The process of medicating our feelings starts early in life for many of us. The more wounds we are engulfed by as children the greater the need to medicate those wounds. We develop rigid defenses which also cause more pain. Trauma and addiction are many times fused together in individuals who grow up in more extreme dysfunction. Some prime examples of this can be the adult child of an alcoholic or addict, the adult child of a family where divorce happened, where many multiple moves occurred, where a single parent had to also work and raise you. There are many other examples of enmeshment, abandonment, neglect or abuses which are a breeding ground for addiction to food, sex, gambling, rage/ power, drugs and alcohol. The development of codependent behavior is also born out of these situations and can take on many forms. We deny more of our authentic self and develop a defended, adapted self which addiction can be a big part of.

Addiction can stand on its own without trauma at its core. As in the case of the stay at home mom or dad who starts using heavy pain medications or tranquilizers, the sex addict who starts on the internet and experiences etching and an increasing rapid loss of control. The child who is allowed to eat junk food repeatedly with little or no exercise, buried in the cell phone, computer or video gaming. There are of course many other examples relating to addiction and I think the most important thing to know is that recovery is not only possible but very probable given certain factors.

The factors that make for a successful recovery from an addiction are contingent upon a level of willingness that is internalized as self motivation. Other than self motivated individuals are afraid of a consequence i.e.; losing a relationship, going to jail, losing a job or losing anything important. A healthy treatment focuses on helping the person find facts about their addiction, break denial and raise their bottom so that surrender is more probable. This process gives internal motivation a chance to take hold. It is important that the helping entity, a counselor, treatment team or workshop facilitator be well trained in the particular area of focus. Some individuals go to treatment for a chemical addiction and have a sex addiction also that never gets looked at. This is a relapse waiting to happen. At times individuals fail treatment and at times treatment fails the individual. The treatment process is developmental and ongoing. We see clients go through 30 day rehabilitation and not go into intensive ongoing recovery work durring transition. This happens at a very vulnerable time when recovery needs stepped up. The most reliable and researched developmental treatment models cover close to a 5 year plan. With early tasks focusing on breaking down denial and owning all addiction interactions, building a support group, damage control and relapse prevention. The middle stage work is shame reduction, resolving delayed grief, healing family of origin and deepening issues of recovery. The later tasks are about deepening relational matters with self, god and others. Recovery is ongoing and well worth the effort we put into it. Savor your journey and we hope to see you on the path. Ben Gallaway

Recovery is a process not an event. With regard to successful Recovery from addiction and codependency, the most valid and researched models are developmental in nature. This means the individuals Recovery tasks change at different points in the process of getting healthier. A skilled therapist is able to assess those needs and give meaningful intervention at different points in the Recovery and counseling journey. Terence T. Gorski created a developmental Recovery model for chemically dependent individuals. Gorski's Cenaps Model outlines pre-treatment, early, middle, and late stage recovery. Patrick Carnes Ph.D., developed the Thirty Task Model which creates a continuum of care for treating sex addiction successfully. Pia Mellody developed the Post Induction Therapy Model which treats codependency, love addiction and love avoidance. These models have researched, healthy goals, that integrate tasks, which strengthen recovery at each stage. We are completing 30 day rehabilitation very well within the treatment industry. In regard to treating sex addiction, drug addiction and codependency there are strong interventions in the early phase of recovery and very little emphasis on continuing intense work later on. This lack of emphasis on the continuum of care is a big mistake of some Centers and Counselors especially in regard to clients with significant trauma or co-occurring disorders. Gorski, Carnes, and Pia Mellody's models each look at a 3 to 5 year intense plan for individuals and couples. Most individuals who relapse in sex addiction or drug addiction Recovery are not following a longer term plan with a skilled addiction counselor. The break down comes in continuing care treatment and ongoing Recovery! There are very few people who relapse working within these longer term models. Early in the recovery process it is essential to build a support network and understand the disease concept. Integrating 12-step recovery you would do a detailed addiction history (1st step) with a sponsor, attend 90 meetings in 90 days, break down denial and surrender to the process of recovery. In the middle stages the focus is on boundaries, self esteem, shame reduction, healthy grieving, and sorting out any trauma or family of origin work. The later stage has to do with deeper levels of intimacy, spirituality, self care, and strengthening the recovery process. These are very general outlines of each stage and some of the tasks. The process is much more detailed and involved. Within our counseling practice we utilize workshops and intensives to help individuals and couples embrace the process of recovery at any stage. Therapy becomes a much stronger tool when intensive workshops are integrated into the process along with 12 step Recovery. We hope to see you at a Workshop in the future. Blessings Ben Gallaway