With addiction, pleasure and enjoyment become deeply linked with the drug or behavior of choice. Once a client stops the behavior they often feel that “something is missing,” or that they do not know how to enjoy life to the fullest. I’d like to share some of my approaches to working with the “discovery” phase of recovery because I think that they can help anyone live a more enjoyable and creative life. In mental health, we often use a 3-phase conceptualization of healing which was fi...

Three, easy to remember, words that basically sum up “coping skills.” Try this out next time you are feeling upset or dissatisfied in any way. Aware – We have to have enough distance from what’s happening to be aware of it. If we are “mindlessly” doing something, or impulsively doing something, we are not aware. Accept – Not accepting reality can take many forms: a vague irritability, righteous anger, feeling like a victim, acting distant or shut-down, etc. I...