Michael Weinberger tells a powerful story of trauma, mental illness, addiction and recovery which culminated in the development of his own app for recovery. Join me in my interview of Michael as we follow him through his journey to recovery and discuss the development of his app and program called “A Plan For Living”. Michael’s contacts ... Continue Reading

In the last few episodes we have discussed the ways the child gets hurt and looking honestly at the places that hurt child still resides in us.  Meeting that child’s needs is something we grew up unaccustomed to.  Today, we look at the child within and it’s need for play and joy.  Reconnecting with the joyous child inside us becomes the focus of our recovery from addictions and trauma in this episode. Click here for the video of “The Mirror” Read more at ... Continue Reading

Today we speak with Adena Bank Lees,LCSW who specializes in the treatment of trauma and sexual abuse.  She has written two books, the latest of which is a book on covert sexual abuse or the use of a child as an emotional surrogate for the missing spouse.  This form of trauma can be very impacting and is often at the root of addiction. Links from the episode: Peacebuilders Adena’s WebsiteAdena’s book “12 Healing Steps…” on Create Space and on Amazon Read more at ... Continue Reading

This week we dig into those childhood places where we are broken. The ones we have been trying to numb. In this mindfulness exercise we try and show that child the compassion it has always needed in an effort to reconnect with our own healing sense of worthiness. In this way we can begin moving into healthy connection. Read more at http://mindfulrecoverypodcast.libsyn.com/page/1/size/25#iombJmQfOBiqU911.99 ... Continue Reading

Trauma is at the root of all addictions. Connection drives our recovery but healthy connection requires being vulnerable and risking hurt. Learning to do this again is foundational in our recovery because connection is the key to healing. The Opposite of Addiction Is Connection Read more at http://mindfulrecoverypodcast.libsyn.com/page/1/size/25#iombJmQfOBiqU911.99 ... Continue Reading

Therapists also deal with brokenness. We use that brokenness to become spaces of healing in the room with the patient. Here is a companion article about this that I wrote for the “Connectfulness” blog. Read more at http://mindfulrecoverypodcast.libsyn.com/page/1/size/25#iombJmQfOBiqU911.99 ... Continue Reading

Compassion is something we all strive for and often the last thing we show ourselves. Often this is because we were shown so little. It is a learned skill. This week we begin learning how to see ourselves through compassionate eyes and begin caring for ourselves the way we would a beloved child. Read more at http://mindfulrecoverypodcast.libsyn.com/page/1/size/25#iombJmQfOBiqU911.99 ... Continue Reading

Guilt is a reasonable response to things I have done wrong. Shame is the response that says I am those bad things. We talk about the difference in this episode and how to keep our healthy guilt from becoming toxic shame. The 12 steps can be useful in leading us down that path. We create a mindful and meditative space to discern the difference between these two emotions as they arise within us.In the effort to rid ourselves of toxic shame. Read more at ... Continue Reading

Hanging on to resentment keeps us in bondage to our trauma and addictions. Through forgiveness we find freedom from that bondage. We do not excuse behavior but decide that we will no longer allow it to control us and move forward past it by finding forgiveness. Come with me in this episode on a journey through forgiveness and find the release it offers through our directed mindfulness exercise. Read more at http://mindfulrecoverypodcast.libsyn.com/page/1/size/25#iombJmQfOBiqU911.99 ... Continue Reading

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