There's more to picking the right rehab center than simply looking at reviews. You also have to consider the kinds of programs that a rehab center offers. While the results of a specific program varies depending on your situation, some services are staples for rehab. One example is dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring disorders.

Did you know that the seasons have a big impact on your overall mood? With that said, they affect some people more than others. Because of that, they suffer from a problem that doctors refer to as seasonal affective disorder. This disorder affects more than 3 million people every single year.

Most of us are familiar with the image of the “shoulder angel” and “shoulder devil” each competing for our will. Each whispers in one ear....”that piece of cake looks delicious, you deserve to eat it!”...“Don’t do it, you’ll regret it later!”

But where do they come from, and what’s their function?

There are many different treatment options available to those who suffer from substance abuse problems. The following material will discuss one common form of treatment called Neuro Linguistic Programming. What does this form of therapy entail? What are the benefits of NLP? These questions will be addressed further in the following information.

Most everyone knows about the 12-step approach that’s helped people in recovery since the 1930s. The program welcomes anyone from all religious backgrounds as well as the non-religious. However, some individuals have a difficult time with its precepts. They do better with non 12 step addiction recovery programs.

One of the most painful ways that we hurt ourselves is actually through our judgments. What are judgments and how can you turn them your way? 

Substance abuse can feel like a losing battle. The desire for a drug or alcohol of choice overpowers the person’s judgment. With addiction, they lose self-control and reject responsibility for anything other than the next high. This can create severe consequences in their life. They may suffer health problems, get in trouble with the law and face financial distress.

Many people feel overwhelmed by choosing the right place to go through rehab for addiction treatment. It is a big decision. There are so many things to consider - treatment approach, cost, and success rate, among others. 

But what about the rehab environment? Meaning, the physical surroundings, the staff, the makeup of the participants? These things can easily be overlooked, yet are some of the most important factors in recovery.

If you are an adoptee or adoptive parent you may be familiar with the term "adoption trauma." We deal with all forms of trauma as underlying causes of addiction at The Clearing, and what we know is that what is traumatic for one individual, isn’t for another. It’s all about how each person holds an event in our memory and consciousness.

Let's face it - family can be so stressful. In the worst cases, difficult, damaged people showing up to spend time with other difficult, damaged people. Perhaps no time of year makes this more evident than the holiday season!

Yet of course, the words “difficult” and “damaged” are just our own judgments, just stories that we tell. We could also say that our families are made up of beautiful, big-hearted, and funny people. But often we need to begin the healing process by acknowledging what’s hard about family life.