Addiction Treatment

It is so easy to let our minds wander. And when they wander, they often take us on journeys we would rather avoid. Our mind might dwell on past mistakes or disappointments; our thoughts might get tangled up in worry about the future; or our mind might simply drift away from the present moment while...Read More

What do you think of when going to therapy? If you imagine discussing your childhood while lying on a comfy couch, you’re not alone. This is the traditional Freudian psychoanalysis that’s commonly portrayed on TV and in movies. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for substance abuse is different. CBT treats problems by modifying dysfunctional thoughts, behaviors,...Read More

Moving forward after relapse is a normal part of drug and alcohol recovery. While it’s natural to complete rehab and think, “I’m cured!” no one is ever really cured of addiction. Addiction shares much in common with progressive, chronic diseases such as cancer. While you’re never really ‘cured’ of cancer, cancer can go into remission....Read More

When you think about it, it is kind of amazing how frequently we fail to do something we know we really ought to do, and the roadblocks we face.   You know you should go to bed, so you won’t be exhausted in the morning. But you stay up to binge a few more episodes...Read More

Family Systems Therapy can be particularly beneficial in the context of addiction recovery. Substance use disorder, (formerly known as substance abuse), and addiction not only affect the individual struggling with the addiction but also have a significant impact on the entire family unit. Family members may experience feelings of helplessness, anger, guilt, and anxiety, and...Read More

Trauma and Substance Use The connection between trauma and increased risk of substance abuse disorders is well documented. As a result, most treatment centers and medical professionals in the addiction field can be described as “trauma informed:” their treatment philosophy and methodology takes into account the experiences that might be undergirding a person’s struggles with...Read More

Some prescription drugs become well known in popular culture, especially drugs related to the treatment of anxiety. Any number of neurotic or anxious characters who appear in comedies—think of any character ever played by Woody Allen, for example—may namecheck a pharmaceutical to get a laugh. Use and Misuse Xanax, a drug often prescribed for anxiety,...Read More

Often, a big experience or accomplishment in our lives is followed by a moment of indecision or uncertainty. You might call it a “now what?” moment. You just graduated from high school or college, but you don’t have the next thing lined up yet. Now what? You just brought a brand new baby home from...Read More

Way back in 1969, the band Chicago had a hit with a song from the group’s very first record. The song’s title is a question: “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” It’s a philosophical question (and truthfully, kind of an odd song). A close listen to the lyrics suggests that the answer to...Read More

In 2009, Miley Cyrus was just a couple of years away from making the move from Disney Channel star to pop star. A key transitional moment, arguably, came with a song she recorded for Hannah Montana: The Movie—a song that listed Cyrus as the vocalist rather than her TV alter ego and that was a...Read More