Addiction Therapy in St Albans
Addiction can affect anyone. Whether you're struggling with substances, compulsive behaviours, or simply feel like something has taken hold that you can no longer control, therapy offers a confidential, non-judgemental space to understand what's driving it — and to begin to find a way through.
What can addiction therapy help with?
Nobody sets out to become an addict. What begins as a way of coping — soothing pain, managing anxiety, or simply feeling better — can gradually take on a life of its own. The substance or behaviour that once helped becomes the problem. That understanding is where the work begins, and it begins without blame.
Beneath addiction there is almost always something else — trauma, low self-worth, unprocessed grief, or a pattern that developed long before the addiction did. I work to understand that picture alongside you, at your pace and without judgement, whether you're looking to stop completely, reduce your use, or simply make sense of what's happening.
I work with two broad categories of addiction:
Substance addiction
Including alcohol dependency, cocaine and stimulant use, ketamine, cannabis, prescription medication dependency (sleeping tablets, painkillers, anxiolytics), and other substances. I have particular experience working with people whose substance use has escalated from recreational or social use into something that feels out of control.
Behavioural addiction
Including gambling (online, sports betting, and casino), sex and pornography addiction, eating disorders, gaming, compulsive spending, and social media dependency. Behavioural addictions are often less visible than substance dependency but can be just as consuming and just as difficult to address alone.
If you're unsure whether what you're experiencing counts as addiction, that uncertainty itself is often worth exploring. You don't need to have hit rock bottom to benefit from support.
What can addiction therapy help with?
Addiction is rarely just about the substance or behaviour itself. Beneath it, there is almost always something else — anxiety, trauma, low self-worth, or a way of coping with pain that once worked but has since taken on a life of its own. Understanding that underlying picture is where the real work begins.
Derrick has extensive experience working with addiction and substance misuse. He works in a way that is honest, compassionate, and entirely free of judgement — because shame is rarely a useful starting point, and most people seeking help are already carrying enough of it. Whether you're looking to stop completely, reduce your use, or simply understand your relationship with a substance more clearly, Derrick will work with you to find the right approach.
He works with a wide range of addictions and compulsive behaviours, including alcohol dependency, drug use (cannabis, cocaine, prescription drugs and others), gambling, behavioural addictions such as gaming or compulsive spending, and nicotine or vaping dependency.
If you're unsure whether what you're experiencing counts as addiction, that uncertainty itself is often worth exploring. You don't need to have hit rock bottom to benefit from support.
How does addiction therapy work?
Understanding your relationship with the addiction
The first stage is understanding — what role the substance or behaviour plays in your life, when it started, and what it may be helping you manage or avoid. A key part of this involves motivational interviewing — exploring your commitment to change and what that might realistically look like for you.
Therapeutic approaches
I draw on a range of evidence-based approaches tailored to each individual — including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), humanistic approaches, and psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapy — bringing these together depending on what works best for you and what emerges as the work develops.
Working on what's underneath
Addiction rarely exists in isolation. Alongside addressing the behaviour, we will explore the emotional and psychological factors driving it — trauma, anxiety, relationship patterns, or a deep-seated sense of not being enough. This is often where the most lasting change happens.
When should I seek help?
You should consider seeking support if you are finding yourself increasingly dependent on a substance or behaviour — either physically or psychologically. Physical dependency means needing to use at regular intervals to avoid withdrawal. Psychological dependency means relying on something to get through daily life.
Other signs it may be time to reach out:
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Your use is affecting your work, relationships, or health
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You've tried to cut down or stop but haven't been able to
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You feel guilt or shame around your use but continue regardless
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You find yourself hiding or minimising what you're doing from others
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You use to manage difficult emotions, anxiety, or stress
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What once felt like a choice no longer feels like one
Why choose me?
Specialist experience
I have over four years of specialist clinical experience in addiction services — including two and a half years at the Westminster Drug Project and a management role at a leading day rehabilitation centre in Watford. I have a particular interest in working with young adults aged 18–25, a group for whom early, compassionate intervention can be genuinely life-changing.
Free initial consultation & no waiting lists
Individual clients are offered a free initial consultation — a relaxed, no-commitment conversation to talk through what's going on and whether working together feels right. As a private therapist, I can usually offer appointments quickly, without the delays of NHS or charity referral pathways.
Non-judgemental from the start
Many people delay seeking help because they fear being judged — for what they've done, how long it's gone on, or how many times they've tried and not managed. My approach is warm, direct, and entirely free of judgement, whatever your history.
About
Meet Derrick, Your Therapist
I am a fully qualified integrative psychotherapist and Level 7 counsellor, registered with both BACP and UKCP. Addiction is one of my core specialisms — I have over four years of specialist clinical experience, including two and a half years at the Westminster Drug Project and a further period at a leading day rehabilitation centre in Watford, where I also held a management role.
I have a particular interest in working with young adults aged 18–25, and work with adults at all life stages — including those navigating addiction alongside relationship difficulties, midlife transitions, or long-standing anxiety and depression.
Above all, I believe no one becomes an addict by choice. People reach for substances and behaviours because they are trying to cope, to soothe, to survive. My job is to help you understand that without blame — and find a better way through.
Clients describe me as warm, empathic, and direct — someone who creates a space where it feels safe to be honest, perhaps for the first time.
