H.O.P.E.

" Having Options Plus Empathy "

" you just stay with personal authenticity and truth "

At South Shore Mental Health, Wellness and Pastoral Counseling, our belief is that true healing begins when we have an open heart to receive the compassion of another, and trust that the counselor will receive your story with understanding: empathy. In compassion we come together side by side, shoulder to shoulder and walk along hearing the truth of another’s pain and challenges along their lifeline. As a specialist in the area of addiction what does this specifically mean you may ask yourself? Well, there is an intensive amount of work on the neurobiology of the brain; how the brains natural opiates work to manipulate our behaviors and often thoughts. Second, there is training in understanding how synthetic opioids, prescribed and illicit (street drugs) alcohol and other addictive behaviors impact the biology of the brain directly and impact thoughts that we call in recovery, “triggers.” There truly is a science to addiction. And that science can have root in our coding,

another name for DNA. These as most already know, are the building blocks to our own biological system given to us by both our parents. As we move into our adolescent years, the learned mental habits in our family system of anxiety and fear of social situations, stemming from feeling unaccepted or anxious and fearful for many reasons along the way, but for sure stemming from our families of origin, can be problematic as well. In this last case CBT cognitive behavioral therapies and unpacking thoughts utilizing “thought trackers” over the course of a day, week and month can be extremely useful. So with the heart not the head at the root of our approach here, I am dedicated to being a witness, an informed witness in the area of addiction, and guiding you on a journey into the heart; regardless what we may find there we will walk it together and make informed goals, therapeutic techniques and strategies for you to cope from where you are capable, customization is the key.

No one formula for overcoming addiction is for everyone, most especially there is I have found very large differences between men and women in recovery. I have researched and found that it is not so much the “trigger“thoughts as some propose but the “trigger“ feelings, much like when you smell your favorite foods, or a perfume you wore when you were with the one you love, or loved. The will of the heart in an instant will send either a desperate message, of hopelessness or a very potent message of love for the substance of addiction based on the senses picking up a trigger to emotions that are most powerful to the heart. Only then comes in the strategist to disable the work done in addiction and a relapse occurs. Working hard to find the hearts desires and pains goes a long way in rehabilitation therapies: changing the thoughts to short circuit the strategies to use again: begins in the heart-will.

We will together strengthen this concept, and bring in that which is all knowing and all-powerful residing deep within His creation’s hearts. These principles are where I will work in a non-judgmental environment, as I have never walked in your shoes nor felt the deepest longings and insults of your heart center; driving a disordered heart-will, resulting in what we term addiction but better characterized as compulsion. This again is both body based in the brains central systems, natural opiates and the synthetic and the conditions of the spirit or a heart center of intelligence first and foremost of which our creator is the main frame and can re-order and transform the “will of the heart”, and orchestrate the transforming and renewal of your mind. This is a complex and challenging journey, not an easy ride alone, but with a coaching counselor who will move you alone with a trained eye and the heart connected to the all-knowing creator you will have a future in which you prosper