Notice: For general interest only; may contain inaccuracies. Not a diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, or professional, clinical, or legal advice. Reading this creates no counsellor-client relationship. By reading this page, you agree to these terms. Full disclaimer. In an emergency, call 911.
Confidential, Evidence-Based Support for Substance Use & Compulsive Behaviours
You don’t have to hit bottom to get help. Whether it’s alcohol, substances, or a behaviour that’s taken more space in your life than you want it to, change is possible — and it starts with one honest conversation.
Most people who reach out here don’t feel ready to talk on the phone. Start whichever way feels safest.
Text me what’s going onThe message is already written — just press send. I reply personally: usually within a few hours, always within 24.
📞 Call for a Free 20-Minute Consultation
A Different Approach to Addiction
I’m Dr. Samuel Ezzatilord, PhD, RCC, CCC, LMCC, a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC #23405) with a doctorate degree and over a decade of trauma specialization, including addiction rehabilitation experience at a residential treatment centre. My approach treats addiction not as a moral failing but as a strategy that once protected you — and that you can now outgrow.
How We Work Together
Motivational Interviewing (MI) — no lectures, no pressure. We start where you actually are, and strengthen your own reasons for change.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) — addiction often involves a part of you doing a protective job. IFS helps you understand that part instead of fighting it, so the urge loses its grip.
CBT & DBT skills — practical tools for cravings, triggers, distress tolerance, and the thought patterns that lead back to use.
Neurofeedback — a distinctive addition to talk therapy: brain training that supports calmer baseline arousal and better impulse control during recovery.
SMART Recovery-aligned — self-empowering, science-based recovery support that fits alongside (or instead of) 12-step programs.
Who I Work With
Adults concerned about alcohol, cannabis, stimulants, prescription medication, gambling, or compulsive behaviours — and family members trying to support a loved one without losing themselves. Services available in English and Farsi (فارسی), in person in Vancouver or online across BC.
Fees & Coverage
Fees may be covered, depending on eligibility, by ICBC, CVAP, FNHA, IFHP, RCMP, VAC, and most other insurers, and direct billing is available. Registered Clinical Counsellor receipts are accepted by most extended health plans. Approved provider for First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), RCMP, and Canadian Armed Forces members.
Please note: counselling supports recovery but does not replace medical care. If you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms, please speak with your physician or call 811 before reducing use of alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids.
Take the First Step
A free, confidential 20-minute phone consultation — no commitment, no judgment. We’ll talk about what’s going on and whether this approach fits.
Who you’re talking to
I’m Samuel Ezzatilord, PhD, RCC, CCC, LMCC. Over 25 years I’ve worked with trauma, anxiety, and relationships — from Red Crescent refugee camps and veterans’ clinics to community mental health here in Vancouver. I won’t be shocked by what you bring me, and I won’t rush you.
As an Iranian-Canadian clinician working in both English and Farsi, I understand the weight of آبرو, the pull between cultures, and how hard it can be to say “I need help” out loud. We go at your pace, find what’s really driving things, and work through it together.
And no — your problem doesn’t need to be a crisis to belong here.
What happens when you call?
Dr. Samuel answers personally. No secretary, no forms, no gatekeeping.
Ask anything: fees, insurance, whether this approach fits you. Confidential within the limits of BC law and professional ethics.
Book a first session — or don’t. Either way you leave with clarity and zero obligation.
Fees may be covered, depending on eligibility, by ICBC, CVAP, FNHA, IFHP, RCMP, VAC, and most other insurers, and direct billing is available.
Frequently Asked Questions — Addiction & Substance Use Counselling
Do I have to stop completely before I can start counselling?
No. You can start where you are. Many people begin counselling while still using, still drinking, or still unsure whether they want to stop; the first work is understanding what the substance is doing for you and what it is costing. Samuel Ezzatilord, PhD, RCC, CCC, LMCC, does not require abstinence as a condition of the first conversation.
Is addiction counselling confidential?
Yes. Nothing leaves the practice without your written consent — not to your employer, your family or your doctor — within the narrow legal limits every BC counsellor must observe. For clients from close-knit communities, including Vancouver’s Iranian community, discretion is treated as part of confidentiality, and video sessions from home are available.
What approach does Samuel use for substance use?
Counselling that treats the pattern underneath — the anxiety, trauma, low mood or relationship strain the substance has been managing — alongside practical work on triggers, routines and sleep. Internal Family Systems (IFS) is well suited to the part of you that reaches for a drink; EMDR helps where trauma is driving it; neurofeedback training is available where a settled nervous system is part of recovery. Samuel coordinates with your doctor where medical support is needed.
Is addiction counselling covered by insurance or FNHA?
Registered Clinical Counsellor sessions are covered by most extended health plans and direct-billed; First Nations clients may be covered through FNHA. Fees may be covered, depending on eligibility, by ICBC, CVAP, FNHA, IFHP, RCMP, VAC, and most other insurers, and direct billing is available. Coverage is confirmed on the free call.
Can family members get help too?
Yes. Substance use lands on the whole household, and partners and parents often need their own support and a way to stop the pattern of rescue and resentment. Samuel sees family members individually and, where everyone is willing, together. See couples and family therapy.
How do I start?
With a free 20-minute phone call directly with Samuel — no receptionist, no forms, no judgment. Call or WhatsApp 604-721-0604, or text a single line and he will call you back within a day, in English or Farsi.
More questions about addiction counselling in Vancouver
What if I’m not sure it counts as an addiction?
Do you treat gambling, gaming or other behavioural addictions?
Is trauma often behind substance use?
Can I combine counselling with medical treatment or a program?
What is the relapse rate — is it worth it?
Are sessions available in Farsi?
Where are sessions held?
How is this different from a treatment centre?
Where can I read more?
سلب مسئولیت: محتوای این صفحه صرفاً جنبه آموزشی و اطلاعرسانی دارد و جایگزین مشاوره، تشخیص یا درمان حرفهای نیست. برای هرگونه تصمیم مربوط به سلامت روان، با یک متخصص واجد صلاحیت مشورت کنید.
Disclaimer: This page is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified professional for any mental-health decisions.
نوشته شده با همکاری تحریریه تخصصی · Written with expert editorial assistance
