Archives for 2010

In the immortal words of John Lennon, another year is over and a new one's just begun. Isn't it interesting how we, as a society, agree that this is the time to give ourselves and our lives a complete and total new makeover? We have decided that at this time of the year we will revisit the year we're leaving behind, dissecting it to see what worked for us and what didn't. And on top of that, we need to make sure that we meet all of our "resolutions" quickly and perfectly or else we have failed … [Read more...] about New Year’s Resolutions? Try Intentions Instead

Did this holiday season sneak up on you? For me, it was just September, and as I talked with someone about how fast time seemed to be flying, I remember saying “Christmas will be here in about 15 minutes.” How right I was – it’s only 5 minutes away now! Although people look forward to this time of year, there are many stresses that seem to almost be built into it. The holidays promise peace, love, and joy – but for a lot of us they can also bring a heightened risk of loneliness, depression, … [Read more...] about I’ll Be Sane For Christmas

Is there anyone today who doesn’t know someone involved in a 12-Step program? There are 12-Step programs for almost everything we can think of -- alcohol and drug dependency, gambling, eating disorders, compulsive over-spending, sex addiction, smoking, internet addiction, and codependency in relationships, to name but a few. Millions of people all over the world attend these meetings on a regular basis; in fact, it seems that anyone not involved in such a program is now in the minority. I … [Read more...] about Evolving Beyond the 12 Steps: The 16-Step Model looks to Empower, not Shame, on the Road to Recovery

“Maggie” was one of my clients during my 16 years as an addictions counsellor in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Soft-spoken, with a surprisingly sly sense of humour she shared with those she knew well, this 37-year-old mother of three struggled with a number of addictions,  including one to the local bingo hall. For Maggie, going to bingo was like a drug: she could simply have a good time for a while and not have to think about the many hardships in her life. Two or three afternoons a week, … [Read more...] about BC Gambling Industry Poses Problems for the Vulnerable

What is it about those voices in our heads? You know the ones I’m talking about – it’s the Committee of Eggspurts that rents space up there, constantly giving us a negative running commentary about everything we see, feel, and experience. For most of us, our Committee is a combination of arrogance and insecurity, and we bounce back and forth, back and forth, between those two ends of that particular dichotomy. Is there anyone alive who is immune to those voices? Hmmm, I wonder. Perhaps the … [Read more...] about The Voices in our Heads