Sober Conversations

Today’s episode is a conversation with Patrick, a man in long-term addiction recovery now in his 30’s.  We discuss how it is to be “30–Something” and sober in this culture and what Patrick has learned about a balanced, healthy way of life. Surrender to what and what is it that leads an individual to ask for help? Part of Patrick’s recovery has been his online presence at SpiritualRiver.com where he has shared 2 million words of well written and thoughtful content over the years. Patrick is a vibrant, healthy and sincere man who has stepped up to help others on this healing journey of addiction recovery. Join us for this grounded, real-deal conversation.

You may have heard of DBT, but what exactly is Dialectical Behavior Therapy and how does it help people recover from addictions? Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Chris Harrison joins the conversation today to describe this exciting and effective tool to help people find and live, “A life worth living” in the aftermath of addiction.

Dr. Harrison equates this well conceived and executed work to a fantastic form of bio/neurofeedback with very impressive results. DBT is structured around ancient Buddhist principles coupled with contemporary brain science offering up a course in mastery–required for addiction recovery for anyone struggling with these issues.

Dr. Harrison is a former director of The Sequoia Center, a chemical dependency treatment facility on the San Francisco Peninsula and currently runs a private psychotherapy practice in Redwood City, California working with addiction issues in individuals and families. Chris is one of those humans who lights up a conversation with his verve for life coupled with a masterful skill set and depth of experience. Learn more about Dr. Harrison and DBT at these two resources: drchristopherharrison.com and behavioraltech.org.

This episode: Family addiction treatment and a father’s perspective about his family with addiction. Herby, Chris and Dennis discuss the evolution of understanding the behavior and nature of addiction from a family member’s point of view and what helps the addict and each family member get well. Listen in as Dennis tells his story with courage and conviction and reveals that the most important thing he can do for his chemically dependent daughter and family is to get and stay healthy himself. An important and sober conversation. Join us.

If our relationships aren’t working, nothing seems to work, right? In the episode, learn why criticism, defensiveness, contempt and stonewalling are the, “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” or the most certain predictors of relationship failure–and what to do about it. Dr. Bob Navarra is a licensed family therapist who for many years has worked with couples in addiction recovery. Dr. Navarra has extensive training in the Gottman Method which means he’s interested in teaching a “relational” approach to a more satisfactory marriage or partnership. This means he helps individuals to see how their parts in a relationship interact and affect the whole relationship. As all of health care is beginning to look at more holistic and integrated models, Dr. Navarra brings this most helpful and cutting edge work to couples in addiction recovery. Bob explains that couples with addiction as an issue, have FOUR times greater divorce rates and how this better understanding of what’s actually happening to our relationships can hopefully turn that statistic around.

Dr. Navarra is in private practice in Palo Alto California and a research associate at the Mental Health Research Institute there. He is also the co-founder of the Center for Couples in Recovery. Additionally, Dr. Navarra will be conducting his practice based research at CRC Health Group’s, Bayside Marin, a highly respected addiction treatment facility in Marin County, California and Edgewood Seattle Addiction Services in the state of Washington. If you’re in relationship and want it to be a healthier and happier place, listen in to the wisdom of this learned, and communicative man. Please learn more at www.RobertNavarra.net.

Episode # 18 is an up-tone and hopeful conversation with Dr. Evan Miller, Director of an extraordinary private residential treatment program called, The Landing, an addiction treatment facility in Newport Beach, California for men. Dr. Miller is a clinical psychologist who brings his extensive training in depth psychology AND what he calls, “Applied athletic performance enhancement”–in other words an evidence based, mind-body approach–to his work at The Landing along with their comprehensive, wellness oriented program. I think you’ll agree that Evan is as down-to-Earth and real-deal of a doctor as they come. You can find out more about The Landing at TheLanding.crchealth.com or by calling 800 647 0042.

Ever wonder why YOU feel crazy when it’s a loved one who is drinking or drugging out of control? Lauded author, speaker and researcher, Lisa Frederiksen joins Sober Conversations for an encore discussion about her groundbreaking concept called, Secondhand Drinking. Lisa’s forthcoming book, (2014) by the same title will help you understand why being in the environment of a family member, friend, co-worker or person in public can cause unwanted changes and side effects in the way YOUR brain works. Do non smokers want to be exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke?–NOT…same concept–and now that the brain science is rock solid about Secondhand drinking, you’ll want to listen in as Lisa makes what can be an uncomfortable conversation become blame, guilt and shame free. Lisa is the founder of BreakingTheCylcles.com where you’ll find more information about Secondhand Drinking and a wide variety of invaluable resources regarding addiction treatment and recovery.

Today’s episode # 16 is with George Bryant, the Civilized Caveman with a discussion about wellness lifestyles. George is a retired military veteran after spending 12 years as a Marine in such places as Somalia and Afghanistan. Our conversation explores George’s own journey from ill health including an eating disorder, to his current status of vibrant, robust health he attributes to the Paleo Lifestyle and ancestral health principles. If you’re in the military or interested in addiction recovery and lifestyles that deliver optimal health, joy and productivity, you’re going to want to listen in. George is a one-of-a-kind, optimistic, loving and giving man and as he’ll say, if he wasn’t well–he couldn’t “pay it forward” as he so admirably exemplifies. Find George here: CivilizedCaveManCooking.com, facebook.com/CivilizedCaveman or twitter.com/cookingcaveman.

Sober Conversations visits with the creator and developer of Practical Recovery and Smart Recovery, Dr. Tom Horvath in San Diego, California. Tom shares his interesting and controversial views and approaches about addiction, the pros and cons of the disease model and where he envisions addiction recovery treatment headed in the near future. Dr. Horvath brings clarity to his self-empowering approach which can be at odds with a more conventional 12 Step, “powerless” model. If you’re interested in exploring similarities rather than differences, listen in to this conversation with a very practical and smart man genuinely investing his life’s work in helping people with addiction issues.

A sober conversation with Bill White, a licensed counselor in the realm of dual diagnosis in addiction. Bill works with people experiencing depression, anxiety and other mood disorders that very often go hand-in-hand with addiction. Here’s what other people are saying about Bill. “He is clever, straight forward, book, people, and street smart while deeply empathetic. Bill has been where many of us are now.” Bill’s online presence, Chipur.com is a vital resource for people interested in challenging, tackling, overcoming and coming out on top like Bill White has done with his own life regarding these issues. I think you’ll agree after listening to Bill, he’s the perfect combination of your favorite teacher and therapist with a solid dose of authentic, healing, father energy–what the world needs now. Counselor, heal thyself is what Bill is all about so listen in for this important, life affirming and life saving message.

Greg Williams, producer of The Anonymous People discusses his inspiration for making this most important and controversial feature documentary. Greg says, “This is not about me, it’s about the 30 people in the film and the 50 people extensively interviewed representing 2/3 of the American public who are directly and indirectly affected by addiction. Greg upholds a call to action for recovering people everywhere to speak up to help stop the guilt, shame and stigma associated with addiction and addiction recovery. In this win-win approach and his first effort at creating a feature documentary of this far-reaching importance, Greg unapologetically and effectively investigates how anonymity might just be part of the problem. Listen to this important and sober conversation and most definitely find and see, The Anonymous People in a neighborhood theater or venue near you beginning September 2013. More questions? Visit, TheAnonymousPeople.com, facebook.com/TheAnonymousPeopleMovie and ManyFacesOneVoice.org.