This is a practice that helps me have a much more grounded, grateful, and fulfilling day. I stumbled on it, in the middle of a ritual that I do first thing in the morning. It is a mix of things that I have learned that just seemed to make sense, at a pivotal time. I […]
[dki default="Addiction Treatment Miami"]
Like Cancer, HIV, and many others, alcoholism and drug addiction are both considered a bona fide disease. They are chronic, progressive and fatal diseases if not treated. Treating the disease of addiction and the fallout from substance abuse can be incredibly challenging for healthcare professionals. Most Mds have had less than 6 hours of total training in this field. As a Certified Addiction Professional I have overseen the successful recovery of literally hundreds of patients. Their success has hinged upon three tenets: Honesty, Open-Mindedness, and Willingness. Whether you are a family member of someone struggling with these issues, or are grappling with addiction yourself, you do not have to go on suffering. I am able to offer the following substance abuse related services:
- One on one counseling on substance abuse issues
- Court mandated drug and alcohol assessments
- Family drug or alcohol intervention planning and facilitation
- Counseling for adult children of alcoholics
- Counseling of spouses and other codependent family members
- Relapse prevention techniques and training
- Sober living guidance
Stages of Addiction
Addiction can be seen as a set of experiences that move in a specific direction. These experiences bring about changes within a person.
- becomes a way of life
- continually changing
Charlene Lewis Sex Therapist Featured on Miami’s 880AM “The Biz” Radio Show
Charlene Lewis Sex Therapy Radio from joshlew on Vimeo.
Marcel San Pedro – LCSW, Addiction, Recovery, Relationship Specialist
Therapist Background Marcel San Pedro, MS, is a Registered Mental Health Counseling with the state of Florida. He is graduate of Nova Southeastern University with a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. Marcel comes to the practice of psychotherapy and counseling after a successful career in the Media industry. He has 20 years of experience […]
What is addiction? The latest findings.
There has been a lot of talk lately on what addiction is and how everything we thought as professionals about addiction is wrong. In the past one of the ways to treat addiction was with “tough love”. When I work with an addict, one of the first things I see is an individual who is […]
Can addiction be completely cured?
Can addiction be cured? Is there any way of reserving it? Charlene: No, addiction can’t be cured. ASAM, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, their definition for addiction is basically that it’s a primary chronic disease of the brain and it deals with brain rewards, motivation, memory and all the related circuitry. Basically, the disease […]
What is the goal of addiction treatment
What’s the goal of addiction treatment? Charlene: The goal of treatment is to bring back healthy sexuality into the individual’s lifestyle. Unlike with the other substances where it’s totally eradicated and you don’t use a substance anymore, with sex it’s not so much about we’re not going to have sex. It’s we’re going to learn […]
What is addiction?
What is addiction? Charlene: Addiction is described as a pathological relationship with a mood altering experience. Basically what that means is for the alcoholic, the first time they get drunk, that experience of ease and comfort that they feel. Or for the gambler, the first time that they win, the high that they get. It’s […]
When do symptioms of addiction go away? When can I get some relief?
When can I expect the cravings to go away? When would an addict start actually feeling relief or I guess when does it become less of a struggle and more about living life? How long does that take. Charlene: I think that’s different for every person. Unfortunately I would love to be able to wave […]
Treating trauma in addicts and alcoholics
https://littlefishaudio.wistia.com/medias/aexrdvovgq?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640 Charlene: Absolutely. About 80% of the clients that I see have trauma. This is always a really tricky subject because a lot of times when I bring up the word “trauma” in a session, people can get very defensive and say, “No, no, I haven’t had an trauma. My childhood was great. Everything was […]
Addiction Treatment: How is addiction treated?
What do you see in terms of treatment. You work at a treatment facility and you worked at a treatment facility for a while. What course of action is generally taken? Charlene: I think depending on how far the disease has progressed would be the level of care. There’s different types of treatment. There is […]
What is EMDR and how is it helpful in treating addiction?
Therapist Charlene Lewis discusses her use of EMDR to treat addicts in her practice. You use EMDR. What is EMDR? Charlene: I use EMDR when treating the trauma in the sex addicts. EMDR was founded by Francine Shapiro. Basically it is reprocessing. Desensitizing, reprocessing, installing healthier cognitions, healthier ways of thinking. The way that I […]
Are Alcoholics and Addicts often untreated sex addicts?
