by Patrick Carnes, Pia Melody and Melody Beattie books on codependency, and articles from Omar Minwalla on partner trauma.​