Behavioral Health
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Why ‘Hating Yourself Happy’ is a Broken Model
Often, we completely disregard the lessons and teachings so beautifully hidden within the so-called ‘bad’ emotions we are experiencing.
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Codependent or Loving? Part II
Bravery, love and trust are three important keys to breaking out of a toxic, codependent way of living.
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Riding the Wave of Disappointment: Beware of the Bear!
People who have trouble dealing with the inevitable disappointments in life tend to experience the most disappointment with themselves.
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Codependent or Loving? Part I
Individuals and families who operate from love, not codependency, have the courage to be honest with one another.
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Spotlight on Crisis Text Line
Trained counselors at The Crisis Textline support millions of young people who find themselves facing some of their toughest, darkest, and most dangerous moments.
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How Body Shaming Keeps You Overweight, Plus 3 Unconventional Ways to Release That Weight
When we deprive ourselves of love, compassion, empathy or basic nurturing, we need to meet that need. Food, for most people, is the easiest place to find it.
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Boundaries for the Sensitive Soul
The need for healthy boundaries is often emphasized in recovery. Little by little, people learn to become more assertive, speak […]
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Is it a Reason or an Excuse? Maintaining Your Self-Respect in the Face of Life’s Challenges
Have you ever used a reason as an excuse for not doing something? If so, you’re definitely not alone!
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Why is Giving Up People Pleasing So Difficult?
The thought of giving up “being the nice guy” can be so overwhelming and paralyzing that we put our heads in the sand.
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What’s Shame Got to Do With It? Successful Recovery From Addictive Behaviors
“I’m not enough” and “I’m not worthy” are perhaps the biggest shame pieces that catapult people into addiction in the first place.
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The Underbelly of Being Nice
If nice is “the right way” or “good,” does it mean I am wrong or bad if I am not nice? If I have been trained to be nice, where are my real feelings going to go?
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Dreams in Recovery: “Using” and Relapse Dreams – What Do They Mean?
Why do relapse dreams and using dreams occur? And how do they affect recovery?
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The #1 Thing Keeping Binge Eaters Stuck
We all have handshake agreements with the universe that we will live our our best lives, this includes being able to live without lack and limitation.
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Using Anger as a Gateway to Your Power
Anger used to be one of the most uncomfortable emotions for me. I hated it because I felt powerless in […]
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I Stopped Drinking; So Why am I Still Such an Asshole?
I am going to do it differently, and return to the one thing I know has worked for me in the past; I am going to be vulnerable and publicly share my struggle.
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National Recovery Month: Current Trends in Substance Use and Mental Health
Looking at SAMHSA’s recently released data multiple anti-drug abuse initiatives, it’s clear addiction still has a grasp on society.
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How to Cultivate Goodness Through a Sober, Giving Life
With a growing number of mood and anxiety disorders, stress, narcissism, loneliness, intolerance, we need a resurgence of goodness like never before. As a genuine and thoughtful approval of others’ existence, goodness is manifested by countless forms of kind and selfless acts.
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The Lighthouse: What is the Purpose for Your Recovery?
Identifying a purpose for your recovery can help you stick with the process, no matter how difficult it becomes.
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Trauma and Addiction: 7 Reasons Your Habit Makes Perfect Sense
Addictions often help reduce the sensation of overwhelm that post-trauma changes create.
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Treating All of You: Hybrid Psychotherapy When You Have a Dual Diagnosis
“I was self-medicating my shame about leading a double life. I felt helpless, hopeless, out of control again with alcohol…”
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Are You Addicted to Chaos?
I often find my patients resisting letting go of the chaos and dysfunction that was part of their lives during their active addiction. Why?
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Love Yourself: The Great Compliment Experiment
I am here to tell you that criticizing yourself is not the yellow brick road to recovery. Praising yourself is.
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If Your Food Could Speak, What Would it Say?
Every time you sit down to eat ask yourself, (1) why am I choosing this food and (2) what do I hope this food will do for me?
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How to Parent Healthy Body Image and Why it Matters
Labeling someone fat doesn’t make her skinny – and in fact, it can do the opposite. So, what should parents do?
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I’m So Sorry: When Do Sex Addicts Really Mean It?
