On October 6, we, two graduate students (Cassandra Souleles and Nidhi Desai) and a post-doctoral fellow (Mathilde Argote) from The Addiction Imaging and Mental Health laboratory affiliated with The Douglas Hospital and McGill University led by Dr. Rabin, had the opportunity to attend a Tuesday Open Speaker meeting at Chabad Lifeline. We heard firsthand accounts from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences of addiction, gaining a deeper appreciation for the many ways a

When Karen and I were first invited by Rabbi Fine to come to Montreal and lead Project Pride, there were just two addiction counsellors working out of a drop-in centre on Queen Mary Road. Not long afterward, Eddie and Helena Wiltzer came into the picture, and things began to change quickly! Under Eddie’s leadership as Chair of the Executive Committee, we were able to steadily expand our services and strengthen our organization. One step at a time, we grew into what Chabad Lif

Jennifer Kotry, a certified sex addiction therapist and a valued member of our team for the past seventeen years, recently presented the latest research and clinical insights into the complex topic of sex addiction. Her presentation explored the ways sex addiction can manifest in individuals, including the underlying brain chemistry and neurological processes that may contribute to compulsive sexual behaviors. By examining the science behind these behaviors, Jennifer helped d

As an addictions counselling student, I recently had the privilege of attending a training session on sex addiction at Chabad Lifeline. I left feeling both inspired and energized. The content was compelling, powerful, and deeply informative, and Jennifer Kotry, CSAT, facilitated the session with an impressive depth of knowledge and a clear sense of compassion for the people and experiences at the heart of this work. I learned so much and came away with an even greater appreci

To protect the privacy of the individuals and families we support, names and identifying details have been changed to preserve their confidentiality. There’s an eight-year-old girl who comes to our youth department because her 14-year-old brother is in lockdown. He has been involved in violent behaviour, and there has also been criminal activity. At just eight years old, she doesn’t fully understand what is happening with her brother or why her family is going through this. S

For over 20 years, Marla Eichenbaum promised us she’d come by and see what Chabad Lifeline was all about once she could “find the time” in her busy life as a corporate lawyer. Then, in early 2026, she was at a place in her life where she was retired and looking to build her next meaningful chapter, “Marla 2.0.” Marla came in, met the team, sat in on our weekly open meeting with counsellors and clients, and embraced all the volunteer roles we sent her way... from greeting peop

Just last week, I received a phone call from a 95-year-old Holocaust survivor who told me that she wanted to make a donation in honour of a woman who had helped her when she had lost her car. The woman’s name was Madame Girard, and the story is that this very special lady was also a survivor. We’ll call her Sarah* for now. Sarah called me and said she wanted to make a donation in honour of Madame Girard. She told me this story: Sara had been out with her son, having dinner at

"I’m 21, I’ve been volunteering here for close to two years, I grew up in a religious neighborhood went to religious schools and I’m at my last day here. I’m feeling melancholy but so very grateful. I want to share just a little of what my experience here felt like. When I first walked into Chabad Lifeline, I was asked to sit in on an open speaker meeting. I spent the entire hour fidgeting in my seat. I had entered a world that was both heartbreaking and eye-opening—a world I

"Dear Rabbi Bresinger, I wanted to take a moment to express my deep appreciation for the impact your organization has had on both my life and my son B. As a single parent with an extremely demanding job, I reached a point where I felt I had lost my son somewhere along the way. His struggle with screen addiction was overwhelming, and when I once turned off the Wi-Fi, his reaction was so intense and aggressive that I barely recognized him. At that point, we contacted 811 and be

I have an incredible view sitting behind my desk. I get to see who comes in and out of Lifeline, and one day I saw something that caught my attention. It was one of our youth counselors walking toward the door with a little boy. When I had the chance, I asked the counselor, “Who is that little boy?” He told me the story. The boy's mother was struggling with alcoholism, and she had come to Lifeline for help from one of our addiction counselors. His father, and his grandmother,

We need your help! Here are some ways you can make a difference: 1- Make a Donation Your dollar goes further than you think. It makes our immediate, free services possible. It ensures no family is ever turned away because of finances. Every contribution becomes someone’s lifeline. 2- Spread the Word Share the campaign. Post it. Text it. TALK about it. You never know who in your circles may be quietly struggling or who is searching for help and doesn’t know where to turn.

A mother called us in near hysterics. She was desperate for help. Her 12-year-old son had become violent after she tried to take away his access to the computer. He had been spending so much time online that he was even avoiding meals. Getting him to school had become a daily battle. Everything at home felt impossible to manage, and she was beside herself. What made it even more painful was that this was once a sweet boy she knew so well. Now, she felt like she was looking at

Rabbi Bresinger had the honor of inaugurating the Chabad Westmount Mental Health & Wellness Centre , made possible through the generosity of The Charles, Evelyne, and Sandra Dolansky Foundation , at the Chabad of Westmount led by Rabbi Yossi Shanowitz and Rabbi Ariel Stern. Joined by Jeffrey Katz, president of the foundation , Rabbi Bresinger addressed a gathering of about 100 students at Chabad Westmount. The initiative itself is designed to provide the tools, resources

Dear Rabbi Bresinger, Your team gave my child a safe place to be during the difficult part of her adolescence. Chabad is our safety-net. When we moved from Toronto I could have never imagined a place for me and my child that is free of charge and so caring! Things could have deteriorated academically, socially, emotionally her wellbeing was in flux. Because of Chabad Lifeline, this is not the case. My child has developed a sense of self worth and purpose. Through your pare

Ali, our resident Drama Therapist, believes deeply in the healing power of play. For children and teens, play is not just something they do for fun—it is one of the most natural and effective ways they communicate, process emotions, and make sense of their inner world. When words feel hard to find, play becomes a language of its own. In her work, Ali uses tools such as masks, puppets, storytelling, movement, and imaginative role-play to create a safe and welcoming space where

When the phone rang, a single mother was on the other end—shaken, overwhelmed, and afraid. She was deeply distressed because her 16-year-old son had stopped going to school. His days were being spent behind a screen, hours slipping by unnoticed. When she confronted him and tried to take away his laptop the situation escalated quickly. His anger turned physical. She was frightened—not only by what had just happened, but by how suddenly she felt she had lost her son. She didn’t

Lifeline's outreach program regularly takes us into the classrooms of high schools, colleges, and universities. Recently, we spoke to students at McGill University's Psychiatry Department about the signs, symptoms, and effects of addiction. The response was overwhelming, and we received this wonderfully gracious thank-you from the Professor: "Thank you, Chabad Lifeline, for coming to present to my Issues in Drug Dependence class at McGill University yesterday. The combination

At Lifeline, we are privileged to witness stories of courage every day—stories that remind us how resilient people can be, even when they feel lost in the darkest moments of their lives. Recently, a father shared his journey with us, and, with his permission, we are sharing it here in hopes it may offer strength to someone who needs it. He grew up with a mother who struggled with gambling addiction. Although he didn’t realize it at the time, the instability and unpredictabili