ADHD, Income Taxes, and Unopened Envelopes

By Bonnie A. DenDooven, MC, LAC Many Americans have a visceral, gut-wrenching reaction to the terms “IRS” and “taxes”. It is a response quite similar to the way certain war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) overreact to the sound of a car backfiring. For those who suffer… Read More

Compulsive Exercise: A Good Thing Gone Wrong

At 39 weeks pregnant, a runner recently made national headlines following the completion of a marathon. She ran 26.2 miles. Her doctor gave her permission to run an impressive 13.1 miles of the race, yet she opted to double her doctor’s orders. She ran the entire race and then embarked… Read More

A Look Back to the Future: 9/11 Revisited

I spent many years on Wall Street – before my years in recovery and before I became the therapist I am today. I worked in international banking, traded physical commodities for conglomerates, and later worked for a large brokerage firm on the trading desk in the High Yield “Junk Bond”… Read More

The Killing of Bin Laden and the Search for Meaning

“The scenes played out on TV and computer screens all across the nation – people spilling into the streets in jubilation over the news that Osama bin Laden had been captured and killed. Some recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Some sang the national anthem. Some clapped. Some cheered.” “For the… Read More

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy at The Meadows

Upon arriving at The Meadows, many patients are charmed by the view of equine activities at nearby ranches. They frequently ask about having Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) as part of their primary treatment program. As a direct result of these requests, EAP is among the newest offerings coming to… Read More

Bessel van der Kolk on Traumatic Memory

Bessel van der Kolk, Clinical Consultant for The Meadows, was recently mentioned in an article on PsychCentral. On her blog “Healing Together for Couples”, Suzanne Phillips cites Dr. van der Kolk’s classic text, The Body Keeps Score: “In his famous work on traumatic memories, Bessel van der Kolk (1994)… Read More

The Co-Addicted Tango: Pia Mellody’s Theory of Love Addiction and Love Avoidance

Note: This article was originally published in the Spring 2005 issue of MeadowLark, the magazine for alumni of The Meadows. By Lawrence S. Freundlich When Ms. “Crazy for Love” meets Mr. “Give Me Some Room to Breathe,” the stage is set for what Pia Mellody calls “The Co-Addicted Tango.” Ms. Read More

The Electricity of Carried Shame

Note: This article originally appeared in Fall 2005 of MeadowLark, the magazine for alumni of The Meadows. The Electricity of Carried ShameBy Lawrence S. Freundlich Children need and expect love and nurturing from their parents. This expectation is built into the genes of the human infant, who needs affirmation… Read More

An Excerpt from “Deceived: Facing Sexual Betrayal, Lies and Secrets”

This article originally appeared in the Spring/Summer 2009 edition of The Cutting Edge. Author’s note: Nearly a decade ago, I began to work with women confronting sexual betrayal. It was this professional experience that inspired me to write Deceived: Facing Sexual Betrayal, Lies and Secrets, a book for female partners… Read More

Child Abuse, Neglect, and Character Defects

By John Bradshaw Note: This article was originally published in the Spring 2004 edition of Cutting Edge, the online newsletter of The Meadows. One of the most insidious effects of child neglect and abuse is their impact on the “character” foundation. Addiction, obsessive-compulsive behavior, and the codependency that fuels it… Read More