Real remorse and victim empathy can only happen when the addict has done enough self-exploration and acquired enough self-awareness to…
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How Culinary Entrepreneur Janie Deegan Found a Recipe For Success in Recovery
Janie Deegan was formally homeless, bouncing around from couch to government-funded treatment center. Today, she's an NYC-based culinary entrepreneur and baker. -
Visceral Intelligence: How to Hone This Skill for a Healthy Mind and Body
Visceral intelligence is the literal feeling that you get in your body that correlates with a decision you’re trying to make or an experience you […] -
Adolescent Sleep Deprivation and Risk-Taking Behaviors: Helping Teens Establish Healthy Sleep Habits
Sleep deprivation is a serious matter and it can adversely affect a teen’s life, but parents can help by being proactive. -
Learning to Control Your Relationship With Food
We must be willing to let our relationship with food and our body be somewhat fluid. And remember, food and alcohol recovery are different. -
The Benefits of Buddhist Mindfulness: My Interview with Pablo Das
I recently attended a workshop led by Pablo Das on trauma-informed Buddhist mindfulness; I have not felt that connected, understood, and part of something greater […] -
Fact vs. TV Fiction: What to Expect From a Real Intervention
Here's what experts had to say about signs that signify it's time to bring in a professional, what to expect, and how to prepare for […] -
Fears That Can Sabotage Recovery and How to Manage Them
Addressing fears in recovery is important because, despite being mere flights of imagination, fears have the power to derail many of your recovery efforts. -
Knitting Your Way to a Strong Recovery
Laurie Kimmelstiel teaches a monthly knitting class for people in recovery, pointing to studies that show people feel calmer and happier as a direct result […] -
Taking CBD in Recovery: Are You Still Sober?
I can’t help but be swayed by the positive experiences of those in recovery who benefit from the therapeutic use of CBD oil. -
Honest Self-Assessment: Are You Ready to Date in Recovery?
Attraction is a powerful force and human beings tend to do things that are not smart because of its magnetic pull. -
Dealing With a Toxic Coworker in Recovery? Here’s How to Manage…
We all know them – and many of us have worked with them. The toxic coworker. Whether they’re gossiping behind […] -
Community is Key to Overcoming Disordered Eating
Something that I learned over the course of my own struggle and through the work that I do now is that community is key to […] -
My Interview with Nadia Ghaffari: Meet the Amazing 18-Year-Old Founder of TeenzTalk
Nadia Ghaffari is the 18-year-old founder of TeenzTalk, a non-profit dedicated to supporting and empowering youth by harnessing peer-to-peer connections. -
Mindfulness: A Valuable Tool for Your Recovery Toolbox
What is mindfulness? The concept of mindfulness was popularized in 1979 as a stress reduction technique by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PH. […] -
Prepare U: The Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Health Curriculum for Students
Prepare U is a mental, emotional, and behavioral health curriculum designed to deliver the mental health tools necessary for students to navigate the complex challenges […] -
Recovery and Moving Up At Work: Am I Ready?
New jobs bring new responsibilities, team dynamics and added stress, so it's important to think through the decision before you make it. -
When Self-Help Hurts
Your focus should not be on “getting there.” Your focus should be on self-discovery and accepting and loving who you already are. -
How I Achieved Body Confidence in Recovery
Empowering myself to focus on health finally led me to achieve what I’d wanted all along: body confidence and self-worth. -
Recovery From Workaholic Syndrome
Studies show workaholism and the number of hours worked per week are moderately correlated, but a more relevant correlation is the motivation underlying workaholic behavioral […] -
My Diagnosis is Not an Excuse, It’s a Responsibility
If we want to be understood, we need to gently explain to the people we love most that we have an awareness of what is […] -
Your Ticket to Sober Travels
Vacations are wonderful times to let loose, immerse in a new culture and rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit. But what do you do if […] -
Reflecting on Dry January: Insight, Hindsight, and Clarity
There are too many “signs” and nuances of alcoholism to cover in one story, but as far as Dry January goes, a good place to […] -
Healing From Betrayal
Betrayal is one of life’s greatest challenges, so it can be one of life’s greatest teachers. -
8 Recovery-Friendly Resolutions That Are Actually Worth It This Year
Here are a few recovery-friendly resolutions you can use to make healthy changes at work, at home, or in your personal life. -
Self-Care for Loved Ones: The Antidote to Codependency
Letting addicts get away with manipulating us is an enabling stance on our part – and it results in their failure to thrive, almost without […] -
Trauma and Its Role in Addiction Recovery: An Interview With Jamie Marich
Whenever we see individuals coming back for multiple engagements in addiction treatment, we must examine whether or not their trauma was adequately treated. -
Alternative Therapies: Talking Endobiogenic Medicine With a Naturopathic Doctor
When someone has suffered from addiction, the entire system becomes dysregulated and the communication between various systems becomes imbalanced. -
How Addiction Can Interfere With Your Job Performance
One of the first areas people begin to notice being negatively affected by addiction is their fulfillment and performance at work. -
Is Our Perception of Self-Care Distorted?
