By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “You have to throw a gold brick into the uncertain waters of the future, and have faith because there will be many difficult days before you will see the returns start rolling in…” -P. T. Barnum Elephants in Captivity Have you ever attended a circusContinue Reading
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.” Warren Buffett If a habit or old behavior brings about the desired result, why stop doing it? Change is only initiated when the solution to a problem startsContinue Reading
By Dr. Kerri Heath “You will see it when you believe it.” –Wayne Dyer This is a very tough question to answer. An addict is someone whose life is controlled by alcohol or drugs. Anyone who has struggled with substance abuse has told themselves many times that they “have itContinue Reading
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC Mindfulness is the ability to steer clear from worry and anxiety bringing one’s attention to the present moment. Feeling overwhelmed and ill-equipped to deal with life’s challenges is not uncommon early in sobriety. The use of drugs and alcohol is no longer an option, norContinue Reading
By Dr. Kerri Heath I look forward to meeting with the owner of Passages Malibu, Chris Prentiss, who has dedicated his entire life to helping others reach their highest potential. Being in the same room with someone who is committed to helping you expand and grow is not an opportunityContinue Reading
By Dr. Kerri Heath Tucked away in the mountains of Malibu, overlooking the gorgeous Pacific Ocean, sits a rehabilitation center that boasts of being the safe passage to find the other side of pain, guilt, and remorse where healing occurs. Visitors typically arrive at the lowest point in their livesContinue Reading
By Dr. Kerri Heath “Being in Flow is a mystical or transcendent state where you go beyond your sense of self and you experience exceptional feats of strength and endurance of creativity.” –Glen Gerreyn One of the best ways to overcome addiction is to find your flow. Your flow isContinue Reading
By Dr. Kerri Heath Admitting that you are facing a life-threatening problem like alcoholism and drug addiction can seem overwhelming. Thoughts and excuses may run through your mind like “there is no way I can stop” or “I am not strong enough to quit.” The pain and problems that youContinue Reading
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “Complete honesty is not the same thing as full disclosure.” ― Ron Brackin When an individual seeks help for an addiction or substance use disorder, it is not surprising that other areas of that person’s life begin to shift as well. The workplace environment is noContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall Discussing mental health issues such as depression, anger, or suicidal thoughts is often shrouded in myths and misconceptions. One common myth is that asking someone about their emotional distress could increase their risk of self-harm or harm to others. However, opening a dialogue is crucial to showingContinue Reading
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “A man’s character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation.” –Mark Twain We’ve all heard the saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But the field of psychology shows us words do matter.Continue Reading
by Kimberly Hayes The 12-Step program is what comes to mind when you hear someone talk about recovery from alcohol and drug abuse. However, there are many treatment methods out there that offer personal empowerment beyond breaking bad habits. Here are a few alternative therapies that can be pursued onContinue Reading
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.” –Steve Maraboli Learning from past negative experiences including substance use and addiction can actually serve as your greatest asset when building a life free from drug and alcohol use. The cultivation ofContinue Reading
By Jennifer McDougall “Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength.” – August Wilson Facing your inner demons takes great courage.Continue Reading
By Susan Finley, Ed.D., NCC “Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.”-Bruce Lee Exercise is an excellent tool for individuals who suffer from substance use disorders. It provides for practicing healthy coping mechanisms and an increased confidenceContinue Reading
It was 10:00 AM. I’d already consumed 10 shots of Svedka vodka and had just poured another 5 shot glass when the phone rang indicating the cab had arrived for my trip to the airport. Next stop, Passages Malibu, where I hoped to conquer my addiction to alcohol. I grabbedContinue Reading
by Dr. Kerri Heath “Your most important work is always ahead of you, never behind you.” –Dr. Stephen R. Covey There is a way to end addiction. But before you can experience it, you must believe that it’s possible. Currently, you have a philosophy on what addiction is whetherContinue Reading
by Dr. Kerri Heath “Only when we are sick of our sickness shall we cease to be sick.” –The 71st verse of the Tao The problems underlying dependency always have both physical and psychological components, and both have to be treated simultaneously. At Passages Addiction Treatment Center in Malibu, itContinue Reading
by Dr. Kerri Heath “…the reward of faith is to see what you believe.” -Saint Augustine Do you believe that you can create a better life for yourself than the one you are living? Do you believe that it is possible to be free from the binds of addiction? American’sContinue Reading
by Dr. Kerri Heath “A holistic approach looks for fundamental underlying issues, rather than only addressing symptoms.” –Fran Sussman A truly great drug rehab center knows that a holistic recovery program will help you discover and heal the underlying causes of addiction, which is the only way to achieveContinue Reading