Sobriety is a lifelong endeavor. The idea of having to do something for the rest of your life-even if you recognize your very life depends on it- is difficult for the alcoholic ego to accept. When looking to the future the ego cleverly seeks...
I was first introduced to evidence based Cognitive-Behavioral therapy (CBT) in grad school, around the same time I had my first panic attack. Because the attack occurred in a car, my brain perceived the car as the threat so it generalized” and began to...
If addiction was taught, learned, and developed in the classroom through lectures and presentations, would any of us have become addicted? How many of us even remember much of what was taught in class when we were younger? Unless we put that information to...
The coronavirus pandemic has changed everyday life for nearly everyone across the country. Employees are working remotely, children are learning virtually, and safety precautions have become the normal procedure, even during a routine trip to the grocery store. These are stressful and challenging times....
In the late 1970s, Canadian psychologist Bruce Alexander gave two groups of rats access to water that was laced with morphine and sugar. One group of rats was isolated in cages, with no access to social interaction or connection. The other group was given...
Real recovery means focusing on good mental health every day. That can be challenging, of course, especially given the stressful times we are in now. On World Mental Health Day, which is Saturday, October 10, we emphasize the need for everyone to be able...
I recently celebrated ten years of employment at BRC. Being an alumnus of the program myself, I have a lot of gratitude for the program that provided me with a solution to my addiction and taught me how to live life once again. Working...
What designates a person’s trauma history as complex? No trauma experience is “easy” or “simple”, but this term refers to prolonged, repeated experiences in interpersonal relationships lasting over time. Usually originating in childhood, these events are often difficult to escape from, and can include...
In the field of addiction, it is rare that I meet a client who does not also suffer from trauma. When we are first taught about trauma, we are introduced to “Big T trauma” and “little t trauma”. This is a concept to move...
A Letter from Our Founder I find myself sitting on a plane headed back to Austin, having just completed my first work trip of 2020. It feels strange to even type that in that we have officially entered Fall. But, as I look around the...
Charity is not just about donating money. Acts of charity can include volunteering and reaching out to others in need. These days, you might think that is more difficult than in “normal” times but there are still a number of ways to contribute and...
The statement that addiction is a family disease is driven a lot by the age-old debate of “Nature vs. Nurture.” Genetic and environmental variables are at hand with the disease of addiction. The family plays a huge role in the nature vs. nurture concept...
