Do you want to break the cycle of addiction and start living your life in balance?
Do you want to be co-dependant free but not even really know what this means?
Only someone who knows what this struggle feels like can help.
You do not have to feel so alone.
There are solutions, you just can’t see them at the moment.
Addiction counselling offers a supportive and non-judgemental space to understand addictive behaviours and begin healing through compassionate recovery counselling. At David McCarthy Counselling, we know first-hand how addiction affects relationships, individuals and families, which is why we focus on providing tailored support, practical strategies and long-term recovery. We provide personalised support, including addiction counselling for individuals and families.
Individual counselling and psychotherapy
David works 1-1 with people suffering addictions wanting to get well and with family members wanting to create change.
Addiction focused group psychotherapy
Also known as "process group therapy", this highly specialised approach to recovery occurs in groups amongst peers with a trained facilitator.
Family member focused group psychotherapy
Available for groups of family members of struggling loved ones. This provides an opportunity for change at our very core while surrounded by community.
Online or face to face meetings
All services are delivered both on-line through video conferencing platforms such as Zoom and FaceTime, or at David's Balmain based Counselling Practice.
DM Counselling specialises in addiction counselling. We help you address addictive behaviours and offer support for families of addicts. Our expert one-on-one sessions can help you break through addiction and begin the journey towards lasting recovery. We have extensive experience supporting clients through alcohol abuse counselling, drug addiction, gambling addiction, sex and porn addiction, gaming addiction, and codependency.
Our addiction counselling expertise includes, but is not limited to:
Alcohol
Whether you or a family member is struggling with alcoholism, we help break the cycle and get your life back on track. From triggers to cravings, our clinical approach addresses the root causes of drinking and enabling behaviours, not just the symptoms. We support clients in developing healthier coping strategies and rebuilding balance in their lives.
Drugs
We help you develop practical and effective coping strategies, address the underlying causes and regain autonomy in your life. With this approach, our drug counsellors have helped clients regain sobriety from all manner of drugs, such as ice, cocaine and heroin.
Gambling
Gambling addiction counselling can help you treat compulsive behaviour. When your behaviour negatively affects your relationships and professional life, we will help you eliminate urges and rebuild financial control.
Sex/Porn
If you experience intense sexual urges and high pornography consumption, our sex addiction counselling can help you create boundaries and foster genuine intimacy in relationships. By exploring your emotional triggers, we can address the underlying triggers and remove the compulsion permanently.
Gaming
Gaming addiction counselling can identify underlying emotional issues and reasons for the compulsive behaviour. It is possible to create a healthy relationship with gaming, whatever you decide that looks like.
Codependency
Codependency can leave you feeling trapped in unhealthy relationship patterns. Our counselling helps you establish healthy boundaries, build self-worth and develop independence while maintaining meaningful connections with others.
We offer multiple pathways to recovery, tailored to your unique situation and needs.
Individual counselling and psychotherapy
With one-on-one counselling sessions, we work closely together, identifying your triggers for addiction, helping you rebuild control and finding meaningful alternatives. We incorporate addiction psychotherapy techniques to help clients understand emotional triggers and behavioural patterns.
Addiction focused group psychotherapy
DM Counselling also offers group therapy sessions that help you feel supported and accountable. Many people struggle with addictions, and having an honest and open space where people understand is a strong foundation for recovery. You’ll be equipped with the tools needed to empower yourself and achieve lasting recovery through connection and alternatives.
Counselling for families and loved ones
Addiction affects the people closest to it too. Our family support sessions offer a safe, guided space where loved ones can process their own experiences, better understand addiction, and learn how to help without losing themselves. With small group sizes and focused attention, we help families rebuild trust, improve communication, and find a meaningful path forward together.
Online or face-to-face meetings
It’s not always possible to attend sessions, which is why we offer online and telehealth counselling options. Aside from being a convenient way to receive support no matter where you live, it’s an excellent way to receive support if one of your loved ones is an addict. David McCarthy Counselling offers a range of specialist family support and flexible counselling options. We also see clients on Saturdays and Sundays.
