Why Specialized Treatment Programs

Specialized addiction treatment programs can make all the difference when it comes to your long-term health and wellness. When looking for the right treatment facility, “becoming alcohol- or drug-free is only a beginning,” says the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). According to their standards, a quality treatment program is one that maximizes physical health, independently treats psychiatric disorders, improves psychological function while also addressing relationship and family issues. Your treatment program should see you as a complete and complex person with unique needs and offer you resources and tools for whole-life healing. Specialized treatment can do just this. Read More

The Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Adult Sexuality

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has the potential to transform the trajectory of your life in a multitude of ways. While the effects of childhood sexual abuse are largely individualized and can manifest at different points throughout your lifespan, commonly reported symptoms and long-term effects include dissociation, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm, relationship difficulties, and addictive or compulsive patterns of behavior. Read More

Breaking Down the Model: Part II – Core Issues

By: Joyce Willis, MC, LPC In Part I of “Breaking Down the Model, the “Nature of the Child” column was discussed. We discussed the history of Pia Mellody’s Model of Developmental Immaturity and how it is incorporated into the Meadows Model and treatment at Meadows Behavioral Healthcare programs. We… Read More

Breaking Down the Model: Part I – History of the Model and the Nature of the Child

By: Joyce Willis, MC, LPC The Model of Developmental Immaturity can be traced back to its creator, Pia Mellody. In the 1970s, while working at The Meadows, she was encountering an increasing number of patients who identified less-than-nurturing or abusive family systems in their childhood — leading to… Read More

What We Do — and When We Do It — Matters

Is it better to exercise first thing in the morning or right after work? We’ve all heard the phrase, “timing is everything.” Carb loading before a big race is smart, but eating a big meal right before bed can negatively impact how well you sleep. It’s important to exercise, eat well, and take care of yourself. But the timing of when you actually do these activities makes a big difference in the end results. Read More

Recovery for Partners of Sex Addicts

By Nancy Greenlee, MAPC, LCPC “I am hurt, and I’m devastated. Being married to my husband is like doing yoga on one leg,” a recent workshop participant said. “I’m trying to hold things together, but I keep crashing down.” She made an excellent analogy of what sexual betrayal, relapse,… Read More

Healing for Partners of Sex Addicts

By: Georgia Fourlas, LMSW, LISAC, CSAT-C There have been many high-profile cases of sexual misbehavior lately in the media. Each case has been accompanied by a barrage of interviews in the media with experts who discuss sexual addiction, excuse-making, compulsive lying, bad behavior, legal actions, and a variety of other… Read More

Compulsive Sexual Behavior Among Military Veterans

Compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) is highly prevalent among men, often co-occurring with psychiatric disorders and traumatic experiences. Psychiatric disorders and trauma are common among military veterans (1). Researchers have noted that some veterans may use sexual behaviors to cope with trauma, and CSB has also been linked to traumatic brain… Read More

Intimate Partner Violence and Love Addiction

By: Rebekah Givens, Behavioral Health Technician, Willow House at The Meadows Imagine that what you crave more than anything else in the world are love and acceptance. Now, imagine that throughout your life, you've continually tried to earn the love of others, yet your efforts come up empty time and again. Read More

Financial Porn

In an age of round-the-clock news dispatches akin to hearing it before it even happened, it’s no wonder those affixed to their personal electronic BFF can appreciate what life was like before the realm of mobile devices, the internet, and social media. It’s also any wonder that intimacy in relationships… Read More