This video speaks to the prevalence of sex addiction with patients that have been abstinent from alcohol and drugs and long term “sobriety.” Do you see sex addiction threaten patients with long-term sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous? Does it threaten their abstinence? Charlene: It can. It absolutely can because again it goes […]
12 ways to manage stress
Stress can affect just about anyone and is caused by several different factors including work overload, death of a family member, job loss, financial problems and even crowds. When you are stressed out, you can feel nauseous, dizzy and tired. Although stress can be difficult to deal with at times, it can be managed. Here […]
Process addictions
In the past, addiction referred to substances like drugs and alcohol that affected the brain. In 2011, the American Society of Addiction Medicine broadened the definition of addiction to include process addictions. (1) Instead of an addiction to substances, process addictions revolve around an addiction to behaviors. The behaviors provide reward and relief to people, […]
Gratitude: a fundamental practice for recovery of addictions.
When looking for a way to improve one’s happiness in life, it’s important to understand the importance of gratitude. It is through gratitude that a person can find much appreciation and thankfulness for both the little and big things in life. From one’s family to one’s career to one’s home, there is so much to be thankful for. If a […]
Addiction: the family disease.
According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD), addiction is a family problem. In fact, there is an entire section of their website filled with resources to help you deal with an addiction in your family. (1) Hazelden. a nonprofit organization that helps people who faceaddiction in their lives, found that 77% of those people they […]
Alcoholism and Drug Addiction- Stage 3
At this stage, the addict’s life is breaking down emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally. this breakdown is as a result of the stress caused by the acting out. The acting out no longer produces pleasure and the pain is inevitable. The addict will begin behaving in ways they never thought possible and they get to […]
Struggling with intimacy in recover
Chemical dependency and intimacy dysfunction are closely linked and both need to be treated simultaneously. To address intimacy in recovery it is crucial to treat the chemical dependency first. However, if issues of intimacy and sexuality are not addressed by the therapist, the patient will find it difficult to bring up this topic on his/her […]
Alcoholism and Drug Addiction – Stage Two
Stage Two: Lifestyle Change The behavior of the addict is the most visible part of [intlink id=”254″ type=”page”]addiction[/intlink]. The behavior generally occurs after the addictive personality develops. These behaviors are signs that the person is out of control internally. In Stage One an individual may experience some of the out of control behaviors but in Stage […]
Alcoholism and Drug Addiction- Stage One
Stage One: Internal Change The addicts’ personality is permanently altered. The basic illusion [intlink id=”254″ type=”page”]of addiction[/intlink] is based on finding relief through objects. The journey begins when the addict experiences the first high/mood change. In the mood change there is the illusion of control, comfort, and perfection. Examples: Compulsive gamblers = first win Compulsive spenders = purchase […]
Anxiety and Stress
Is therapy confidential?
In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and psychotherapist. No information from therapy sessions may be disclosed without prior written permission from the client. However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include: Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse. The therapist […]
Is medication a substitute for therapy?
In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what’s best for you. It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating […]
What is therapy like?
Every [intlink id=”16″ type=”category”]therapy[/intlink] session is unique and caters to each individual and their specific goals. It is standard for therapists to discuss the primary issues and concerns in your life during therapy sessions. It is common to schedule a series of weekly sessions, where each session lasts around fifty minutes. Therapy can be short-term, focusing […]
How can therapy help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in [intlink id=”16″ type=”category”]psychotherapy[/intlink]. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing […]
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you’ve faced, there’s nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. […]
Is therapy right for me?
Seeking out therapy is an individual choice. There are many reasons why people come to therapy. Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing psychological issues, or problems with anxiety or depression. Other times it is in response to unexpected changes in one’s life such as a divorce or work transition. Many seek the advice of […]
Can I drink non-alcoholic beer if I am an Alcoholic?
This is not suggested because even these drinks have some alcohol content. So basically 6 non-alcoholic beers is the equivalent to one beer. Alcoholics drink for the effect produced by the alcohol. So if you start drinking these and begin feeling some effect chances are you will switch to the real thing. Also the mind […]
Never drink again?
Many young adults who suffer from addiction have this same question. It’s scary to think you can never have a drink again. Thankfully it is one day at a time. If you use some form of treatment,/12 step program, it can be done and you will have a complete and fulfilling life. Remember alcohol is […]
What are triggers?
