by Terrence D. Shulman, JD LMSW ACSW CAADC CPC

How many of you have ever had a legal issue? Most of us have. Maybe a simple speeding ticket or something more complicated like a divorce, bankruptcy, a contract dispute, or putting together a will? Most of us will have several legal issues throughout our lives and it should be no secret that persons who find themselves addicted often attract legal issues like a magnet. I ought to know. I have been in recovery from shoplifting addiction since 1990 and had been arrested and convicted twice of that crime. In addition, just three years ago, I was sued for alleged trademark and copyright infringement--that case dragged on for a year, cost a tremendous amount of time and money, before we finally settled before trial.

In almost all legal matters, we may feel a combination of stress, confusion, fear, anger, and shame. I certainly did. So, imagine how our clients feel when-- in addition to just learning the ropes of recovery--they have the added burden of dealing with (or, more often, not dealing with) legal issues. It is vital that we, as therapists, help identify clients’ legal issues which may be either the result of their addictions or part of their cause. Having a working knowledge of the law gives us a leg up on helping us understand and guide a client toward the possibility of faster and more favorable resolution of legal matters. This helps diminish client stress while in treatment and beyond and paves a smoother path to recovery and a better overall future.

by Heather Klem

Heather Klem

With each passing year, we can count on the unfailing presence of New Year’s Resolutions calling out to us from television ads, compelling us from magazine covers and even as conversation content among friends and family once the previously month‘s holidays have rolled into our rearview mirror. For many the New Year brings hope and opportunity for a fresh slate, a clean page on which to continue life’s story. Closing the chapter on the previous year as it draws to a conclusion offers the possibility of positive change as it relates to the fresh twelve months ahead, not yet blemished by mistakes. Many, myself included, feel invigorated by the knowledge that I have another 365 days ahead to “get it right” and penning out some resolutions on how I can remodel life for the new year is extremely attractive and tempting.

I have been known to tirelessly document these declarations, only to have the list lost under the pile of clutter I had vowed to expel from my life earlier that January. Inevitably I would find my list, or look back on it at some point in the New Year and feel awash in regret, a potent dose of shame, defeat and failure. My inner bully would begin rummaging through the archives in my memory, pulling factual evidence and statistics from multiple New Years past where I had used the same approach and again, fallen short. I had made little to no progress on the items I had hoped to change and was now left feeling a little more stuck and discouraged about my lack of personal willpower.

by Tammy Lee

Tammy Lee

The early founders of AA recognized that Alcoholism is a 3-fold disease affecting us physically, mentally and spiritually. The 12 step program has proved to be highly effective in addressing both the mental and spiritual aspects of the disease, while relatively little emphasis has been placed on the physical aspects. The ancient yogis knew that in order to sit and meditate for long periods of time, our bodies need to be in good physical condition, thus yoga is a natural complement to the 12 step program.

Yoga means “union with a higher power,” and it is comprised of much more than physical movement and postures (asanas). It may also include hand positions (mudras), conscious breathing (pranayam), sound (chanting) and meditation. As a lifestyle it includes things like being truthful, disciplined, non-violent and serving others. It involves bringing conscious awareness to all that we do, and the end result is to move the infinite supply of energy within us, so we can live in balance and harmony with the energies around us. When we live in harmony, we can be happy, which is our birthright. Thus, the physical components of yoga are necessary and integral in helping us to maintain balance mentally and spiritually. As with any movement (even breathing) both the nervous and glandular systems are affected, and these two systems have a significant impact our state of mind and health.

by Tim Cheney

"We admitted we were POWERLESS over alcohol … that our lives had become UNMANAGEABLE."

This is the only step you have to get 100% right. No half measures. Your ability to grasp this step may be the difference between life and death. Period.

Powerless and unmanageable? I zeroed on those two words like a heat-seeking missile. That is ridiculous I thought. For, I was the great ‘I am’ with a maniacal ego masking a well-concealed inferiority complex. I was a Boston - New Haven - New York dope fiend alcoholic. You people were losers who couldn’t even hustle a cup of coffee; you met in church basements and spoke of things you had never done. I referred to you as losers and hope fiends, and, I secretly entertained fantasies of eradicating the lot of you. Ending up naked in five-point restraint, riddled with hepatitis C, cirrhosis, cellulites, a knife wound in my gut, being acutely alcoholic and a junkie was not my bottom. Ending up in a basement listening, (when my mind would shut up and focus,) to self-proclaimed, smiling, well-fed, well-dressed alcoholics speak about powerlessness - that was my bottom. You folks had nothing to teach me.

