The Connection Between Codependency and Addiction
Updated on 04/09/24 Content reviewed by Christian Losch, LCSW, LCADC Substance use and related disorders often contribute to chaotic life circumstances. When addiction begins to take over an individual’s life, it may be only a matter of time before their interpersonal relationships are negatively affected. Although the consequences may seem mild at first, the more […]
Early October: Mental Illness Awareness Week
Early October: Mental Illness Awareness Week Content reviewed by Karen Rubenstein, LMFT, Chief Clinical Officer at Cliffside Malibu Every year, millions of individuals are affected by mental health conditions. While many people experience mental illness directly, others experience it indirectly through family members, friends, coworkers and other loved ones. Despite the prevalence of mental illness, […]
The 4 C’s of Addiction: Control, Compulsions, Cravings and Consequences
The 4 C’s of Addiction: Control, Compulsions, Cravings and Consequences Content reviewed by Karen Rubenstein, LMFT, Chief Clinical Officer at Cliffside Malibu Contrary to many outdated stereotypes rooted in ignorance and prejudice, addiction does not result from moral weakness or lack of willpower. Addiction is a chronic and compulsive brain condition that interferes with how […]
Why Individualized Treatment Is Essential for Successful Recovery
Content reviewed by Christian Losch, LCSW, LCADC, CEO of Pinelands No two people share the exact same experience regarding mental health and addiction. Mental health and substance use disorders develop from many underlying causes and risk factors. Similarly, every person that experiences these conditions has a unique set of symptoms that range in intensity and […]
How to Effectively Trial New Medication
Being prescribed a new medication to manage your mental health symptoms can surface many emotions. If this is the first time you have been prescribed medication, you may feel excited as you hope to experience relief from your symptoms. On the other hand, you may feel overwhelmed as you try and welcome this new medication […]
What Are Self-Destructive Behaviors?
Content reviewed by Christian Losch, LCSW, LCADC, CEO of Pinelands Each of us has a unique way of coping with distress in our lives. More often than not, many people fall into the trap of self-destruction as they try and establish a proper coping mechanism for navigating adversity. Substance use is one of these paths […]
The Benefits of Acupuncture in Healing
The Benefits of Acupuncture in Healing Holistic therapy is a comprehensive model of care that aims to treat the whole person rather than solely treating a specific symptom or diagnosis. Holistic treatment approaches acknowledge all of the factors that play into an individual’s health and well-being, including, but not limited to: Biological Social Psychological Spiritual […]
The Benefits of Gender-Specific Treatment Programs
Content reviewed by Nicholas G. Glines Gender-specific treatment programs refer to programs designed to treat men and women separately. These programs recognize that fundamental social, cultural and biological differences between men and women influence the development of substance use disorders and perpetuate substance use. Gender-specific programs hold many benefits for short-term treatment outcomes and long-term […]
How Can I Prevent Addiction in My Child’s Life?
Content reviewed by Christian Losch, LCSW, LCADC, CEO of Pinelands As a parent in recovery, it is natural to worry about preventing addiction in your child. While there is no guaranteed way to prevent addiction, there are a couple of protective factors that you can implement in your child’s life to reduce risk factors of […]
How to Set Realistic and Achievable Goals for Addiction Recovery
Content reviewed by Christian Losch, LCSW, LCADC, CEO of Pinelands Updated on 12/13/2022 SAMHSA explains that the definition of recovery from mental health and substance use disorders is constantly changing; in other words, it is a working definition. It defines recovery as a process of change where individuals strive to live a more self-directed life, […]