We’ve all heard about the undeniable benefits of mindfulness. In fact, it’s one of the trending buzzwords of the decade. But if mindfulness only elicits images of long meditation sessions or extended yoga poses, you’re missing out on what the concept truly means. Mindfulness is a state of being; it’s about ... Read More
How To Manage Unsupportive People In Your Recovery Process
Sooner or later, it’s bound to happen. A snarky comment here. A condescending look there. We all know the benefits of healthy support in recovery, but not everyone is capable of providing that. And at some point (if it hasn’t happened already), you’re going to run across someone who knows exactly the wrong ... Read More
How Therapy Can Be Beneficial Even If You Have Long-Term Recovery
In my therapy practice, I have worked with hundreds of clients struggling with the deathly grips of addiction. Age, sex, socioeconomic status- the details on paper don’t matter. Substance use is one of the greatest equalizers in our society. It lurks on street corners in the beaten backpacks of homeless ... Read More
Why (And How) To Be More Vulnerable With Yourself and Others
“Vulnerability is not knowing victory or defeat, it’s understanding the necessity of both; it’s engaging. It’s being all in.” - Brené Brown When you think of vulnerability, what images come to mind? Do you picture revealing your deepest and ugliest secret? Are you imagining how it would feel if someone ... Read More
Coming Back From A Relapse: The Do’s and The Don’ts
When a relapse happens, it’s normal to feel like your entire world has been shattered. You may feel angry and ashamed of yourself. You may believe that you’ve let both yourself and your loved ones down, and you’re probably worried that you won’t be able to regain back the trust you worked so hard to ... Read More
What Happens When You’re Afraid Of Success In Recovery?
When it comes to unleashing our fullest potential, fear is the greatest obstacle stunting our growth. Fear is the nagging voice telling us we can’t do something. It’s the sinking feeling warning us that we’re about to make a catastrophic decision. It’s the enemy taunting us, the bully who tells us we aren’t ... Read More
Tips For Traveling While In Recovery
Travel is an enriching, stimulating experience that shouldn’t be stunted due to sobriety. Luckily, most people reap much greater benefits when they actually have the mental clarity to enjoy their trip. That said, the idea of navigating travels while sober may seem daunting, tedious, or downright impossible. ... Read More
How To Appropriately Manage Fear in Recovery
What’s the four-letter f-word that can determine the trajectory of one’s entire life path? It’s not the infamous curse word- it’s fear. Fear is the ultimate emotion; the stabilizer that defines us as conscious humans. It’s what makes us vulnerable, and it’s what also makes us pause, think, and react (or ... Read More
How To Set Boundaries When Your Parent Has An Addiction
While there is extensive information available to parents who have children struggling with addiction, there is scant advice for when the situation is reversed. If you are an adult with a parent facing addiction, you may feel angry, helpless, and alone. You may have threatened your parent in hopes of change, ... Read More
What to do If rehab isn’t working
Walk into any treatment center, and you’ll hear the ravaging war stories. You’ll talk to the person who’s been to rehab three times, ten times, and twenty-six times. You’ll learn about the facilities that created miracles, and you’ll hear about the facilities where clients died on the immediate grounds. In ... Read More