Let’s start to give ourselves more credit for the everyday self-care we undertake, rather than trying to achieve the unrealistic. -
If Addiction Impacted Your Job Performance, Here’s How to Make it Right
Recovery brings integrity to your life. That integrity should dictate how you reconcile the past, how you go to work today, and your work efforts […] -
Self-Acceptance is Key to Overcoming Emotional Eating
When you accept yourself as you are, then you can heal your relationship with food and your body by coming from a place of honesty, […] -
Did AA Save My Life?
I used to credit AA for saving my life. But if you ask me today whether or not I still believe AA saved my life, […] -
New Year’s Recovery Resolutions That Work
Our intentions are certainly good, and we are serious about making positive changes. But sadly, simply resolving to make a change does not get the […] -
Alternative Therapies: Talking With an Experienced Intuitive About the Energetics of Addiction and Healing
In speaking with Sarah Renee, an experienced intuitive, I inquired about what she sees in people’s energy field while they are struggling with addiction or […] -
Making it to 2018: How to Help a Person Who OD’d or Drank Way Too Much
It can be hard to tell if someone has overdosed and even tougher to know what to do if you are certain they’re having a […] -
The Law of Attraction: Help for Addiction Recovery
I have come to realize that most people – myself included sometimes – generally go through their days from beginning […] -
Overcoming Addiction: My Journey From Prison to Practicing Lawyer and Advocate
I’m a lawyer and an entrepreneur, and I have an amazing life. It took a lot of work, pain, and discipline to get here, but […] -
Supporting an Addicted Friend or Family Member During the Holidays
For an addicted person, the pressures of the holiday season can cause long-dormant behaviors to re-emerge, as people often return to old habits during times […] -
Practicing the Art of Forgiveness
Recognizing the pain, shame, and guilt of what you’re holding onto is the first step toward self-forgiveness, and you are fully deserving of forgiveness and […] -
SAD: Let’s Talk About Seasonal Affective Disorder and Relapse
As with any form of depression - or any other mental illness for that matter - we often self-medicate with drugs and alcohol to overcome […] -
Setting and Keeping Boundaries
Boundary-setting is required when there is danger of someone overstepping the limits of acceptable behavior. And this can only occur if it is allowed. -
It’s Time: You Deserve to Raise Your Standards
Raising your standards is the first step to getting everything you want out of life, and it’s a step that you deserve to take. -
Music for Mental Fitness: Mood Control
Music therapy offers a way out of addiction into recovery, a pathway through an emotional continuum of mood music facilitated by a board-certified music therapist. -
Should You Smoke Weed With Your Kid – Even if They’re 18?
It’s probably safe to say that parents of both adult children and teenagers are trying to figure out how serious an offense it is or […] -
How Understanding Anger Revolutionizes Addiction Recovery
When we deny our anger, it doesn’t disappear. On the contrary, it creates havoc with everything from our immune systems to our emotional health. -
How Simple Journaling Can Help Recovery
Are you struggling with your recovery or feeling overwhelmed by your life? Do you find it impossible to sleep because your mind is filled with […] -
Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Dilemma of Addiction
Learning how to set and maintain self-respectful boundaries is the best thing families can do when dealing with an addicted person. -
I’m an In-Between Woman: The Trials and Tribulations of Being Sober and (Still) Crazy
At six years sober, I am both relieved and embarrassed to admit, I am almost as unpredictable now as I was after 10 shots of […] -
Feeling Stuck at Work After Treatment? 5 Ways to Get Back on Track
With your energy focused on recovery, you may not have had as much time to focus on your career – and that can be difficult. […] -
The Very Real Dangers of a Scarcity Mindset
Scarcity mindset can become pervasive and bleed into all of your actions and thoughts. Although we live in an abundant world, our society is rooted […] -
Perfectionism: The Thief of Joy
Shifting from perfectionism to a state of “loving what is” will be one of the most profound journeys of your life. -
The Evolution of Anonymity in 12 Step Fellowships: Does it Still Serve a Purpose?
Does the application of 12 Step anonymity have a place in the wider addiction recovery movement today, given our advocacy and need to fight the […] -
How Social Media Can Actually Improve Body Image
Researchers sought to explore if associating various images found on social media with hashtags and slogans promoting self-compassion would buffer women’s self-esteem and body image. -
Self-Help in Recovery: If It Sounds Too Good to Be True, It Is
Consider if self-help products are a quick fix fantasy or if they'd actually require you to go on a deep inward journey. If it sounds […] -
How Employers Can Create A Recovery-Friendly Workplace
Recovering individuals often bring a wealth of skills, talents and character to the workplace; they have the potential to benefit your entire company culture for […] -
Are We Stuck in Recovery Tunnel Vision and Missing the Wildflowers?
