Self Soothing Through the 5 Senses
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC Mindfulness is the ability to steer clear from worry and anxiety bringing one’s attention to the present moment. Feeling overwhelmed and ill-equipped to deal with life’s challenges is not uncommon early in sobriety. The use of drugs and alcohol is no longer an option, norContinue Reading
Overcoming Addiction: Finding Peace at Passages
By Dr. Kerri Heath “Reserving judgment is a matter of infinite hope.” -F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby I love visiting Passages in Malibu, as it brings a sense of peaceful re-centering every time I visit. The beautiful ocean views and perfectly groomed landscaping create the context, but it isContinue Reading
Online Dating in Addiction Recovery
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC Google “online dating tips” and you will be inundated with article after article ranging from top ranking dating sites to online dating safety tips, to rules of dating, to how to set up a winning profile (or avoid a terrible one). “The Dating Game” ThereContinue Reading
Leaving Addiction and Dismantling Fear: Consciousness Drained of All Doubts
By Dr. Kerri Heath I look forward to meeting with the owner of Passages Malibu, Chris Prentiss, who has dedicated his entire life to helping others reach their highest potential. Being in the same room with someone who is committed to helping you expand and grow is not an opportunityContinue Reading
Recognizing Early Signs of Mania & Depression
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “To heal illness, begin by restoring balance.” –Carolone Myss Individuals who struggle with the ups and downs of bipolar disorder (along with their loved ones) can tell you that there are definite changes in mood and behavior preceding the onset of mania or depression. SomeContinue Reading
A Safe Passage from Addiction with Non-12-Step Luxury Treatment
By Dr. Kerri Heath Tucked away in the mountains of Malibu, overlooking the gorgeous Pacific Ocean, sits a rehabilitation center that boasts of being the safe passage to find the other side of pain, guilt, and remorse where healing occurs. Visitors typically arrive at the lowest point in their livesContinue Reading
Benefits of Sound Therapy
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “A sound mind in a sound body, is a short, but full description of a happy state in this world” -John Locke Sound Therapy—the use of vibrations to affect cellular resonance (the frequency at which an object naturally vibrates). Cellular resonance is found in eachContinue Reading
Overcoming Addiction by Finding Your Flow
By Dr. Kerri Heath “Being in Flow is a mystical or transcendent state where you go beyond your sense of self and you experience exceptional feats of strength and endurance of creativity.” –Glen Gerreyn One of the best ways to overcome addiction is to find your flow. Your flow isContinue Reading
Goal Setting: Rethinking the Past Within the Context of Your Future
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”- Michael Jordan One fact remains true: Individuals who have struggled with substance use and addiction within their lifetime learned to develop a level of resilience and grit thatContinue Reading
Power to Overcome Addiction: Three Steps to Freedom
By Dr. Kerri Heath Admitting that you are facing a life-threatening problem like alcoholism and drug addiction can seem overwhelming. Thoughts and excuses may run through your mind like “there is no way I can stop” or “I am not strong enough to quit.” The pain and problems that youContinue Reading
Disclosing Your Addiction at Work
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “Complete honesty is not the same thing as full disclosure.” ― Ron Brackin When an individual seeks help for an addiction or substance use disorder, it is not surprising that other areas of that person’s life begin to shift as well. The workplace environment is noContinue Reading
How to Support Loved Ones Through Mental Health Challenges
By Jennifer McDougall Discussing mental health issues such as depression, anger, or suicidal thoughts is often shrouded in myths and misconceptions. One common myth is that asking someone about their emotional distress could increase their risk of self-harm or harm to others. However, opening a dialogue is crucial to showingContinue Reading
Words Matter: Conversations About Addiction
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “A man’s character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation.” –Mark Twain We’ve all heard the saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But the field of psychology shows us words do matter.Continue Reading
What is Psychodrama?
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. –William Shakespeare Developed by social scientist, Jacob L. Moreno, MD, psychodramaContinue Reading
5150 Psychiatric Hold: What You Need to Know
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC There are many misconceptions regarding the detention of mentally disordered people for evaluation and treatment. This article will help to explain the ins and outs of a 5150 Article 1 psychiatric hold under the state of California. In addition, differing facilities and health insurance policiesContinue Reading
Birth of a Nation
by Chris Prentiss Tomorrow, July 4th, 2018 is the two hundred and forty-first day since the thirteen original Colonies signed our Declaration of Independence, declaring that we were no longer thirteen English colonies, but thirteen states of the united states of America and that we would no longer be dominatedContinue Reading
Sexuality and Substance Use Disorders
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity.”–George Takei Substance use disorders do not discriminate based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion. In fact,Continue Reading
Outside-the-Box Approaches to Overcoming Addiction
by Kimberly Hayes The 12-Step program is what comes to mind when you hear someone talk about recovery from alcohol and drug abuse. However, there are many treatment methods out there that offer personal empowerment beyond breaking bad habits. Here are a few alternative therapies that can be pursued onContinue Reading
Dance/Movement Therapy at Passages Rehab
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “The truest expression of a people is in its dances and its music. Bodies never lie.” –Agnes de Mille Dance/Movement Therapy—(DMT) is the psychotherapeutic use of movement (a core component of dance) to promote emotional, social, cognitive and physical integration of the individual. Used asContinue Reading
Passages Malibu Teaches Resilience and Assertiveness in Addiction Treatment
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.” –Steve Maraboli Learning from past negative experiences including substance use and addiction can actually serve as your greatest asset when building a life free from drug and alcohol use. The cultivation ofContinue Reading