Topic: family

It was as if he were speaking my story- different people, same ending.

Families often think it’s the addict or alcoholic’s emotions that need to be overcome to succeed. But in fact, we need to start by dealing with our own feelings.

It’s difficult, perhaps impossible, for them to fully separate the behavior from the person. So in recovery, they may cling to resentments from the distant past.

if some members of your team have become hesitant, mired in doubt, lost their motivation– then you want the professional with you.

Many addicts think they can control their drinking. While they may be able to stop, simply quitting is different from a lasting, internal change.

This is really about a continuous process of change. The unifying force is the addict’s subjective experience.

Many good interveners—including some excellent professional intervention counselors—started out as primary enablers.

The same people whose “enabling” actions allow the disease to flourish— and who may feel helpless to confront it— are the ones who can be most effective as interveners.

They don’t realize how effectively their actions are undermining their own goal: getting the addict into treatment.

By the time a client lands in treatment, it may be hard to tell whether their family relationships offer a potential asset or a problem set to address.