Holiday gathering? Do some pre-event strategizing.

For some families, holidays are just another excuse to get together, eat good food, and have a good time. They’re not looking for articles like this one because they’ve somehow figured out the formula for successful family togetherness with minimum stress.

…but it doesn’t have to be the end of the road.
Is Relapse Part of Recovery?
Addiction is often described as a chronic relapsing disease. Relapse occurs when someone in recovery chooses to try controlled use again after attempting to stay abstinent. We understand that addicts and alcoholics can’t effectively control their substance use. If they could, they wouldn't be in this situation in the first place. Relapse represents another failed attempt to control how much they are able to use.

Changing Lives has offered the option of family phone counseling for many years. This has worked very well and continues to grow. Since I do not do psychotherapy but focus on addiction counseling for family members, phone counseling is even better than face-to-face counseling in many ways.

The Value of Consequences. It seems that among our many blog posts, the most universal truths are found in those that discuss consequences—and the important role they play in everyone’s life. These ideas apply to all, from toddlers and teens to middle-aged and elderly people.

One thing that has surprised us at Changing Lives in recent years is how many phone inquiries we get for counseling. We began offering this service about five years ago. Back then, we only knew that many families, mostly moms and wives, wanted specific advice about their situations. Since then, the phone counseling has grown and gone beyond our expectations. We have had hundreds of people, both men and women, use this valuable resource. 

The advantages of telephone counseling compared to in-person, face-to-face sessions are numerous and diverse. I've highlighted the main points in this post. Convenience, Comfort, Economy, and Privacy.