Typically, Jim and I are in the sun-soaked inland valley of Southern California and loving the warmer days and longer daylight hours. Needless to say, it’s been a bit of an adjustment since we became Oregon residents in November. There is a lovely tree in my front yard that has a few small buds, a promising hint of spring. But right now, a dusting of snow covers those precious few harbingers of a warmer season. As I said – it’s a bit of an adjustment. But we love the unique beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the new experience of distinct seasons.
Our latest adventure has brought us to Astoria, Oregon, when the board of Astoria Pointe and The Rosebriar residential treatment centers asked us to come on as CEO (Josie) and medical director (Jim). You can find more about what we’ve been up to, as well as these remarkable centers, in this month’s featured member article.
In the meantime, we want to thank each of our faithful readers and members for continuing to support us and provide us with invaluable feedback. This winter we have been laboriously updating our site server to make sure we can offer the best services in the most efficient manner. While there have been a few glitches along the way, we are grateful for your patience and promise that you will find the new-and-improved RecoveryView.com well worth it.
Kicking off this issue, Dr. Tian Dayton delves into the healing power of journaling in recovery. She explains why not rehashing the mundane details of the day, but taking an honest look at the more difficult memories most people would prefer to avoid may actually bring profound healing in a very empowering, but gentle way.
We are pleased to welcome renowned addictions and codependency expert, author and trainer, Claudia Black to our fold of authors. In this issue, she shares her experience at a camp organized specifically serve children who have been affected by addiction, highlighting the importance of addressing the family system in recovery.
Another new author this issue is our very own clinical editor, Meredith Watkins, who is also an MFT and holistic health counselor. She brings this combination of experience and interests together to share about the significant effect of nutrition on mental health. Often the missing piece of the puzzle in the treatment, nutrition’s role is becoming increasingly understood and used in effective treatment modalities. This will be the first in a series of nutrition-related articles on mental health and recovery.
Coleen Moore also joins us for the first time with a fascinating look at women and gambling. This population is often overlooked in favor of the prominently male population in problem gambling, but the number of women continues to grow. Additionally, the reasons women turn to gambling as a maladaptive coping mechanism may differ from men. The light Moore sheds can undoubtedly lead to more effective treatment in this demographic.
Veteran RecoveryView.com author Andrew Kessler returns with the latest View from the Hill, giving us the update on federal funding for needle exchange programs. He also elucidates legislation that aims to require anyone applying for employment benefits to undergo drug testing, and discusses the potential fallout from each. As always, great food for thought.
Sherry Gaba also returns this month with a look at the toll hours on Facebook and Twitter may be taking on our personal relationships – not just a reduction in personal contact, but an actual increase in divorces based on the ability to find anyone at any time and learn more than you should probably know about them. It’s a fascinating look at what may be the addiction of the new century.
As St. Patrick’s Day nears, those in recovery tend to cringe and pray that it passes in a quick, green blur. Ruth Riddick can relate. It is also why she is so thrilled to share about New York City’s first Sober St. Patrick’s Day – an event we can all get behind.
As we mentioned earlier, our featured member is Astoria Pointe and the Rosebriar. The major changes that have taken place and continue to happen are transforming and building the treatment centers into an even stronger option for residential treatment in the Pacific Northwest. You won’t want to miss out on what’s ahead.
Leading our Book Club this issue are Claudia Black’s series of books, dubbed the Strategy Series: Anger Strategies, Depression Strategies, Family Strategies and Relapse Toolkit. Each grew out of Black’s clinical experience working with families and addictions and are meant to be practical tools for clinicians.
In EMDR Made Simple, author and psychologist, Dr. Jamie Marich, does just that – demystifies the technique, restoring its relevance in the treatment of trauma, depression, anxiety and the like.
Co-authors, Patricia O’Gorman, Ph.D. and Phil Diaz, MSW, explore the outgrowth of co-dependency in the face of trauma in their new book, Healing Trauma Through Self-Parenting: The Codependency Connection. A follow-up to their first book, The 12 Steps to Self-Parenting for Adult Children, this sophomore publication will undoubtedly strike important chords with a wide audience.
So wherever this issue finds you – under five feet of snow or a flowering tree with sun streaming down – we hope that the spirit of spring finds you and fills you with anticipation for a new season and new opportunities. Health and happiness to you all.
