From early in life, women are taught to hold themselves and other women to unrealistic and unhealthy standards that are not often placed on their male counterparts. They are told to value women for their appearance rather than their contributions, for their passivity rather than their strength, for their silence rather than their resilience. Change begins when these societal constructs are challenged. Women play a tremendous role in the lives of their sons, husbands, fathers, brothers, etc. In order to see change in the status of women in our society, women must empower the men in their lives to be respectful, encouraging, and loving towards all women. Collaboration between strong men and women to empower others to strive for personal growth will contribute to societal change.
Therapy can be an effective tool to instill positive change and encourage growth individually and within relationships. Examining one’s values and biases and exploring events in one’s life that have led to these can help to highlight areas in which you wish to grow and develop. Change can be achieved - on an individual and societal level - if there is a desire and an effort to do so. Please contact me for more information about the process of individual therapy.
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Abstaining from the use of drugs, alcohol, or any other physically addictive substance or behavior is a feat in and of itself. Many try to tackle this by “white-knuckling” or by relying on pure avoidance of people, places, or situations that may entice them to engage in their addiction. The mere “giving up” of a substance is only one component of sobriety and personal recovery. Acknowledging that there are intense and oftentimes seductive emotions underlying the cycle of addiction is key to achieving and maintaining an effective personal recovery program.
Emotional sobriety is respecting and allowing yourself to experience your emotions, rather than mask, ignore, or deny them. This means taking responsibility for your emotions by learning how to identify your feelings then cope with them in a healthy manner. Most people who experience addiction are adept at using drugs and alcohol as a means to avoid, deny, or alter their feelings. Take away the substance, and you’re left with very painful and raw feelings. These feelings can become overwhelming to a person who has little to no experience tolerating such negative emotions and can place a person at risk of relapse. Tolerate negative feelings. Individual therapy is a way in which a person can work to achieve and maintain emotional sobriety. By gaining a better awareness of your personal identify, you can begin to identify and better understand feelings as they occur in the moment. A therapist can support you as you begin to tolerate your negative emotions and accept the positive feelings. Please contact me for more information about the process of individual therapy. How couples can learn and support each other through communication and understanding, establishing appropriate boundaries, and healing from the impact of addiction and recovery.
Lies. Secrets, Resentment. These are issues you may be familiar with if addiction affects your relationship. Whether your partner is an addict, or you’re dealing with a substance abuse problem yourself, addiction can be one of the most challenging situations for a couple to endure. Exploring your role in your relationship and finding the courage to be honest with yourself and your loved one may prove to be difficult, but will allow for more support and understanding for both partners. When dealing with addiction, it is often tempting to point the finger at the other person; however, taking personal responsibility for how we may be participating in the cycle of addiction is crucial. Codependent behaviors are often engaged in without one being fully conscious that they are in fact participating. Individual therapy is an effective way to identify codependent behaviors and gain insight into what is driving our participation in the cycle of addiction. When addiction dampens a couple’s ability to experience happiness, contentment, and even safety in a relationship, establishing and respecting personal boundaries is essential. A recovery program inclusive of individual and/or couples therapy and support groups such as AA, Al Anon, and ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) can foster self-discovery and enhance your ability to make personal changes to positively impact your relationship, and ultimately your well-being. Utilizing these tools to establish healthy boundaries, limit codependent behavior, and practice effective communication is likely to lead to a more supportive and fulfilling relationship with your loved one. Please contact me for more information about the process of individual and/or couples therapy. When you find yourself, as many of us have, facing a situation in which a close friend or family member is caught in the throes of addiction: engage in self-care. Yes, the first person you need to consider is yourself; after all, you will be of little use to another if you are floundering. Self-care can take many shapes and forms, but in the world of addiction, it often includes a recovery program of individual therapy and/or support groups such as Al Anon, ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics), or group therapy.
Many friends and family members of addicts are aware of the benefits of recovery programs for those challenged with substance abuse issues, but are surprised to hear that they, too, will benefit from their own recovery program. When a loved one is affected by addiction, we have to explore how it affects us and how we may be participating in the cycle of addiction. Individual therapy is an effective way to explore our relationship with addiction. Your loved one will likely require the assistance in the form of a personalized recovery program, inclusive of psychotherapy, life skills training, and 12 step programming. You too, may find peace through engaging in a personalized recovery program that fosters self-discovery, promotes acceptance, and enhances your will to make personal changes to positively impact your well-being. Invest in yourself and your personal recovery and nurture your ability to disengage from codependent behaviors. Utilize individual therapy as a tool to encourage healthy boundaries, limit destructive thought patterns and become an example of courage and self-respect. In my experience, this is the most effective way to help those we love when they are affected by addiction. Please contact me for more information about the process of individual therapy. |
AuthorSarah Callow-St. George has extensive experience helping her clients address and work through their trauma. She takes a special interest in working with couples and relationships. Addressing addiction issues and underlying trauma is key to changing the way we interact and connect with others. Archives
February 2018
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