Alana C. Smith, LCSW, LCDC

To really take care of ourself we need to learn who we really are. Knowing who we really are comes from making sense of our emotions, thoughts, and interactions. For many of us this can feel unnecessary because it's not "productive" or seemingly not supported by others. Healing into our true self actually is the most important factor in the healing of all our relationships, and isn't as challenging as we might fear.

Where do your conceptions about addiction come from?

 Misunderstandings about addiction can be a chief block to one's sobriety as well as effectively supporting recovery in a loved one.  Gaining clarity into the difference between the causes vs. risk factors for addiction proves to be pivotal in understanding healing and recovery from an addiction. Addiction medicine, neuroscience, and research on emotions are all necessary components to understanding how to heal from addiction. It is important to understand an effective approach to move beyond the elimination of chemicals into lasting recovery and healing (mentally, emotionally, psychologically, relationally, spiritually).

Families attempting to heal from addiction, trauma or mental health challenges need more guidance than being labeled as "codependent" and told to "focus on themselves".  Caring about a loved one who is struggling is a part of being human, and our efforts to help make sense. We don't need "tough love", we need new perspectives, guidance and tools that actually work and support family healing. Healing rooted in the science of relationships gives families a roadmap to make sense of their perspectives, emotions, and how to be most effective in their support.