What Are Recovery Schools?
Results of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reveal startling statistics related to drug and alcohol use by teens and young adults. The statistics found that among youth between the ages of 12 and 20: 7.3 million use alcohol 4.5 million report recent binge […]
How Do You Get the Treatment You Need?
Whether you have a substance use disorder, a mental health condition, or an eating disorder, finding the most qualified treatment center to address your specific needs is key to a successful outcome. Knowing what questions to ask makes it more likely you will find the best treatment options for your situation. While most treatment facilities […]
Cultural Differences in Seeking Help for Substance Use Disorder & Mental Health
The culture of a specific group often dictates which beliefs and behaviors they view as acceptable and which they do not. When an individual within that culture behaves in a way that conflicts with the general beliefs of the group, they may face ostracism or scorn. Multiple studies agree cultural beliefs impact a person’s willingness […]
Preparing for a Sober Holiday Season
Many of us feel our stress levels rise over the holidays, as we struggle with over-commitment, less sleep, unhealthy eating, financial strain, and exhaustion. For those in recovery, navigating the holidays can be especially challenging. Not only do holiday gatherings often center around alcohol, but they may also include people, traditions, locations, or situations that […]
Dating in Early Recovery
We typically consider early recovery to be the first year of abstinence from addictive behavior. It is exciting as you work to rebuild your life with sobriety at its center. However, to achieve long-term success, your recovery must remain your highest priority. You are most vulnerable to relapse within the first year of abstinence. Because […]
Managing Expectations in Early Recovery
A person is considered to be in the early stages of recovery for the first three to twelve months of sobriety. This time period is a critical stage in the recovery journey, as the highest incidence of relapse happens within the first 90 days of abstinence. Unsuccessfully managing triggers is one of the biggest threats […]
Florida Legislative Roundup: September 2020
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey DeSantis continue to work to increase treatment resources for residents with substance use or mental disorders, especially in light of the COVID-19 crisis. In August, ABC affiliate WCJB reported the Governor and Mrs. DeSantis held a round table forum in Seminole County to discuss how the current […]
Employment in Early Recovery
Completing an addiction recovery program is a great achievement. However, addiction is a chronic disease and recovery is a lifelong journey. To successfully maintain and thrive while living a sober lifestyle, you must carefully plan your next steps. While finding a job may feel like the most important next step after addiction treatment, it is […]
National Yoga Month 2020
From increased strength, flexibility, and balance to a reduction in stress and anxiety, the physical and mental health benefits of yoga are well documented. In 2008, hoping to inspire the public to embrace a healthier lifestyle through the practice of yoga, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services designated September as National Yoga Month. […]
Proudly Introducing “The Point is Recovery” Podcast
September is National Recovery Month, dedicated to raising awareness on how treatment can change the lives of those affected by addiction, eating disorders, and other mental health challenges and to honor those in recovery. At Turning Point of Tampa, we strive every day to make recovery a reality for our clients. In recognition of National […]
National Recovery Month 2020
National Recovery Month has been observed every September since 1989. Its purpose is to educate the public on how treatment services can change lives for those with substance use and mental disorders and to recognize and honor those in recovery. The theme for 2020 is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Celebrating Connections,” focusing on the […]
The Rise in Overdose Cases Since COVID-19
COVID-19 is not only causing widespread illness and death, but it is also increasing economic distress, social isolation, and anxiety, all risk factors for those actively using drugs or alcohol, and for those in recovery. Although drug overdose deaths in the United States decreased by about 4 percent in 2018, those numbers began to rise […]
How Does Anger Management Work?
Anger management involves learning to recognize the signs you are becoming overly frustrated or angry and how to avoid expressing that anger inappropriately. Counseling or anger management classes can help you learn specific behavioral skills, as well as how to change your thought patterns to constructively cope with anger. Signs You Need Help Controlling Anger […]
The Power of Gratitude
Regularly expressing gratitude for the good in our lives, including people, and situations enhance our physical and mental health. When we focus on what we are thankful for, we attract more positivity, experience less stress and other negative emotions, strengthen our relationships, and are better equipped to overcome challenging situations. An attitude of gratitude can […]
What is Couples Therapy?
Couples therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which a therapist helps a romantically involved couple improve communication, resolve conflict, and strengthen their relationship. The therapy is effective for couples regardless of their marital status or sexual orientation. A couples therapist is often a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who is specially trained to […]
Understanding Hoarding Disorder
Hoarding disorder is characterized by extreme difficulty experienced when parting with possessions, often accompanied by the persistent acquisition of additional items. Hoarded objects often have little or no value and can include old magazines, junk mail, books, clothes, and broken or non-functioning items. Those with hoarding disorder become severely distressed at the thought of discarding […]
The New Normal Post COVID-19
With recent increases in the numbers of COVID-19 cases, it’s doubtful life as we knew it will be returning any time soon. Large gatherings at sporting events, concerts, churches and any situation that makes social distancing difficult continue to be risky. Most of us have a new normal that we need to embrace, at least […]
Telehealth in Addiction and Eating Disorder Recovery
Telehealth allows a therapist or other medical professional to meet with clients using a live video connection. Using technologies such as videoconferencing, smartphone applications, and web-based tools, professionals can deliver health services remotely. The therapist and client still see and talk to each other in real time but without the need for the client to […]
Florida Legislative Roundup: July 2020
In June, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed several bills into law, impacting such areas as healthcare, schools, environment, law enforcement and addiction treatment and care. Some of these new laws are detailed below. Governor DeSantis also approved and signed the state budget for fiscal year 2020-2021, totaling $92.2 billion. The new budget allocates a total […]
Individual and Group Therapy for Addiction
The nature of addiction, including the way it changes the brain, can make it challenging to overcome without help. A combination of psychotherapy, support group participation, and, in some cases, medication, have consistently yielded the highest long-term recovery rates. Most recovery treatment programs include both individual and group therapy sessions as the foundation of the […]
Experiential Therapy for Addiction
Experiential therapy guides clients in the use of expressive tools and activities to re-experience emotions tied to past situations and relationships. Through psychodrama, use of props, creative arts, music, guided imagery, equine or canine therapy, wilderness experiences, ropes course, or another experiential method, clients learn to identify, explore and release specific emotions. Unlike psychotherapy, which […]
Behavioral Therapy for Addiction
Behavioral therapies are based on the belief that behavioral patterns are often learned and may be linked to past conditioning and environmental influences. The goal of behavioral therapy is to reinforce positive behaviors and to eliminate those that are unhealthy or dysfunctional. Unlike psychoanalysis, behavioral therapies often focus more on current problems and how to […]
Humanistic Therapy and Motivational Interviewing for Addiction Recovery
A 2017 National Institute on Drug Abuse survey found about 20.7 million people aged 12 and over needed treatment for substance use dependency in the previous year. However, only about 12 percent of those identified received any treatment. This is especially damaging as addiction treatment incorporates a wide variety of emotional, mental, and physical support, […]
Psychodynamic Therapy and Psychodrama for Addiction Recovery
Our past experiences exert a powerful, often unconscious, influence on our thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and behaviors. In fact, psychoanalysts like Freud believed that the unconscious mind is the primary source of human behavior. Because addiction is strongly influenced by our unconscious beliefs, approaches that seek to reveal the unconscious mind, like psychodynamic therapy and psychodrama, […]
