By: Edward W. Wilson, Ph.D., MAC

Click here to contact Edward and/or see his GoodTherapy.org Profile

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As the treatment of alcohol related conditions has become more sophisticated, the use of medications has too. Until recently the only commonly prescribed adjunct was disulfiram (Antabuse), an aversive drug whose use resulted in violent illness when combined with even trace amounts of alcohol. That worked for those willing to risk the results and fit well with the frequently punitive nature of many treatment regimens. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Edward W. Wilson, Ph.D., MAC

Click here to contact Edward and/or see his GoodTherapy.org Profile

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It is difficult to make a decision to seek treatment for alcohol abuse, dependency, or addiction. But having made that choice it becomes even more confusing when seeking an appropriate type of program. Essentially the first decision comes down to opting for either Inpatient or Out-Patient. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Mary Ellen Barnes, Ph.D.

Click here to contact Mary and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile

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Whether as drinkers or not, or as wives, mothers, sisters or friends, employers or employees, all of us have experienced alcohol’s destructive intrusion into our lives or the lives of those around us. Perhaps we have felt our own use slipping out of control, or been affected by others, or tried to figure out what we might do to help others. Regardless of our involvement, most of us have felt confused and uncertain about how to help ourselves or anyone else. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Edward W. Wilson, Ph.D., MAC

Click here to contact Edward and/or see his GoodTherapy.org Profile

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Generally we tend to think about treatment for alcohol abuse, dependence, or addition as falling into one of two categories: inpatient or outpatient. However, just as there is enormous variation in inpatient or residential treatment styles, so too are there differences in outpatient offerings. Most of these differences – beyond the obvious 12-Step or Alternative orientations and frameworks – boil down to intensity, duration, and communication preferences. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Edward W. Wilson, Ph.D., MAC

Click here to contact Edward and/or see his GoodTherapy.org Profile

It’s not unusual for people to know that they need some help in getting over their alcohol abuse and dependence, but not know how to start. They look at residential and long for the escape – isn’t that what really fuels the alcohol abuse anyway? – but shudder at the cost and disruption. Then they look at outpatient and that seems like too little help for so pervasive a problem. So they do what we all do, sit back, sigh, and wait until the next crisis to go through the whole non-decision process all over again. Read the rest of this entry »

By Jeanine Austin, Ph.D.

We’ve been there, we are there or we could go there, and fall in love with his/her potential. Please heed my warning, “Look out girlfriend!!”

The tricky bit about this challenge is that we all have great potential. Some people realize a only a small bit of their potential, some people realize a good deal of it and some people are actualizing most or all of their potential. We are all capable of greatness~this truth lies latent in all of us. Read the rest of this entry »

By Jeanine Austin, Ph.D.

“A little more matriarchy is what the world needs, and I know it. Period. Paragraph.”
~Dorothy Thompson

Before last year’s New Year, many people asked me what my New Year’s resolutions might be. I’ve always liked the idea of starting anew and consciously developing aspects of one’s life in order to live more fully. However, much of the well intended query made me uncomfortable. As soon as I told my friends what I wanted to create, they immediately started in with, “How are you going to make it happen” and “What steps are you going to commit to in doing this”. As I coach, I know as well as anyone that if you want to create something that has eluded you, you do want some kind of action plan. But, the intent of their questions, which felt more like a police interrogation, had a somewhat desperate, intense and frankly unappealing energy about it. Read the rest of this entry »

By Jeanine Austin, Ph.D.

“One common mistake is to think that one reality is The Reality. You must always be prepared to leave one reality for a greater one.” ~ Mother Meera

Whenever I am grappling with any issue and I am stuck in guilt, anger, fear or any other unpleasant emotion, I try to remember that there must be another perspective. Many clients come to life coaching because they know intuitively that there is another perspective that will offer them solace, hope and an opportunity to recreate the life they desire. A supportive coach might ask “Can I offer another perspective?” and assist their client in viewing their challenges from a healing and more helpful vantage point. Sometimes, my clients and I will go back and forth and brainstorm different reality perspectives, even outrageous perspectives, in order to break free from the shackles of limited thought. Read the rest of this entry »

By Jeanine Austin, Ph.D.

Many years ago I remember sitting outside with my friend on Huntington Harbor and having a big cry. I had just broken-up with a boyfriend and I felt devastated. As Liz pushed my long hair from the tears it was stuck to on my face she said, “Jeanine, you are one romantic fool!” Suddenly, we started laughing!” It was true; I was one big romantic fool! Read the rest of this entry »

By: Jeanine Austin, Ph.D.

If the metaphysical premise that anything that is not love is a call for love is true, we might reflect on our lives and find that unloving behavior towards us or by us was really just an attempt to love and be loved. If we look closely into any situation we can see that almost all unloving thinking or behavior was a misguided attempt at love. Read the rest of this entry »