Featured
An Interview with Chester Williams, Promises’ Court Liaison & Transportation Coordinator
Drug Rehab, Day 1: Greeted with Respect and Compassion
When individuals come to Promises Treatment Centers, Chester Williams’ reassuring face is one of the first of many reminders that they’ve made the right choice. With more than 25 years sober and a compassionate approach tempered with real-world experience, Chester has a way of setting people at ease from the start.
Coping with Thinking Errors: Relapse Prevention Planning for PTSD and Substance Abuse
Trauma symptoms (PTSD) and substance problems often go hand in hand for many people and constitute a dual diagnosis or co-occurring treatment and recovery need. Symptoms of PTSD and of Substance Disorders occur in thoughts, feelings, nightmares, physiological symptoms, behaviors and sensory perceptions. People in recovery from Substance Disorders and co-occurring trauma can have an increase in PTSD symptoms at various stages of addiction recovery.
Elements CEO Dr. David Sack Appears on Good Morning America
In light of the recent death of Amy Winehouse, Dr. David Sack, CEO of Elements and Promises Treatment Centers, discusses the challenges of getting a loved one into treatment, and the special challenges in helping a celebrity get treatment despite all the signs that the addiction has spiraled out of control.
Learn more about Elements CEO Dr. David Sack Appears on Good Morning America
EMDR and PTSD
A recent clinical trial found that, six months after treatment, patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression who had received eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) had fewer symptoms than patients treated with Prozac.
When undergoing EMDR, the patient is usually asked to focus on the clinician’s finger or blinking lights for several minutes while, at the same time, remembering the events that are causing problems in everyday life. Occasionally, practitioners will instead play tones or apply electrical stimulation to the hands. EMDR is a type of treatment that can be administered by counselors and other non-physician mental health professionals.
Should Addiction Treatment Be Covered The Same Way as Heart Disease Treatment?
It’s time to stop talking out of both sides of our mouth. Drug addiction is now recognized as a chronic medical disease just as heart disease and diabetes and cancer are chronic medical diseases. In that sense, addiction is a traditional disease. It should be covered the same way.
Learn more about Should Addiction Treatment Be Covered The Same Way as Heart Disease Treatment?
Wandering Around in a Fog: How to Start Thinking Clearly in Recovery
If everything is a bit fuzzy now that you’re in recovery, the first thing to do is not to panic. Recall what you learned about your addiction during rehab? It will take time for your brain to get back to normal, at least to the point where you’re able to perform logical tasks, remember things in sequence, and be able to comprehend written and verbal communication. Of course, it’s one thing to understand that healing takes time. It’s another to know what to do in the meantime. Here are some suggestions that may help you start thinking clearly in recovery.
Learn more about Wandering Around in a Fog: How to Start Thinking Clearly in Recovery
Robert Weiss: Media Reaches Out to Leading Expert on Sexual Addiction
Robert Weiss LCSW, CSAT-S, Founding Director of The Sexual Recovery Institute, Los Angeles, and Director of The Center for Sexual Recovery at The Ranch, is a leading expert in the field of sexual disorders and addiction. Weiss has also developed sexual disorders programming at Promises Treatment Centers, and will develop future programs for Elements Behavioral Health.
Learn more about Robert Weiss: Media Reaches Out to Leading Expert on Sexual Addiction
An Interview with Keith Arnold, Vice President of Operations at Elements Behavioral Health
Keith Arnold’s passion is bringing out the best in people and companies. He has worked with many different organizations in a range of fields, having started his career in management consulting. Working in the addiction treatment field for the past 16 years has been the most rewarding time of his career.
An Interview with Patricia Womack: Residential Counselor at Promises West Los Angeles
With 23 years in recovery, Patricia (Pat) Womack has a unique way of connecting with her clients. “I’ve been to hell and back,” she said, “so while I may not know exactly how a client is feeling, I can tell them that I’ve been there and that I understand. It’s not just something I read in a book.”
An Interview with Jason Levine: Executive Director of Promises West LA
From working with HIV/AIDS patients in New York to helping the homeless on Skid Row in Los Angeles, Jason Levine, Executive Director of Promises West LA, has been in the trenches with some of the most challenging clients from all walks of life.
Learn more about An Interview with Jason Levine: Executive Director of Promises West LA
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