Addictions

We recognize that there are many stages of addiction recovery and that each stage needs multi-therapeutic approaches incorporating the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual health. Regardless of the stage of recovery that an individual requests help within our practice, an intensive evaluation is conducted and appropriate referrals are made to the community. We are firm believers in the support and life style changes of a strong 12-step program. Many people find health and recovery in their 12-step program or community support. Others need additional assistance at varying stages of their recovery process.

Over the years, we have seen that there is a high rate of relapse between nine and fourteen months in the recovery process. Three issues appear to be primary in the relapse process. At the beginning of the addictive process emotional development stops. Due to the nature of addictions many individuals have grown up in addictive or dysfunctional homes. Once the addictive behavior stops, shortly afterwards feelings associated with childhood tend to emerge. Frequently, people have difficulty with their relationship to spirituality. Regardless of their specific belief system, belief is a needed component of recovery. It becomes especially important to consider these issues as part of a relapse prevention program. These issues are not always resolved in the context of a group setting and need individual treatment.

In the past, many of the 12-step programs and others viewed any medication in the treatment of addictions as an unnecessary crutch. Nowadays the thinking has changed. Selected medications may have a place in treating addicts and dually diagnosed patients (those with addiction plus some other psychiatric disorder).

Referals are made to qualified psychiatrists when medication appears to be an appropriate adjunct to therapy. 

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