Maybe I need to stop looking for answers and live my life; truly breathe my existence in this world in and appreciate the wildflowers all […] -
Let’s Talk About Diffusing Defensive Communication
Defensive communication happens when a message triggers a sense of threat, and therefore defensiveness, on the part of the listener. -
Can’t Relate to AA? Here’s How to Choose the Right Resources For Your Recovery
There is no "right way" to recover. The truth of the matter is the "right way" is the way that works for you. -
The Secret to Stopping Addiction in Your Family – Forever
My choice to remain in recovery is entirely up to me and no one else. The moment I decide to stop practicing holistically healthy self-care […] -
How the Values of Recovery Can Transform the Way You Lead
Merging the principles of recovery with the art of leadership can lead to a unique intersection of wisdom and encouragement that can lead to greater […] -
Why Your Teen May Think Pot is No Big Deal
With nearly 60 percent of high school seniors reporting marijuana is safe, it is evident they don’t fully understand the repercussions of the drug. -
The Road to Enlightenment: A Revealing Interview With Noah Levine (Part II)
Noah Levine created a Buddhist approach to addiction recovery called Refuge Recovery, a program that includes peer-lead meetings and a professional treatment center. -
Opioid Abuse: A Crisis and a Challenge
Every day, more than 90 Americans die after overdosing on opioids, a total of 33,000 lives lost to this drug in 2015 alone. -
The Road to Enlightenment: A Revealing Interview With Noah Levine (Part I)
This is part one of a fascinating interview with Noah Levine where we discuss his journey into recovery, Buddhism, the 12-steps and Refuge Recovery. -
Why Changing Your Habits Will Never Bring Lasting Results
It is only by altering our beliefs that we can find lasting change - the kind that brings real results and real happiness. -
Music Powers Potential: Good, Bad and Ugly
As we use music daily, we could be actively influencing all parts of our lives. Songs may describe life and grow to be life’s soundtrack. -
Why Healing Underlying Core Issues is Key to Addiction Recovery
Mental-level work helps people notice their automatic negative thoughts and then change their thought patterns - and ultimately, their behaviors - for the better. -
Stressed on the Job? 5 Ways to Combat Workplace Stress With Healthy Recovery
As you work to implement healthy practices that keep your recovery strong, be mindful of your stress tolerance and how your job may play a […] -
Stopping Addiction in the Family: Welcome to the “Blame-Shame-Game”
As the loved one of an addict, will you be the one to stop this disturbing game in its tracks? Will you care enough to […] -
Tapping Your Way to Emotional Freedom in Recovery: An Interview With Veronica Valli
Believing as passionately as I do about EFT, I spoke to Veronica about how EFT can be used for the unique challenges those in addiction […] -
See Yourself Successful; Talk Yourself Into It: Using Visualizations and Affirmations to Support Recovery
There are coping tools that can capitalize on the brain's self-regulating and self-healing capacity - visualizations and affirmations are two such tools. -
Healing the Rejected Self
If you have suffered from an addiction or eating disorder, your inner-critic has been hard at work, inadvertently trying to help you cover up what […] -
My 30-Day Diary of Refuge Recovery Meditation – Part II
These 30 days have been wonderful. I feel more present, have greater mental clarity, and feel more poised. -
Simple Things You Can Do to Feel Better Every Day
While engaging in your recovery work, it is important that you take proactive steps every day to help yourself feel better – physically, mentally, emotionally […] -
The Vulnerability of Being Alive
To truly brave the weather of our inner landscape and navigate the sea of worldly affairs, we are asked to be willing to let others […] -
My 30-Day Diary of Refuge Recovery Meditation (Part I)
I created a 30-day Refuge Recovery journal to share my revelations, breakthroughs, and struggles with you. -
10 Things You Need to Know About Dual Diagnosis Treatment
If we can treat those underlying core issues - addressing what's causing the depression, anxiety, self-loathing, and so forth - there’s no need to self-medicate […] -
The Dark Side of Your Spiritual Practice
Believe it or not, all those “enlightened” activities - the meditation, yoga, journaling, etc. - can sometimes be used as distractions. -
Family Addiction: Transformation and Healing Are Possible
The change began when they finally reached out for help for themselves – that’s when they started to see their family heal and transform. -
Interview With Nikki Myers, Founder of Y12SR
Nikki Myers - yoga therapist, teacher, somatic experiencing practitioner and founder of CITYOGA School of Yoga and Health - launched Yoga of 12-Step Recovery in […] -
Help From Your Higher Self: How Spirituality and Life Purpose Aid Recovery
Having a perspective of spirituality and a mindset focused on meaning and purpose plays such an important role in sustaining recovery. -
Disordered Eating: Let’s Talk About Men for a Minute
Because of the widespread belief that eating disorders are for females only, the signs are often missed in men. -
Why Your Workplace Should Support Substance Abuse Treatment
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) serve a variety of mental health and social needs, but they mainly support employees who need help with substance abuse issues. -
A New Slant on Addiction: A Twisted Form of Self-Care?
