One of the most challenging hurdles for an addict is learning how to deal with stress without alcohol. In fact, studies have shown that 50% of people relapse within the first 12 weeks after leaving treatment. A fight with their partner, a stressful day at work or a bad encounter with a stranger could send a person ... Read More
Search Results for: anxiety
5 Key Benefits of Residential Treatment for Addiction
Addiction is a complex illness that most often requires professional treatment. Uncomfortable or dangerous withdrawal symptoms, environments with triggers or reminders of substance use, and friends and family in active addiction are just a few of the factors that make it difficult to maintain sobriety. By choosing ... Read More
2025 Graduate Hope for Healing Winner: The Power of “Feeling Seen and Heard”
Kim Koger doesn’t remember much from her early years in a foster home in South Korea — and the circumstances that brought her there are still hazy. Her birth parents had reportedly abandoned her at a police telephone booth. There was no birth certificate. Those first childhood memories are hard to access and faint ... Read More
Victoria Riancho, M.Ed., RMHCI, CRC
Victoria Riancho, M.Ed., RMHCI, CRC Clinical Therapist Victoria Riancho is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Her other treatment modalities are Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, ... Read More
Depression and Addiction
Depression and addiction often occur together, and people can be left wondering, does one cause the other? Which one happens first? The truth is, they're closely related and it's possible for substance abuse to exacerbate depression, while people with depression often turn to substances to self-medicate. It's a complex ... Read More
Clearing Out Emotional Baggage
Our experiences shape how we respond to the world around us, and everyone -- to an extent -- carries memories and feelings from the past. But when the past feels like a burden holding you back, you may be dealing with "emotional baggage." When all you want is to move forward, understanding the impact of unresolved ... Read More
How Decluttering Can Improve Mental Health
Spring cleaning isn't just about clearing the dust and cobwebs away or going through that overstuffed junk drawer. Having a clear, clutter-free space can help you think more clearly, feel more at ease, and have more time in your life for hobbies and relationships you enjoy. Keep reading to learn how your environment ... Read More
The Role of Shame in Recovery
Shame can play a powerful role in shaping human behaviors and relationships, and thanks to researchers like Brené Brown, we now know more about the psychology of shame and how it works than ever before. But what is shame’s role in recovery from addiction and substance use disorders, and how might awareness of its ... Read More
