Addiction

Addictions

March 3, 2017February 8, 2023 Addiction, Boundaries, Parentified Children, Recovery, Relationships, Self Esteem, Therapy

“The new Tesla goes from 0 to 100 in 2.5 seconds. The only thing faster than that is a co-dependent who goes from 0 to “dead-in-a-ditch” in one second flat!” ... Read more

Recovery and the Family

February 24, 2017February 8, 2023 12 Step, Addiction, Attachment, Love, Parentified Children, Recovery, Relationships, Therapy

“If the addict is pleased with your help, you are probably enabling… If the addict is pissed as hell, you are probably helping!” Sandy Swenson Addiction has an impact on ... Read more

Where do I end and you begin?

January 27, 2017February 8, 2023 12 Step, Addiction, Attachment, Boundaries, Couples, Love, Parentified Children

One of the most difficult challenges when working with couples and families (especially addicts/alcoholics and those who love them) is helping them understand healthy boundaries. It seems counterintuitive, but the ... Read more

Addiction, Denial, and Self Care

November 11, 2015February 8, 2023 12 Step, Addiction, Attachment, Boundaries, Love, Recovery, Relationships, Self Care, Self Esteem, Therapy, Wellness

“Self-care is never a selfish act – it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we ... Read more

The Rooms of our Life

May 29, 2015March 2, 2023 Addiction, Attachment, Love, Pastoral counselling, Recovery, Relationships, Self Esteem, Spirituality, Therapy, Wellness

There is an Indian proverb or axiom that says that everyone is a house with four rooms, a physical, a mental, an emotional, and a spiritual. Most of us tend ... Read more

Resentments

March 7, 2015February 8, 2023 12 Step, Attachment, Boundaries, Couples, EFT - Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Love, Recovery, Relationships, Spirituality

There is a quotation from the actor Carrie Fisher that I am sure she picked up in the rooms of AA that says, “Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting ... Read more

Lessons from the “Three Little Pigs”

July 22, 2014February 8, 2023 Addiction, Attachment, Boundaries, Couples, Parentified Children, Recovery, Relationships, Self Esteem, Therapy

We all know the story of the “Three Little Pigs.” The story begins with the title characters being sent out into the world by their mother, to “seek out their ... Read more

Step 3: Who is “driving the bus?”

June 18, 2014February 8, 2023 12 Step, Addiction, Attachment, Love, Parentified Children, Recovery, Spirituality, Therapy

Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood God Step 3, Alcoholics Anonymous Who is “driving the bus?” Step ... Read more

AA, Recovery, and a Higher Power

February 23, 2014February 8, 2023 Addiction, Church, Pastoral counselling, Recovery, Religion, Self Esteem, Spirituality

I have been reflecting on AA and the Higher Power… So much of the resistance to AA and other fellowships seems to come because of the instance that the alcoholic ... Read more

The Impostor Syndrome

February 7, 2014February 8, 2023 Addiction, Impostor syndrome, Parentified Children, Self Esteem, Therapy

Don’t be fooled by me. Don’t be fooled by the face I wear For I wear a mask, a thousand masks, Masks that I’m afraid to take off And none ... Read more