How to Pick a Good Therapist
How to Pick a Good Therapist by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. One of my favorite professors often espoused that, “when it comes to therapists, the competition is at the level of mediocrity.” Finding the right therapist can be quite an undertaking. In the world of therapists there are countless therapeutic modalities, certifications, qualifications, and credentials. This […]
Rebound Relationships in Recovery
by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. If (as the current paradigm shift in recovery suggests) the opposite of addiction is connection not sobriety, then it makes perfect sense that initiating new romantic relationships early on in recovery is commonplace. As with so many facets of recovery, there is an abundance of “advice” on relationships. The recovery “wisdom” on […]
Highlights from The Surgeon General’s Report
Alcohol, Drugs, and Health: Highlights from The Surgeon General’s Report Tom Horvath, Ph.D., and Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health, released in November, has received considerable attention. The massive effort involved in creating this document is in itself worthy of respect. The opening pages list […]
Self-Care in Recovery: H.A.L.T. at the Crossroads
Self-Care in Recovery H.A.L.T. At The Crossroads by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. I recently received a request from a reader to examine H.A.L.T. in light of current research. H.A.L.T. is a commonly used acronym by 12-Step circles in discussions of triggers and relapse prevention, and it stands for hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. It is based […]
How the Mind Works
How the Mind Works: No Need For A Vacation, Your Mind’s Already On One by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. We like to think we are in control, making conscious decisions, and acting of our own free will. Causes lead to effects, stimuli trigger responses, nature carries on in an orderly fashion. We are thoughtful, contemplative, questioning […]
New Year’s Resolutions
by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. Turn New Year’s Resolutions into Lasting Change Achieving lasting change can be elusive. Whether you make resolutions at the dawn of the New Year or at other times in your life, we all make promises to ourselves to change. However, many times the firm commitments we make to ourselves fade like […]
Changing Habits: Learning to Cope with the Urges
Adapted from Pages 32 and 34 of the SMART Recovery Handbook, 3rd Edition This post has been updated from the original version that first ran in 2015. With so many people on day two of their 2018 New Year’s resolutions, it seems appropriate to offer some basic strategies for coping with urges that tempt us […]
Dr. Dealer: America’s Prescription Drug Epidemic
by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. The Surgeon General’s Report and the US Prescription Drug Epidemic Trusted Physician or Neighborhood Drug Dealer? It is no secret that the United States has a serious problem when it comes to prescription drugs. Heroin’s renaissance is puzzling to many, but the trail of evidence leads back to our own medical […]
In Memoriam of David H. Jacobs, Ph.D.
David H. Jacobs, Ph.D. 1945-2016 In Memoriam Our brilliant and beloved colleague, David Jacobs, died last month. He had been with Practical Recovery since 2003. David was a therapist’s therapist. In our era most therapists rush to learn the latest evidence-based techniques. David was not opposed to new ideas, but his focus was on continually […]
Defects of Character: A Defective Way of “Helping”
by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D. Defects of Character: Helpful or Hurtful? This week’s article explores the widely accepted, rarely contemplated idea that identifying defects of character is helpful in recovery. Fault, failing, weakness, flaw, shortcoming, and inadequacy are all synonyms for the word defect. Character refers to the mental and moral qualities of an individual. Thus, […]