When we can try to understand what is really behind the decision to be in active addiction of any kind, it might give us some […] -
What Does Self-Love Actually Look Like?
Contrary to how it’s frequently thought of, self-love is not something we have or don’t have. It is something we do. Self-love is a verb. […] -
How Not Living in Your Body Creates Loneliness
The women in my community who were experiencing high levels of loneliness were the women who were most disconnected from their bodies. -
How a Spiritual Bypass Can Derail Recovery
A person who is in a spiritual bypass has a strong spiritual practice that directs their life, but they repress their true emotions and authenticity. -
Dual Diagnosis and Co-Occurring Conditions
The most common mental illness diagnoses that accompany a diagnosis of substance abuse include depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. -
Reclaiming the Feminine in Recovery
Women, each of us, have to decide what we believe about our own selves before we can ever expect anyone else to really see us. […] -
Sex and Codependents: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
We all benefit when we collectively start to support one another by saying no to sexual bullies. The first step is to say no when […] -
Experts Weigh-In on the Dangers of an Adolescent’s First Toke
A 10-year study is set to track the effects of trying marijuana. Instead of waiting, experts weigh-in to see if we might be able to […] -
Common Sense Tools for the Friend of Someone Who is Brainwashed!
Very smart, educated, healthy people can, for some unknown, reason come under the spell of opportunistic, toxic, and insecure people. -
Learning to Trust Your Intuition in Recovery
Among the feelings that come back in recovery lies intuition - the “gut feelings” that are beyond wise if we simply heed their guidance. -
Common Sense Ways to Stay Friends With a Victim
We often struggle with what to say to victims, how much time to spend with them, and how to continue being their friend. -
Are You Addicted to Overthinking?
Just like addiction to substances causes a person to become consumed with fear, worry, and doubt, overthinking creates a sense of being bound to suffering. -
Self-Care vs. Codependency: Exploding the Myths about People-Pleasing
Remember that you really are not supposed to be all things to all people and that everyone has their own journey. -
Mind Your Mind: The Impact of Thoughts on Our Recovery From Addiction
Whether or not you believe in the Law of Attraction, it still exists and is at play in all of our lives every minute of […] -
The Healing Power of Dance Movement Therapy
Dance Movement Therapy is a technique helps the body communicate and release its innermost thoughts and emotions. -
Cultivating Your Own Recovery and Spirituality
Your spiritual connection is a way to get out of the driver seat, and listen to something that is actually bigger than the addictive voice […] -
A Story of Transformation: From Addiction and Eating Disorders to Health and Wellness Coach
Five years ago, my reality was a life rife with addiction, a life-long eating disorder, and cripplingly low self-esteem. -
You Have to Believe Choice Can End Suffering
You have the power to choose: will you decide to live in happiness or will you simply exist in misery? -
Valentine’s Day in Recovery: What Will Yours Be Like?
Don't buy into the misguided belief that you're nobody until somebody else loves you! Why not learn to love yourself first? -
Addiction, Recovery, and Responsibility: Is It My Door to Open?
Have you ever tried to force something to go differently, whether it’s a particular situation or a relationship that you know deep down is just […] -
Dealing With Internal Losses
Internal losses are the reduction or disappearance of those inner qualities and feelings that drive how we feel about ourselves, how we engage others, and […] -
His Beautiful Death
While my mother recovered in ICU, I brought her a photo of my puppy, a tiny pug named Maximus. Her face lit up in a […] -
3 Signs That Your Loved One Is Suffering from Disordered Eating
In a world where dieting and the need to be skinny is openly talked about, we never know what is beneath the behaviors. -
4 Recovery Lessons to Bring to Your Career in 2017
A thorough examination of your skills, goals and ambitions will help you achieve a year of effective career building, business growth, and a healthy recovery. -
Recovery Growth: 4 Character Traits That Foster Change
How many times have you told yourself that you were going to stop a behavior, only to find yourself back […] -
It’s 2017: The Year of Living… Happily?
