Addiction
Articles
The Process of Individual Growth
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
The metaphor of how plants grow provides for us a picture for our own individual process. Growing in understanding of this process and God's involvememnt aids in our ability to remain faithful to the journey.
Removing the Burden
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
The habit of pushing oneself through for the sake of performance or accomplishment is a trap. Involving our relationship with the Lord reveals His promise to remove the burden from our shoulder and bring His pacing to our daily life.
Worshipping Comfort
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Comfort is natural and necessary in our developmental processes. The lack of comfort may set off a cycle of thinking and doing that feeds an inappropriate focus for comfort.
What a Lot to Possess
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Our position as a child of God is laden with numerous benefits. Our inheritance is both instant and progressive.
The Illness of Hanging On
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
There are particular dynamics that keep us from moving forward in the healing process. Our insistence in hanging onto assumptions, should's and have to's block our ability to receive the power to live as we trust in God's strength.
The Balancing Act: Detachment
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Detachment is a concept often misunderstood. It does not mean "cut off" from those around you. Provided are questions to ask oneself and spiritual guidelines which aid the process of loving yourself and loving others appropriately.
Rules, Rigidity and Responsibility
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
This candid look at self care outlines the way rules promote rigidty of thought. When rigid in our thinking we turn away from the grace and love of God. Turning away leads to a very lonely existence.
Addictions: Many Forms But Never Satisfying
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., CAPSW
Addictions cannot satisfy our needs but only serve to destroy joy and peace. God desires more for us!
Blame A Block to Healing
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Life hurts sometimes. With the hurt we can look for a person to blame. When we project blame toward others we are really saying they are responsible for our failures. If others are responsible for our failures, do they then get credit for our success? Find ways in this article to combat the temptation to blame.
Personal Purity
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
There are benefits to personal purity beyond what we can fully take in as the world is seeming to celebrate impurity. The many faces of sexual impurity is reviewed here. The harmful effects of sexual sin including entertaining impure thoughts are discussed. This piece contains a good discussion of the harm seemingly harmless speech and innuendo brings.
Moving From Shame To Respect
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Moving away from a sense of shame to self respect is very important to our mental and even physical health. Shame means to operate out of a "down deep" sense of not being good enough or that something is very wrong with us. This article gives great guidelines for healthy ways that combat a shame based way of living.
Addictive Patterns and Relationships
A "Dear Rosa" question and answer regarding the process of breaking free from addictive patterns in relationships
Affliction and Fear
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
The healing process for each one of us requires ownership within ourselves of the behaviors and attitudes that often create our own daily battles. What has been discovered is that fear is often behind those patterns of thinking and acting. Scripture tells us that if we are afflicted we are to pray. Knowing what fears we face help us know where to begin in overcoming those core fears.
Don'ts For Parents and Enablers
Compiled by Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
There is tremendous difficulty for parents or spouses when their child or spouse becomes involved in the abuse of drugs, alcohol or addiction of any sort. This handout outlines how to clarify who is responsible for what and provides practical steps in approaching your child or spouse.
Treasuring Children: Helping Children In Chronically Difficult Families
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Families where addictions and chronic stress or conflict dwell are especially difficult for children to cope with. Without a doubt, children in these settings have to work overtime to cope, survive and find a sense of safety that is different than most families. This article defines but a few things that can be done to make life and the development of who they are as children of God a bit easier.
DRUNK WITH HOPE: God's Help for Addiction and Emotional Wounds
Mary Lambrecht, M.S. LMFT
Emotional wounds can negatively influence relationships which can lead to addictive behaviors. Article explores how to put God’s truth into emotional pain, thus taking the first step in freedom from addiction.
RELATIONSHIPS AND THE BRAIN
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Our brain is sending out signals for hormone release in all of our relationships. These hormones are either the "feel-good" kind or they are the fight or flight kind. Therapists at the Center for Family Healing give healthy response training to our clients to bring about the results they would like in their relationships.
On-Line Gaming: How Much is too Much?
Suzan Myhre, M.S.S.W., LICSW, LPC
Article explores the explosion of the online gaming industry and the tough decisions parents have to make about hours spent gaming. In it is a set of signs that identify if there is a problem or even an addiction present.
Rebuilding After the Storm
August 18, 2005. A record breaking day in the history of Wisconsin with 27 confirmed tornadoes in one twenty-four hour period. In one moment, debris was strewn everywhere and the destruction left behind on that day was well into the millions of dollars. Addiction is destructive, like a tornado, and you are left to deal with the aftermath of a person struggling with addiction. Whether the addiction is food, alcohol, drugs, gambling, or pornography, a trail of wreckage is left behind and rebuilding needs to begin.
Our Love Affair with Food
This article discusses forming healthy or unhealthy relationships with food at several stages in our development. Tips for being aware of the place of food in our lives and resources for developing a healthier relationship with food are included.
Working Hard To Be Liked
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., CAPSW
People pleasers work very hard to be liked and crave love and acceptance from others at the cost of their own identity. The real person can become lost in the daze of perceived expectations. But there is good news.
