Many families will continue to struggle with co-dependency long after their loved one has completed treatment. For example, families will try to take on the role of “fixing” someone without realizing that it is in the addict’s best interest to maintain personal responsibility for their own recovery. Transference and co-dependency often create stressors that are […]
Clinician’s Corner
Establishing a Daily Rehab Schedule
“The Importance of a Daily Routine” – Lynn Marie Staffa, LCSW A comment commonly heard from our clients is their struggle with sitting still. They are at the beginning stages of their recovery from alcohol and drug abuse and they are feeling overwhelmed by their new reality of being sober. They are no longer able […]
The Marriage of Clinical Services and Sober Living
When a person is admitted into a drug treatment center for drug and alcohol addictions, there is often a hope or a wish that after one month the issues have gone away. Many times professionals will hear the reasons why the individual has to go home. “I have so much to do,” “I have to […]
Turning the Corner: The Role of Self Forgiveness in Recovery
MEAGHAN GORMAN – LMFT Primary Therapist Turnbridge As a therapist at Turnbridge drug rehab center, I have many times had the privilege of witnessing courageous processes of personal transformation. When a client first enters into the process of change here, he is often times struggling with a strong undertow of shame resulting from harms done […]
Motivating Young Men in Recovery
Fred Keane, LCSW Executive Director of Clinical Services There are a variety of challenges that young men in early recovery face. Many are not “voluntary”, but rather have been compelled to enter treatment as a result of outstanding legal issues or owing to family interventions. It has been found that clients younger than 26 […]
Redefining Addiction Stereotypes
Sarah Allen Benton, MS, LMHC, LPC Primary Therapist The stereotype of the “typical” addict/alcoholic prevents many individuals with addictions from seeking help-as it allows for comparison to the worst case scenario. The media also fuels the stereotype, as many of the movies and stories that portray addicts and alcoholics are often tragic-when the real-life […]
Working With Young Men
Michael Bower, Ed.D. Primary Therapist Working with young men who are addicts and alcoholics can be a challenging, frustrating and satisfying privilege. Throughout the storm of addiction and the chaos in their behavior, I hold on to some key ideas that I think characterize both illness and recovery. Most of us think of AA […]
The Heart in Recovery
Meaghan Gorman, LMFT Primary Therapist Center for Change “The Heart in Recovery” At the Center for Change, we incorporate the teachings and practice of a meditation technique called “Vipassana”– a non-judgmental, observational Eastern approach that seeks to harness the power of conscious thought and action to replace the identification with addictive impulses. More simply […]
Building Self Confidence in Recovery: Simple Tips to Build Self Esteem
Vanessa Reda, LMFT Primary Therapist Center for Change As our clients emerge into the outside world, one of the most important things that they will bring with them is a sense of self. Building self-worth is a vital aspect of recovery and is integrated into therapy sessions. For most clients, unhealthy decisions coupled with feelings […]
The Importance of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Drug Treatment
Jessica Hamilton, LCSW Primary Therapist Center for Change All approaches to therapy share one common objective: to support the client in effecting positive change. Although the ultimate goal remains uniform, there is a wide range of modalities by which a therapist can help to facilitate such change. In this article, I will focus […]