Am I really saying that we can be “happy” in this coming year? Yes, we can - if we choose to be. -
Codependency and Narcissists: What Could Possibly Go Wrong? (Part I)
The focus of wanting approval may keep us from acknowledging abusive behaviors coming from the very person whose approval we seek. -
How the Skills You Developed in Recovery Can Help You in Your Career
Not everything about your past should be forgotten; your past self and the journey you experienced along the way made you the person you are […] -
Internet Addiction: Spending Too Much Time Online…and Much, Much More
Between the use of the Internet via our computers and our cell phones and tablets, many of us dedicate an extraordinary amount of our free […] -
How Logic Without Integration Will Create Chaos
True integration takes a lot of moment-to-moment awareness. We must be careful not to keep reinforcing old patterns we've learned along the way. -
The Root of Eating Disorders
Let’s take a look at some commonly overlooked root causes this disorder - let’s help society better understand what is really going on here. -
Abundance Has Never Been in Short Supply
It took a while for me to see abundance in my life, but I finally did. I hope this story, my story, helps you […] -
You Can’t Hate Something You Want to Heal
Why do we use fear, doubt and hatred to encourage the process of physical change? This process is not only extremely difficult, it isn’t sustainable. -
Codependency and Contentious Times (Part II)
Let’s all be better people, vibrate at a higher level if you relate to the spiritual discourse, and make our world a place where we […] -
3 Sure-Fire Strategies for a Chaos-Free Holiday Season
The Holiday Season is upon us once more. (Wasn’t it just Halloween a few days ago?) This is definitely a time of year that evokes […] -
Avoid Holiday Blues and Post-Holiday Letdown
Not all of us experience the holiday spirit. While everyone else is seemingly experiencing peace and joy, you may be feeling down, depressed and irritable. -
Codependency and Contentious Times – Part I
If we grew up in contentious families where we experienced lots of fighting, this time in our country can bring back memories. -
Get Real: FDA “Tripping” On Trial to Treat PTSD With Ecstasy
the whole basis for sobriety and recovery is to be able to find inner peace and function without reaching for something outside of ourselves. -
The Unspoken Links Between Sexual Trauma and Binge Eating
The weight of this pain isn’t just emotional, it’s also physical. The work starts as soon as we can voice the pain, speak to it […] -
Top 3 Substances Students Use to Aid in Studying
Each waking minute is met with a plea for energy, improved focus and concentration. When coffee doesn’t produce the desired study effect, students may turn […] -
Intertwining Food and Substance Abuse Issues
If you are someone who is struggling with food, I invite you to think of it as a feedback mechanism. It shows you when […] -
The Ultimate Guide to Behavioral Filters
The consequences of allowing our behavior to “just happen,” can be that our lives and our relationships are inconsistent, at best, and a train wreck […] -
‘Time’ is No Longer an Excuse Not to Meditate
The resistance and excuse I receive more than anything else for not taking on the life altering practice of meditation is “I’m too busy.” -
Why ‘Hating Yourself Happy’ is a Broken Model
Often, we completely disregard the lessons and teachings so beautifully hidden within the so-called ‘bad’ emotions we are experiencing. -
Codependent or Loving? Part II
Bravery, love and trust are three important keys to breaking out of a toxic, codependent way of living. -
Riding the Wave of Disappointment: Beware of the Bear!
People who have trouble dealing with the inevitable disappointments in life tend to experience the most disappointment with themselves. -
Codependent or Loving? Part I
Individuals and families who operate from love, not codependency, have the courage to be honest with one another. -
Spotlight on Crisis Text Line
Trained counselors at The Crisis Textline support millions of young people who find themselves facing some of their toughest, darkest, and most dangerous moments. -
How Body Shaming Keeps You Overweight, Plus 3 Unconventional Ways to Release That Weight
When we deprive ourselves of love, compassion, empathy or basic nurturing, we need to meet that need. Food, for most people, is the easiest place […] -
Coping With Depression in Chronic Pain Management
Depression is the number one psychological disorder that causes the biggest problems for the most people living with chronic pain - and it often gets […] -
Boundaries for the Sensitive Soul
The need for healthy boundaries is often emphasized in recovery. Little by little, people learn to become more assertive, speak […] -
Is it a Reason or an Excuse? Maintaining Your Self-Respect in the Face of Life’s Challenges
Have you ever used a reason as an excuse for not doing something? If so, you’re definitely not alone! -
Why is Giving Up People Pleasing So Difficult?
