Addiction REcovery (ADULTS)
“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”- Joseph Campbell
The opposite of addiction is relationship. Sometimes when I say this I get the response "Well I have friends." or "I have a family." The problem isn't just the the lack of relationship- the problem is the absence of functional healthy relationships.
Additionally, addiction is a biopsychosocial disease. It manifests for a variety of reasons including genetics, life circumstances, socioeconomic status, environmental exposure to substances, and most importantly relational and attachment trauma. I've never met an individual struggling with addiction who did not have a history of relationship trauma. Together we can work to make meaning, better understand your narrative, and create the life you're meant to live.
Often times individuals find it helpful to engage in a recovery community such as Refuge Recovery, SMART Recovery, or a 12-step fellowship (i.e. AA, NA, etc.) Simply put these fellowships create structure, a sense of community, accountability, and the opportunity to function authentically and honestly without the use of substances. 12-step fellowships are not the only way to recover. Some find success in other types of communities, various levels of addiction treatment care, religious communities, yoga practice, community art studios, etc. I usually find that some combination of treatment, an external recovery community, work/school, hobbies, etc. create the best chance for recovery success.
Being honest and authentic with yourself and others requires bravery. This means having fear and having the courage to do the work anyway!
ADVANCED RECOVERY: Sometimes in recovery an individual may have done a lot of the early work to get sober and create stability, but something still isn't quite right. There's trouble making new friends. There's uncertainty about job or relationship satisfaction. Spiritually there is some kind of disconnect despite life no longer being in a full swing of chaos. For those of you who can identify with some or all of these things- I am here for you, and more than enthused to help you navigate these advanced recovery waters. The relationship we have with ourselves is constantly evolving and unfolding, and it requires self-examination to keep up. I'm honored to accompany you on that journey.
Disclaimer: I will not accept clients in active addiction. New clients must be sober and medically stabilized before beginning treatment. This might mean having gone through a higher level of care prior to beginning outpatient work with me. I understand that relapse can be a part of recovery, but initial treatment at the level of care I am able to provide requires sobriety. If you should relapse in my care, I will refer you to a higher level of care, and will accept you back when appropriate after you have successfully completed all recommended treatment.
Resources:
Refuge Recovery: https://refugerecovery.org
Smart Recovery: https://www.smartrecoverytest.org/local/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration: https://www.samhsa.gov
Alcoholics Anonymous: https://www.aa.org
Narcotics Anonymous: https://www.na.org
Letters between Carl Jung and Bill W. (Speaking of Jung Blog): https://speakingofjung.com/blog/2015/11/13/the-bill-w-carl-jung-letters
