Ambivalence
Webster’s Dictionary defines ambivalence as “a state of having simultaneous conflicting reactions, beliefs, or feelings toward some object”. In other words, its when we have two different... Continue Reading...
Great Addiction Video
This is a great video highlighting many of the misconceptions about addiction, as well as the problems associated with how the problem is handled in most of the world... Continue Reading...
Should Treatment Be Specialized By Drug of Choice?
The majority of treatment facilities provide the same treatment for all types of substance use disorders (including alcohol). Generally speaking, there is some logic to this approach because there are common threads that run through all addictions, including behavioral addictions such as gambling and sex addiction.... Continue Reading ...
Is There An Addiction Gene?
This is a common question that many of my clients ask. The answer is that currently, there is NO evidence of an addiction gene. However, many clinicians who work at both inpatient and outpatient facilities will tell clients that this gene does... Continue Reading ...
Planning For High Risk Situations
"People do not plan to fail, they fail to plan." This is the quote that always comes to my mind when I think of one of the major factors that differentiates the clients with whom I work who struggle with abstaining from or moderating their substance use (including alcohol) from those who are successfully able to do so. A high risk situation is. .. Continue Reading...
Addiction, The Brain, and Alice in Chains
"I've eaten the sun, so my tongue has been burned of the taste." This is a lyric from the song, "Down in a Hole", by the band, Alice in Chains, whose original lead vocalist, Layne Staley, died of a heroin overdose in 2002. I have always liked this line, because... Continue Reading...
More About My Approach To Therapy
Although I customize the therapy experience to each of my clients, I believe it is important to employ evidenced based strategies (those that are supported by clinical research). I, however, also believe that it is important to pay attention to the strategies that are most effective for the majority of those with whom I work... Continue Reading...
Physical Vs. Psychological Addictions
Clients with whom I work often make a distinction between physical addiction and psychological addiction. For example, they may say, "I'm not physically addicted to pot... Continue Reading...