The thought of giving up “being the nice guy” can be so overwhelming and paralyzing that we put our heads in the sand. -
What’s Shame Got to Do With It? Successful Recovery From Addictive Behaviors
“I’m not enough” and “I’m not worthy” are perhaps the biggest shame pieces that catapult people into addiction in the first place. -
The Underbelly of Being Nice
If nice is “the right way” or “good,” does it mean I am wrong or bad if I am not nice? If I have been […] -
Dreams in Recovery: “Using” and Relapse Dreams – What Do They Mean?
Why do relapse dreams and using dreams occur? And how do they affect recovery? -
The #1 Thing Keeping Binge Eaters Stuck
We all have handshake agreements with the universe that we will live our our best lives, this includes being able to live without lack and […] -
Using Anger as a Gateway to Your Power
Anger used to be one of the most uncomfortable emotions for me. I hated it because I felt powerless in […] -
Developing Resilience and Mentally Strong Habits: Do’s and Don’ts
How well do you stand up to adversity? When times are tough and setbacks occur, what is your reaction? Do […] -
Authenticity vs. Attachment: Which One Will You Choose?
When people are faced with the choice of either attachment or authenticity in their relationships, most choose attachment first, seeking approval and recognition from others […] -
Young People are Especially Vulnerable to Misdiagnosis When They Have PTSD
Few people know that there were direct child survivors of 9/11, and I am looking to change that…because I am […] -
How Perfectionism Spun Me Into an Eating Disorder
The innate perfectionism that was ingrained in me needed somewhere to live, so it decided to manifest itself into my relationship with food. -
Battered Woman Syndrome
In the US, 50-80% of women who are victims of physical assault report a domestic partner is the perpetrator; with nearly 2 million women experiencing […] -
Recovery With a Capital R!
It is imperative that you view Recovery as Active, Alive, Constantly Changing, a Verb, and something you never take for granted. -
3 Things Doctors Don’t Tell You About Binge Eating
Within our modern medical system, unless doctors have a specific awareness, they often give advice that perpetuates the issue. -
Normalizing the Grieving Process
Learning to deal with pain is not easy, but learning to make a conscious choice to stay open, rather than shut down, makes the process […] -
Cues and Cravings: How Science Can Help You Break the Link
Science may be inching closer to the truth about cues and cravings - a truth that might help set addicts free from the grip of […] -
Suicide: Thoughts and Questions
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one’s own death and while that sounds straight-forward, it is anything but. -
The Crucial Role of Stress in Chronic Pain Management
Learning how to manage your stress is an integral part of chronic pain management. -
Spotlight on Emotions and Your Health – Part I
Traumatic emotions that are left unaddressed can come back to haunt our health and overall well-being. -
Making Peace With Pain – Part IV
In order to move forward and manage our pain, treatment must address the whole person. -
The Insidious Killer in Recovery!
How does the lack of a developing a backbone impact your recovery process? -
Parents With Kids in the Throes of an Emotional Crisis Don’t Need to Feel Alone
There aren't enough resources available for parents looking to help a child struggling with mental health issues. -
Making Peace With Pain – Part III
Are you prepared to stop making chronic pain the enemy, choosing instead to make it your friend? -
Making Peace With Pain – Part II
Finding Meaning and Purpose In this section, I want to demonstrate how I – and many others- faced the painful […] -
Unblurring the Lines: Managing Transference Surrounding Sexual Assault
Our healing moments of clarity come only when we learn how to be patient, gentle and kind with ourselves. -
Self-Empowerment, Relationships and Recovery
Early recovery can be an emotional roller coaster, with moods swinging between pleasant and unpleasant. -
Spotlight on Ethical Communication
How does ethical communication impact your everyday life? -
A Glimpse Into the Unhealthy Habits of Exaholics
Once a relationship goes sour and self-care becomes a priority, it's time to turn off the brain’s stimulation for your ex. -
Un-blurring the Lines: Managing Transference Surrounding Sexual Assault
While our sexual abuse stories tend to have similar themes, it's important to remember that every victim has his or her own unique experiences. […] -
The Spiritual Warrior: A Life Without Armor Part II
There Always Comes a Time to Shed Our Armor For the people I have worked with over the years, it […] -
The Perils of Perfection
Once you recognize perfectionism is trait working against your highest good, unlearning those unhealthy tendencies becomes vital. -
Who’s in Charge: You or Your Addiction?
You are an addict. You are physically and/or psychologically enslaved to the use of a substance or a behavior that […] -
Are You Addicted to Love?