By Mary Lynn Szymandera, LCDC, CEFIP

Several weeks ago, I worked with a young man, a horse trainer of significant skill and reputation, who was curious about “equine therapy” and wanted to experience it for himself. While he was standing next to Maggie, an eight year old, high-strung, thoroughbred mare, I asked the young cowboy what he was feeling. The mare had not “connected” to him yet and this informed me the young man was suppressing something, even though I didn’t have a clue as to what it might be. Tom said he didn’t think he was feeling anything and I began fishing for what might be below the surface. Tom denied he was feeling any anger and stated when he does get angry, he tries to resolve the issues that caused it and as soon as he can, he lets it go, frequently with prayer. Tom had been struggling for several moments, searching for what he was feeling when he happened to mention Thanksgiving “being a wreck” again this year. He stated “That’s just the way my family is and I have gotten used to it”. He said he didn’t think he harbored any resentment or anger about the family dysfunction. His statement prompted me to ask him if he had ever grieved the loss of the family he would have liked to have had, and as tears welled up in his eyes, Tom said, “You know, I’ve never thought of that before, but it feels like I have some grieving to do.” As the tears came, the mare’s head came down, she nuzzled his face and placed her head behind his shoulder as if to give him a hug or “have his back”. Tom was amazed at the horse’s capacity for empathy and caring. He had told me he had gotten a lot from working with horses in his life but never realized they had the capacity to give to him emotionally or truly care about a human enough to nurture or provide security.

by Jenni Schaffer

Jenni Schaefer
Author of "Life Without Ed"

Bought a guitar in high school. At the time, I was struggling with an eating disorder and its various underlying issues, including high anxiety and perfectionism. Needless to say, I did not learn to play that instrument. Instead, I shoved the guitar into the back of my closet where it lived for almost twenty years.

Malnutrition prevented me from having the physical strength and energy to press the strings down on the guitar. And perfectionism told me that if you can’t perform perfectly, don’t do it at all. Since playing the guitar is fun, I also had trouble with that aspect of making music. In those days, I restricted fun (and life in general) in the same way that I limited my food intake. Anxiety and related fears made me wonder, “Is playing guitar even possible for me?” Unfortunately, I decided that it is easier not to try than to fail. What I know now is that life is all about doing the impossible. As toddlers, I am sure we all thought that walking upright on two legs just wasn’t in the cards for us. It probably seemed too difficult. But none of us is still crawling around on all fours to get from one place to another. We did the impossible!

by Troy C.

Support Programs help evolve acute addiction intervention into a more chronic approach.

The impact of the world on persons being discharged from inpatient treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction is tremendous. Many of them left dysfunctional and dangerous lives to be introduced to new concepts and ways of living that eventually gave them a sense of belonging and security. Many have not experienced security for a long time, if ever. Upon discharge many experience significant fear and anxiety regarding the dangers they had encountered in the past. Well-meaning family members are anxious about how to relate to their loved ones coming out of treatment centers. They often fall back on their habitual ways of relating and so resume enabling behaviors which foster attitudes which are not conducive to continued recovery.

In working with many individuals recently discharged from treatment, it appears that their chances of recovery are heightened by a treatment stay which is longer than the traditional twenty-eight day model. Treatment centers are recognizing the need for lengthier treatment stays and post-discharge care. South Padre Islands’ Origins Recovery Centers uses Austin-based MAP Accountability Services to extend their 90-day inpatient program to total eighteen months of patient care. After prolonged exposure to clinically-sophisticated treatment grounded in the Twelve Steps, discharged patients can benefit from support program staff who are clinically-supervised and grounded in their own recovery. This support, combined with care and encouragement, helps reduce the fear and anxiety of entering the non-structured world after treatment. Many persons experience a using episode within sixty days of leaving treatment. A continuum that leverages care coordination services like MAP provides a layer of structure and daily professional accountability early in recovery to help mitigate the risk of using as well as providing effective harm-reduction if they do use. Helping clients re-engage with intense step work, they can turn the using event into a therapeutic opportunity to redouble the depth and quality of their sobriety.

by James A. Baker

Dear AngerManagementSeminar.com:

I just wanted to take a minute to write and tell you how much your program has helped me. To be honest, I was one of those people who didn’t think I needed to take a course because my anger wasn’t my fault; it was the fault of all the unreasonable, irresponsible people around me. I blamed my wife or my kids or the government or the weather for my destructive outbursts. Your program really opened my eyes and now, for the first time, I really have hope that I can change. Thanks for providing such a great resource.

