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Substance Use & Addiction

Living a Life Free of Negative Habits and Dependence

While every substance/addictive use may be identified as different (in terms of onset, length of acuity, and recommended resolution, similarities also exist and always need to reviewed and crystalized as to how to measure recovery and cover strategies on the Treatment Plan.

Recovery or 100% abstinence from addictive substances is supported by evidenced-based research and numbers of people who (for example) get sober from their alcoholism, deciding to maintain sobriety One Day At A Time for life. This is best accomplished when therapy coincides with Alcoholics Anonymous’ attendance, or other support groups, such as Rational Recovery. No matter the path the client chooses for recovery, support IS essential, and it is Helen’s privilege to have as one of her specialties Addictions’ Counseling. This sub-specialty is best known for treating addiction to alcohol, opioids, barbiturates, cocaine, methamphetamines, heroin and in some instances, abuse of marijuana. (Helen supports Medical Marijuana for clients suffering from PTSD, which may include the above-mentioned recovering individuals. Recommended VERY carefully, it has to be established that a client has a rock-solid foundation of recovery for some years, and is Working her or his recovery program.)

Helen’s belief in as much support for someone in recovery needs, it must also be noted that individual therapy might begin therapy for the recovering individual, who might then be referred to (or in many cases, from) treatment centers. Working closely to assist in preparation for treatment IS a process. The entire family is recommended into therapy as a result, with family support essential to the inpatient/outpatient process a client might need. Helen is in long-term recovery herself (don’t know if you want that in the info or not) and often attends AA meetings for clients either just getting out of treatment, or new to AA’s recovery process.

Recovery or abstinence may relate to addiction behavior with food, sex, gambling, the internet, and to people (codependency.) Helen recommends group therapy as well, and as stated, provides recovery groups for additional therapeutic support.

Essentially, addiction follows an upside-down, bell-shaped curve called The Jellinek Curve where the beginning of the use of substance or people, places and things continue down the left-hand portion of the curve, ‘hitting bottom’…ON the bottom – jails, institutions or death is the result of unchecked substance use addiction. The pathway up the right-hand portion of the curve indicate progress over time, and ultimately, recovery from the said substance or addictive use. Roughly, 1 out of 3 people gets sober from alcoholism – with treatment, AA and family support. That figure is WITH support – one can see the daunting task of “white-knuckling” on one’s own!

Education of the addictive progression is offered in recovery groups (the didactic portion) but group therapy also uses action methods of treatment called Psychodrama. Helen has been training in this modality for years and believes it helps raise those 1 and 3 odds significantly.

“If you can feel it, you can heal it,” and that occurs when one experiences the pain of the past into the continuum of the present and future, one group, one day, at a time often MOST successfully in a therapeutic group setting AND AA, as well as individual therapy. The goal for every client is to progress in therapy such that once a week becomes twice a month, then once a month, then every other month. It is recommended clients check back in within a year of discharge, as the trusted environment is so important.