Steve Burns | Addiction, Pain and Coping Strategies Ep.4 part 1
Sun Feb 08 2026
Addiction isn’t the problem. Pain is.
Steve Burns explains why healing starts with responsibility, not restraint.
What if addiction isn’t about lack of willpower, but about trying to survive emotional pain?
In Part 1 of this episode, Yalda sits down again with addiction specialist Steve Burns to unpack what addiction really is and why substances, food, work, or habits are often just coping strategies rather than the root problem.
They explore why lasting change only happens when someone chooses it for themselves, how unresolved trauma or emotional imbalance drives addictive behaviours, and why commitment, especially self-commitment, matters more than motivation. This is a powerful conversation about responsibility, healing, and why the body and mind are always wired for recovery.
Steve Burns is a coach, therapist, and addiction specialist with over 20 years of experience working one-to-one with clients. His work focuses on emotional responsibility, healing unresolved pain, and helping people create lasting behavioural change without relying on quick fixes.
You can find out more about Steve at https://thetherapylounge.com.
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Addiction isn’t the problem. Pain is. Steve Burns explains why healing starts with responsibility, not restraint. What if addiction isn’t about lack of willpower, but about trying to survive emotional pain? In Part 1 of this episode, Yalda sits down again with addiction specialist Steve Burns to unpack what addiction really is and why substances, food, work, or habits are often just coping strategies rather than the root problem. They explore why lasting change only happens when someone chooses it for themselves, how unresolved trauma or emotional imbalance drives addictive behaviours, and why commitment, especially self-commitment, matters more than motivation. This is a powerful conversation about responsibility, healing, and why the body and mind are always wired for recovery. Steve Burns is a coach, therapist, and addiction specialist with over 20 years of experience working one-to-one with clients. His work focuses on emotional responsibility, healing unresolved pain, and helping people create lasting behavioural change without relying on quick fixes. You can find out more about Steve at https://thetherapylounge.com.