This week we thought we’d write about something you wouldn’t expect: The Benefits of Continuing Your Drinking! Let’s be realistic here – there are benefits, otherwise you wouldn’t keep drinking. My Alcohol Use: Relieves my anxiety; Eases my boredom; Mitigates my loneliness; Lubricates social events; Relieves my physical aches and pains; Improves my sex life; [...]

Callers frequently ask us what we do and how it’s different from what 12-Step/AA based programs do. It’s a question worth answering. But first it’s worth noting what we don’t do. We don’t cram you into a one-size-fits-all “program.” Nor do we insult you by suggesting that you need to be converted to the one [...]

I fired a doctor last week. My primary physician and I had decided that I should see a cardiologist for some baseline testing. At my age it seem prudent to go in for a treadmill stress test and discuss whatever factors showed up. I took the test a month ago and the cardiologist seemed upset [...]

We recently received an e-mail that read, in part, “The brevity (of your program) scares me.” We do understand that concern, especially with more and more traditional programs pushing for up to 90 day stays. On the other hand we have clients who have been through those programs and we know that no amount of [...]

February? I remember February when I was growing up in western Pennsylvania. Cold and rainy and spitting snow and sleet. The woods were wet and dark and cold as I poked around swamps looking for the first signs of spring – skunk cabbage pushing its way up through frosty soil and last fall’s leaves. Fifteen [...]

Those of you who were reading the newsletter in December know about the adoption of Sophie-The-Bat-Eared-Dog from the shelter. At 9 she was “too old,” and she was black, and she had epilepsy. But we took her home anyway. In fact, those very characteristics that made her undesirable to others, we appreciated. She was and [...]

January went by in a bit of a blur. Clients and families from California, Ohio, Minnesota, Texas, and Australia! While that’s gratifying to us, it also makes us a bit sad to realize that competent and affordable non-12 step based services are so rare that people have to travel across the country, or half way [...]

In last week’s newsletter we mentioned how much we appreciated working with our clients. Now last week’s couple have generously offered to share their thoughts with you, too. An Inspiring Week, A Revolutionary Approach By Carl and Nicole Minneapolis, Minnesota Imagine yourself at a center for dealing with alcohol abuse. And imagine–really imagine it if [...]

It’s another week and, as always, life surprises us too. Another week of working with really great clients solving new problems, discovering new solutions, marveling at the shared adventure of creating options where none seemed to exist. This past week gave us a rare opportunity: the chance to spend a week with a couple designing [...]