The Stages of Change Model provides an effective tool in substance use treatment for helping clients:

1. Build a solid foundation for recovery.
2. Identify where they are in their recovery process. 
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A mom left a comment on one of my videos this week. It was in response to the title of the video:

Does Rehab Work?

Her daughter had been to treatment nine times. Nine. And here's what she wrote:

"Warped lives of blameless children."

That's a line from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous that's referring to alcoholism as an illness that affects those around the sufferer like no other huma...

Some parents I've been working with had a family therapy session at their adult daughter's treatment program recently. The purpose of the session was to discuss discharge planning. The treatment te...

When it comes to supporting a loved one who is being treated for a substance use disorder, there are two key elements to effective family support. 

1. Educated Consumer This is the term I use in R...

Facing a substance use issue with a loved one is one of the most challenging ordeals a family may ever have to face. Whether it's your child, a spouse, a sibling, or even a parent.

It's exhausting...

That’s my story exactly!”

I had just played a song for a group of substance use treatment clients called “All That I Can Do.” It’s a song from my musical recovery program that I use to teach about...

In 2022, after spending my entire career in Dallas, Texas, my wife and I did something that surprised just about everyone—including us. We sold our house, closed my office, loaded up the car, and d...

One of the most costly mistakes families can make when a loved one enters addiction treatment is what I call the Car Repair Model.

It’s the belief that you can drop someone off at treatment, hope ...

It's no secret that AA or the other 12-Step programs are spiritual in nature. God, Higher Power, spiritual experience—these are all terms that are heard frequently around 12-Step recovery circles. And...

There is a glaring hole in substance use treatment. 

On one side we have scared, angry, and hurting families, desperately seeking healing.

On the other side, we have treatment programs wringing t...

I recently worked with a client who had been seeing an outpatient therapist for close to a year before his parents began to feel like minimal progress was being made.

The boy had continued to use ...