Hopeful in Houston

Dear Hopeful:

Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback with me. It is encouraging to hear from people who are winning against anger. As we say all the time, keep working the program, and it will work. However, it is not all smooth sailing from here on out.

by Rev Leo Booth

Rev Leo Booth

I hope everyone had a joyous and prosperous Holiday Season and for those of you, like myself, who grew up in the Christian faith I want you to consider the following statement: God became what we are in order that we might become what He is. After the Christmas Season it is good to reflect upon the gift of divinity; yes indeed we are not only children of God but we are also carrying something of God’s image in each of us. In a sentence; we were called to grasp and reflect our greatness. Understand me, I’m not suggesting that we are God, but we are carrying something of God within us. In Unity of Christianity we say it this way: Wherever I am God is, and all is well.

It makes a difference to know this. Especially if we find ourselves going through a tough time. Maybe we all need to stop and reflect upon the belief that not only is God with us, but God is within us. And we can always go to that creative place in order to face, deal with and eventually rise above any challenge. And I do mean any challenge.

by Alan Cohen

Alan Cohen

2012 is here. Finally. After many years of anticipation, sensationalism, foreboding, titillation, and wild prophecies, we’ve reached the end of the Mayan calendar. The era of momentous astrological configurations. World upheaval. Apocalyptic destruction. Dissolution of the world as we know it. Mass landing of UFOs. The spiritual ascension of humanity. The dawn of a new age. And on and on and on. . .

Prophets, authors, soothsayers, shamans, and Hollywood have had a field day predicting, explaining, and dramatizing the events to come. Will this year be a turning point in human history? Massive suffering leading to spiritual resurrection? The annihilation of evil and the restoration of virtue? The second coming of Christ? A redux of the Y2K dud? Just another year?

I have a prediction in which I am quite confident: 2012 will be what you make of it. Your whole life is what you make of it, and 2012 is no exception.

Your thoughts, feelings, attitude, words, and actions will determine your experience and the events you attract. What you want and expect to happen will happen. If you are immersed in the Hollywood terror version of 2012, watch out. If you value the upliftment of humanity, transformation will ensue. If you expect just another year, so it will be. Your pen is scribing the novel of your world. What will you write?

by Thom Rutledge

We all get stuck. Stuck, unstuck, stuck, stuck, unstuck, stuck again. Unstuck, unstuck, almost stuck, unstuck, stuck again. Such is life. The trick is to not misinterpret your personal stuckness as evidence of your inherently flawed and/or undeserving character. With that view, you can only become more deeply entrenched, ultimately living from a belief system that is self-absorbed and narcissistic. Granted, it's not a fun kind of self-absorption -- I call it codependent arrogance: "I am the piece of crap the world revolves around." Bottom line: this kind of thinking is self perpetuating; it takes on a life all its own. And it will expertly prove to you again and again that your short comings are the only constants in the universe.

Maybe that's overstated. But then again, maybe it's not. Here's an example of this kind of thinking with a life of it's own:

Horace reads the preceding paragraphs and identifies with what he has read. Horace thinks to himself, "Yeah, I understand that. I'm just like that, constantly believing the worst about myself, sabotaging myself."

by Julian Cortez

When the holidays approach I get a stomach ache and mild to severe panic attacks. Is it just me or is this something we all experience but just don’t talk about it because we’re too busy being festive? As a society we have lost sight of the true meaning of the holidays. Instead the focus is on black Thursday and Friday, how we can we spend more for less, cybersales which further isolates us as a community, and with all this holiday cheer comes STRESS, STRESS and more STRESS. Then, I think about a person who inspires me. He appears to be an ordinary man, not a Gandhi, Buddha, or

Jesus Christ. Although these voices speech through him. He appears to be in his late 50’s, wears a white beard and a white turban on his head. He walks with one leg and the other wrapped around a tall walking stick. I have witnessed him with patience and perseverance walk up two flights of stairs in the morning and down two flights of stairs in the evening. He always has a smile on his face regardless of his circumstances. His aura is one of peace, calmness, and resolve. He is always the last person off the train and down the stairs allowing the crowd to rush past him. The last time I saw him I told him that he inspired me. He quite didn’t understand. His humble manner allowed me to explain. I told him that when ever I felt down or felt life wasn’t going as planned I thought about him.