The journey
Don’t over think it. Starting is the hardest part. This involves recognising that what you are doing isn’t working.
Don’t let fear get in the way. Let’s introduce ourselves and see if we are the right fit for one another.
It’s time to make a change. Book in for your first session by phone, email or right here on our website.
Take practical steps at your own pace without someone telling you what to do. Create the life you want to be a part of.
DM Counselling is a specialist addiction counselling service headed by David McCarthy. As a former addict himself, he approaches addiction therapy with compassion and understanding to create a confidential and non-judgmental space. He is a PACFA-registered therapist and clinical counsellor who meets all national standards. He’s helped people recover from addictions for over 15 years and will make you feel heard, supported and guided at your own pace.
Our addiction specialists will work with you to address the root causes, such as emotional triggers. Many of our clients have gone on to maintain their sobriety from drug and alcohol addictions. If you or someone you know is facing an addiction, an addiction therapist is an excellent way to recover and regain your identity.
With an emphasis on relapse prevention counselling, DM Counselling ensures you’re equipped with the tools you need to beat addiction for good. All of our addiction-targeted therapies, including our porn addiction help and alcohol addiction help, are designed to make sobriety achievable.
15+
Years of Experience
PACFA
Registered Therapist
100%
Confidential Sessions
If you’d like to take advantage of our expertise as addiction specialists, we offer online and telehealth therapy sessions. They’re a flexible and comfortable alternative to in-person sessions, and are just as effective as traditional therapy. Online addiction counselling can make it easier to consistently attend sessions, which is an important part of long-term recovery and relapse prevention.
Aside from being a convenient way to access addiction counselling, telehealth is a great option for families of someone with an addiction seeking support and guidance discreetly. You can receive guidance and support from a counsellor who understands the pressure, stress and emotional impact addiction places on relationships. We’ve experienced the stress that having someone struggling with an addiction can cause. We offer online drug and alcohol counselling, gambling help and support for a wide range of addictive behaviours through secure and confidential telehealth appointments.
What types of addiction counselling does DM Counselling offer?
DM Counselling offers addiction therapy for alcohol, drug, gambling, gaming addiction counselling, sex addiction therapy and pornography addiction. You can access individual sessions in-person or online, and group therapy for addiction with an experienced addiction psychotherapist and addiction specialist.
Can I access addiction counselling online?
Yes. DM Counselling offers online addiction counselling and telehealth counselling across Australia through secure Zoom addiction counselling sessions. Online drug counselling and online alcohol counselling provide flexible, private addiction help while still following the same evidence-based approach as in-person appointments.
What is the difference between an addiction counsellor and an addiction psychologist?
An addiction counsellor focuses on addiction psychotherapy, relapse prevention counselling, patterns, and practical recovery strategies. It’s about personal choice. Often, we see clients after they have seen addiction psychologists whose treatment approaches have been unsuccessful. DM Counselling can help clarify which level of support suits you. We can also refer you to other specialists as needed for specialised addiction help including sex addiction counselling.
How does relapse prevention counselling work?
Relapse prevention counselling helps clients identify triggers, develop coping strategies, and maintain long-term addiction recovery. It supports people who need help to quit drinking, gambling help and support to stop other addictions such as sex or porn. This method is a core part of addiction therapy and is woven throughout our counselling process, not offered as a standalone service. The aim is to give you practical tools you can apply in daily life as ongoing support.
Is addiction counselling kept confidential?
Yes. DM Counselling is a private addiction counselling service, and all sessions are strictly confidential. All services, from alcohol addiction counselling to sex addiction therapy and drug addiction counselling, are secure, and your information is never shared without consent. We provide a safe place for those seeking addiction help.
Lets get in touch
We can’t wait to get to know you and discuss the treatment options that suit you best.