Last year I presented at the Oregon DUII Multi-Disciplinary Driving Training Conference and was honored to be asked back this year. For those of you who came to my talk, thank you! Also, thank you for allowing me to open with some personal challenges, and supporting me throughout the presentation. … [Read More...]
You Are Not Your Addiction: Understanding Parts of Self
We are conditioned from an early age to believe that we have one mind, one personality, and that all our thoughts, feelings and behaviors emanate from that unitary person we think we are. This way of understanding ourselves leads to tremendous suffering, because the truth of who we are is a bit more … [Read More...]
Getting Referrals Right: Matching Patients and Providers
During the past few weeks I have worked on two cases that required me to make referrals to treatment, and in both cases, I found myself very frustrated. What should be a fairly straightforward and easy thing to do, is far from it. And when I make a bad referral, I feel responsible when the person I … [Read More...]
When Politics Usurp Science, We All Lose
One of the more articulate voices in the realm of addiction experts today is Carl Hart, who delivered a rousing TED Talk challenging our beliefs that drugs primarily cause addiction. In the talk he passionately offered evidence that poverty and crime are independent of drug problems, and that drugs … [Read More...]
Addiction 101
Ascending Out of the Hell of Heroin Addiction
I want to share with you a remarkable music video by very talented musician Rick Hale, titled Descending, about his younger … [Read More...]
Best Practices
The Magic of the Moment: Mindfulness and Addiction
I went to a lecture the other night on Seeing Color & Enhancing Creativity presented by photographer Seth Resnick. To warm up … [Read More...]
Reviews & Media
American Sniper the Movie, PTSD & Addiction
I saw American Sniper yesterday and like many, was emotionally stirred by Clint Eastwood’s depiction of the life of Chris Kyle. … [Read More...]
Treatment 101
Reducing the Risk of Drinking and Driving
This past Friday I was honored to be a presenter at the 2015 Oregon DUII Multi-Disciplinary Impaired Driving Training Conference. … [Read More...]
Trauma & Addiction
When Unknown Traumatic Events Fuel Addiction
In Bessel van der Kolk’s latest masterpiece, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma he writes … [Read More...]
Society & Public Policy
Unlocking the Mystery of Vivian Maier
If you have seen the acclaimed documentary, Finding Vivian Maier, than you know she was somewhat of an enigma. For those who have … [Read More...]