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, painful relationship situations become increasingly hard to deal with...especially if you are addicted to love. -
How Your Subconscious Mind Prepares You For Painful Life Experiences
By working with the subconscious mind, you can better prepare yourself to process and deal with painful life events. -
Surviving the Hunger Games: What Recovery Can Teach Us About Weight Loss
If what we resist persists, then fighting against weight, eating habits or body image has the ability to hold us hostage in a stagnant, unhappy […] -
Dealing with Shopping Addiction During the Holidays
The holiday season goes hand-in-hand with gift-giving and shopping, making this time of the year an especially risky time. -
I Stopped Drinking; So Why am I Still Such an Asshole?
I am going to do it differently, and return to the one thing I know has worked for me in the past; I am going […] -
Buzzed at Work: The Effects of Alcohol and Drug Use on Workplace Performance
It's not only dangerous to drink on the job, you're also subjecting yourself to a much greater risk for accident and injury. -
National Recovery Month: Current Trends in Substance Use and Mental Health
Looking at SAMHSA's recently released data multiple anti-drug abuse initiatives, it's clear addiction still has a grasp on society. -
Surviving Suicide: The Difference Between Being Spared or Being Saved
How can suicidal thoughts and the pressure to perform negatively impact your life? -
What Role does Your Biological Clock Play in Recovery?
Reliable data shows that a disruption of your internal clock and normal sleep patterns can also serve as the catalyst for several different mood disorders. -
What’s The Problem with Mania?
It’s hard for people to give up the manic cycle. And who says they should? -
How to Cultivate Goodness Through a Sober, Giving Life
With a growing number of mood and anxiety disorders, stress, narcissism, loneliness, intolerance, we need a resurgence of goodness like never before. As a genuine […] -
Use the 12 Traditions to Improve Your Relationships
Do I focus on my partner’s defects to feel better about myself, and to avoid seeing and changing my own defects? -
The Lighthouse: What is the Purpose for Your Recovery?
Identifying a purpose for your recovery can help you stick with the process, no matter how difficult it becomes. -
Trauma and Addiction: 7 Reasons Your Habit Makes Perfect Sense
Addictions often help reduce the sensation of overwhelm that post-trauma changes create. -
Treating All of You: Hybrid Psychotherapy When You Have a Dual Diagnosis
"I was self-medicating my shame about leading a double life. I felt helpless, hopeless, out of control again with alcohol..." -
Eating Disorders and Pregnancy: Does Your Body Feel Like a Wonderland?
Women with eating disorders have higher rates of postpartum depression and are more likely to have problems breastfeeding. -
The 3 Phases of Erotic Recovery After Infidelity
After an affair, your well-meaning family and friends may tell you things like, “once a cheater, always a cheater.” -
Are You Addicted to Chaos?
I often find my patients resisting letting go of the chaos and dysfunction that was part of their lives during their active addiction. Why? -
Why You Should Rethink Your Holiday Detox Diet
Seeking refuge in the “diet” of your choice fails to address the underlying issues which may have driven the overeating to begin with. -
Deeply Wounded: Understanding Teens Who Self-Harm
Tears fall in the dark and sniffles echo in an empty room. Dark thoughts penetrate her mind. The blade lies close by... -
Is DBT Effective for Treatment of Eating Disorders?
Dialectical-behavioral therapy is a problem-solving, but accepting approach – one that helps patients change, while accepting them for who they are. -
Love Yourself: The Great Compliment Experiment
I am here to tell you that criticizing yourself is not the yellow brick road to recovery. Praising yourself is. -
Exercise Addiction: Pushing the Limits of Healthy Behavior
Does missing a scheduled workout land you in a sea of negative emotions? Do you refuse to take days off from exercise, even when injured? -
If Your Food Could Speak, What Would it Say?
Every time you sit down to eat ask yourself, (1) why am I choosing this food and (2) what do I hope this food will […] -
Weight Stigma and Binge Eating: What’s the Connection?
Weight bias is an unfortunate byproduct suffered by many who struggle with binge eating disorder. So, what can you do to fight weight bias? -
Why is Boredom a Threat to Recovery?
If you’re creative, you’re likely to find boredom unbearable. That dreadful feeling can be a trigger for drug and alcohol use. -
Bodies, Binges and Your Ego’s Big Lie
If change comes from a place of self loathing—from the fear driven voice of the ego—it reinforces the idea that you are not good enough. -
How to Parent Healthy Body Image and Why it Matters
Labeling someone fat doesn’t make her skinny – and in fact, it can do the opposite. So, what should parents do? -
I’m So Sorry: When Do Sex Addicts Really Mean It?
Real remorse and victim empathy can only happen when the addict has done enough self-exploration and acquired enough self-awareness to...
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