Triggers are events, people, situations that may lead you back to using. Two major components that underlie the addictive process are excitement seeking and tension reduction. Any of these two components can lead a person back into the addiction cycle. Parents, friends, anger, sadness, clubs, loneliness, anxiety, unmet sexual needs, depression, criticism. In other words […]
What do I do if I have to go to an event where there is alcohol?
Alcohol is legal and it is inevitable to be around. I f you have to be somewhere where there is alcohol the most important thing is having a plan of action and remembering that you are powerless over this substance. Taking your own car, brining someone with you, having phone numbers of people you can […]
How do I know if I need treatment?
If you have tried to stop multiple times with no avail, chances are you need help. Treatment is helpful because there is a level of accountability and because of the group nature the feelings of isolation slip away. Some individuals may need to be taken out of their environment for a certain period of time […]
My partner also drinks and uses drugs, is that going to be a problem for me?
If an individual is determined to get help for their addiction, I believe nothing can stop them. At the same time, they may have to make difficult choices. Recovery is something only you can do for yourself, but you cannot do it alone. Some people have partners who are social drinkers/users, if they are supportive […]
I am a strong person and have a lot of will power, why can’t I stop?
Addiction has nothing to do with will power. Just like with cancer or diabetes, you can’t “will” away theses diseases, you can’t keep yourself from having a heart attack or make your heart stop beating. It’s a humbling experiencing to recognize the powerlessness over the substance.
Do I have to stop socializing with my friends if I admit I have a drug problem?
In early recovery it is suggested that you stay away from old people, places and things. Because we have lost the choice to use or not to use and have recognized powerlessness, if we continue to be around the drugs and alcohol it will make it very difficult to say no to the drug or […]
Is addiction progressive? Will things get better on their own?
Yes. Addiction is a progressive disease that if left untreated can cause death. There are 3 stages: early, middle and late. In the early stages of addiction is when an individual uses drugs with no negative consequences. This stage is called experimentation. It is enjoying a drink or smoking a joint with friends and not […]
Why and how did I become an addict?
Addiction may stem from 3 components: biological, social, and psychological. If you have a history of addiction in your family you may be genetically predisposed (just like if there is a history of diabetes, heart disease, cancer etc..). If you grow up in area where drugs are predominant and everyone uses chances are you will […]
If my problem is marijuana can I still drink?
Chances are if you are addicted to one substance, especially if it has become a psychological dependence, abstinence from all mood and mind altering substances are the only way to go. All mood/mind altering substances affect the same area in the brain and the brain can not distinguish between the substances. So what happens is […]
What if I don’t believe in God?
No problem. Spirituality and religion are not the same concept. If you are an addict and have lost the power to choose whether you drink or use, what you need is a power to help you regain choice. What is really needed is a Power greater than you and the substance you are using. Some […]
What is a sponsor?
A sponsor is someone who like you tried to control their addiction, made empty promises, felt the shame and guilt as a result of their addiction, were either physically or emotionally addicted to a substance or activity and found a way out of the vicious cycle. They are individuals who follow spiritual principles to cope […]
What are the 12 step meetings about?
Because this disease centers in the mind, which is where our thoughts, emotions, impulses, feelings, and processes stem from, it is difficult to recover ALONE. Meetings provide the help we need. At meetings you will find other individuals who struggled with the same problem and have found a solution. There only purpose is to stay […]
Do I have to go to 12 step meetings?
12 step recovery programs do not have a monopoly on the recovery process. This being said, millions of addicts and alcoholics have fully recovered using the 12 steps. No other plan of action has had anything like this success rate. This is how I see it: If you were diagnosed with another disease and the […]
Can I learn to control my drinking?
If you are an alcoholic, you will not likely learn to control your drinking. Once the line has been crossed into alcoholism, an alcoholic may however become adamant about finding a way to manage their drinking. This is alcoholic thinking. There is a saying that “once a pickle, never again a cucumber”. This doesn’t mean […]
How do I know if I am an addict?
Addiction is the only disease that needs to be self-diagnosed. An addict is a person who experiences a loss of control, continues to use drugs, alcohol, or a specific activity despite adverse consequences. It is an individual who becomes psychologically and/or physically dependent on this specific activity or substance.