Psychodrama Psychodrama allows complexes and conflicts to be concretized by casting group members to play roles from the life of the protagonist. It allows the protagonist to have a physical “encounter” with the self; to see and experience what he carries within his mind and body, so that it can be made explicit, concrete and [...]

The Betty Ford Children’s Program serves such a richly diverse group of families hurt by alcoholism and other drug addiction. Many of our courageous children live in homes where that cunning, powerful and baffling disease is still active. Others come from families where their loved one is currently in treatment somewhere in the United States. [...]

I’m writing this for people who are living with someone — or care for someone — who is suffering with a chronic pain condition, and they are having a hard time coping because they’re not sure how to help. Unless someone’s been in your place, they have no idea how challenging this can really be. [...]

March 13, 1993: In the darkness of my bedroom I could hear my phone ringing. I reached for my glasses and stared at the clock. It was just after 7 a.m., but somehow it seemed so dark in the room. I grabbed the phone and answered in my most professional voice. In response came a [...]

Author’s note: I believe this topic has huge implications for putting the “lies of addicts” into a proper perspective. This explains how neuroscience and behavioral economics are showing much of the “dishonesty” that we complain about with addicts is overdone and inflated based on these fundamental brain errors: I remember being a student at Notre [...]

In the world of addictions, most of us are well-versed in the usual suspects: alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, prescription medications. We recognize the signs and symptoms, can create a comprehensive treatment plan and support a client in the detox process, and even in the case of relapse. Yet sugar addiction still flies largely under the [...]

Even for mental health professionals, it’s a puzzle to determine what draws people to addiction and how to tell when they are engaging in addictive behavior. What I’ve found in my own practice and research is that all addictive behaviors have two things in common: (1) they help people cut off painful feelings; and (2) [...]

The translating of emotion into words is both illuminating and healing. It allows us to label what we’re feeling so that we can use our logical thinking to process and understand it. It allows us to witness the contents of our mind and heart as they pour out onto the paper. It helps the right [...]

I had a wonderful experience recently when I attended Camp Mariposa (butterfly in Spanish), a camp for children ages 9-12 affected by addiction in the family. A few years ago I was approached by Karen and Jamie Moyer (he, a professional baseball player) about their foundation whose mission is focused on children in need. The [...]

Anyone who has worked with people with addictions and particularly challenging mental health issues, such as eating disorders – if he or she is being honest – will tell you that frustration is a familiar companion on the journey to recovery…or relapse, as the case may often be. This frustration arises when you and your [...]