Feeling Crazy - The Effects of Addiction on the Family
Suzan Myhre, M.S.S.W., LICSW, LPC
This article describes the serious and debilitating effects of addiction on the family. Hopes for rehabilitation are addressed.
Adolescent Girls Battling Eating Disorders
Suzan Myhre, M.S.S.W., LICSW, LPC
This article explores the effects of adolescent female eating disorders on the individual and the family. It also gives options for getting help.
Broadcasts
Working Hard To Be Liked, #3 of 3, #3346
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., CAPSW
People pleasers work very hard to be liked and crave love and acceptance from others at the cost of their own identity. The real person can become lost in the daze of perceived expectations. In this series of radio programs, Christine Vander Wielen and Lynda Savage discuss the need to please and provide practical suggestions on breaking the habit of people pleasing.
Working Hard To Be Liked, #2 of 3, #3345
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., CAPSW
People pleasers work very hard to be liked and crave love and acceptance from others at the cost of their own identity. The real person can become lost in the daze of perceived expectations. In this series of radio programs, Christine Vander Wielen and Lynda Savage discuss the need to please and provide practical suggestions on breaking the habit of people pleasing.
Working Hard To Be Liked, #1 of 3, #3344
Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., CAPSW
People pleasers work very hard to be liked and crave love and acceptance from others at the cost of their own identity. The real person can become lost in the daze of perceived expectations. In this series of radio programs, Christine Vander Wielen and Lynda Savage discuss the need to please and provide practical suggestions on breaking the habit of people pleasing.
Adult Children of Trauma #3 of 3, #3194
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
In this three part series Lynda Savage and Paul Cameron discuss the isolation, approval needs, marital challenges, and other characteristics of adults who grew in alcohol/ drug dependent families or families where children experienced trauma.
Adult Children of Trauma #2 of 3, #3193
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
In this three part series, Lynda Savage and Paul Cameron discuss the isolation, approval needs, marital challenges, and other characteristics of adults who grew up in alcohol/ drug dependent families or families where children experienced trauma.
Adult Children of Trauma #1 of 3, #3192
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
In this three part series Lynda Savage and Paul Cameron discuss the isolation, approval needs, marital challenges, and other characteristics of adults who grew up in alcohol/ drug dependent families or families where children experienced trauma.
Rich and Janet: A Journey Toward Healing #6 of 6, #3134
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Rich and Janet wrap up this series on their compelling story of how God brought reconciliation to their seemingly hopeless situation.
Rich and Janet: A Journey Toward Healing #5 of 6, #3133
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Rich and Janet share their compelling story of the man's journey into and out of internet addiction. They are candid and revealing about the triggers, steps away from one another and how God brought reconciliation to a seemingly hopeless situation.
Rich and Janet: A Journey Toward Healing #4 of 6, #3132
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Rich and Janet continue to share their compelling story of the man's journey into and out of internet addiction. They are candid and revealing about the triggers, steps away from one another and how God brought reconciliation to a seemingly hopeless situation.
Rich and Janet: A Journey Toward Healing #3 of 6, #3131
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Rich and Janet share a compelling story of the man's journey into and out of Internet addiction. They are candid and revealing about the triggers, steps away from one another and how God brought reconciliation to a seemingly hopeless situation.
Rich and Janet: A Journey Toward Healing #2 of 6, #3130
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
A compelling story about a couple, Rich and Janet, who share the man's journey into and out of internet addiction. They are candid and revealing about the triggers, steps away from one another and how God brought reconciliation to a seemingly hopeless situation.
Rich and Janet: A Journey Toward Healing #1 of 6, #3129
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
A compelling story: (six part series). A couple, Rich and Janet share the man's journey into and out of internet addiction. They are candid and revealing about the triggers, steps away from one another and how god brought reconciliation to a seemingly hopeless situation.
Characteristics of Adult Children of Alcoholics #2 of 2, #3118
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Adult children of alcoholics and other difficult early home-life situations often don't know what normal is. Various characteristics of adult children of alcoholics are discussed along with the way out of these deeply ingrained habits.
Characteristics of Adult Children of Alcoholics #1 of 2, #3117
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Adult Children of Alcoholics and other difficult early home-life situations often don't know what normal is. Without intervention, they lie when the truth would be just as easy to tell. These and other characteristics of Adult Children of alcoholics are discussed along with the way out of these deeply ingrained habits.
Stopping Self Destruction #3094
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Overcoming any addiction is done by facing the underlying fears and patterns of behavior one day at a time. This program reveals the pain of addictions along with the wonderful results of overcoming one day at a time.
Healthy and Unhealthy Shame #2 of 2, #3070
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Continuing the discussion on shame and its impact, defined is shame in good conscience and what is the shame God never meant us to have.
Healthy and Unhealthy Shame #1 of 2, #3069
Brenda Spina, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Sometimes we are made to feel as though we should not exist or that we are born bad. Defining shame, a picture of healthy and unhealthy shame is provided.
How Does Alcoholism Affect Relationships and Intimacy #2 of 2, #1946
Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
Lynda and Paul take a few minutes to discuss the altered development of intimacy and relationships in the alcoholic family.
