Claudia Black’s “Undaunted Hope” Shares Stories of Inspiration

Dr. Claudia Black’s new book Undaunted Hope is not just filled with stories of addiction and recovery; it’s brimming with tales of lives made new, of trauma understood and uprooted, and of the personal transformation that can come from asking for help and receiving it. Meadows Senior Fellow Dr. Black/(for CBC:)Meadows Senior Fellow Dr. Black is also the founder of the Claudia Black Young Adult Center. Alongside other renowned treatment experts, including Patrick Carnes, Tian Dayton, Peter Levine, Resmaa Menakem, and Richard Schwartz, Dr. Black provides compassionate and insightful commentary on real-life recovery stories and reveals a path to healing for those who have similar struggles. Read More

Why the 12-Step Approach Still Works

In the world of recovery programs, however, there are a number of reasons why the 12-Step approach has stood the test of time and varying trends along the way. For nearly 100 years, this proven method has helped those who struggle with addiction to not only get well, but stay well. Read More

Healthy Intimacy In Recovery

If you’re finding your way free from addiction, building intimacy in recovery may be one of your goals. If it isn’t, you may be wondering why it’s such a big deal. If you take a look at how addiction may have disrupted your existing relationships or made it nearly impossible to form healthy new ones, it may become clear. For anyone going through recovery, it’s good to know why intimacy is important and how you can rediscover connection, trust, and healthy relationships. Read More

Podcasts and How They Help

Whatever you’re interested in, no matter how niche, there’s probably a podcast (or several) that will appeal to you. And unlike, say, social media, one of the benefits of podcasts is the generally positive tone in the facilitation of discussion that helps and informs. Read More

5 Benefits of Group Therapy

Back in the 17th century, English poet John Donne famously wrote that “no man is an island.” While the world has changed considerably since Donne’s treatise against isolationism, the importance of being surrounded by a community, rather than sojourning alone, has never been more on point. Read More

Introducing Recovery Replay

The fact that everyone seems to have a podcast these days is not lost on Dominic Lawson. As the host and producer of Beyond Theory podcast for Meadows Behavioral Healthcare (MBH), the recovery podcast vet has discovered something extraordinary about the decidedly old-school medium: the ability to tell a complete, three-dimensional narrative. This approach has helped MBH’s newest addiction recovery podcast, Recovery Replay, stand out in a crowd. Read More

The Accountability Factor

By Anna McKenzie What’s the key to staying in recovery long-term? We know that our social groups have a certain degree of influence on our thinking and behavior. If the people around us are sober, positive, and supportive, we are encouraged to pursue our recovery process; if the people around… Read More

Journaling as an Act of Self-Care

By Christa Banister While it’s probably buried in a landfill somewhere after a number of big moves over the years, one of my 10-year-old self’s most treasured possessions was, hands down, my tomato-red journal with a heavy-duty gold lock. There was something incredibly liberating about being the only one who… Read More

Bah! Humbug! Why It’s OK to Be a Scrooge

By Wesley Gallagher It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting … you know the drill. But for many of us, the holiday season is not the most wonderful time of the year. Sometimes, it can be the hardest. And for as much as… Read More

The Devastating Effects of Addiction

By Beau Black How does addiction affect you? Substance use disorder impacts all of us, directly or indirectly; the effects of addiction may be physical, relational, financial, or societal. The effects of addiction on those around us, like family, friends, and co-workers, are wide-ranging, but what about… Read More