Johann Hari poses the question, does biology determine our vulnerability to addiction or is our lack of connections and meaningful relationships what encourages individuals to “bond” so strongly with substances? In his Ted Talk, he examines research and current approaches to addiction and emphasizes how much our “cage” can define our behavior.

Does marriage counseling work? You may wonder if it’s worth the effort, feeling hesitant to hope there’s a way to regain the closeness you once had. All too often, couples who come to counseling say “we’ve known we needed this for a long time.” In the height of disconnection, during arguments or long stints of silence, helplessness sets in and fears can emerge: Can couples counseling even help us?

There are many expectations around the holidays and we can overextend ourselves mentally, physically and emotionally in order to feel connected to others. Additionally, many of us have unresolved pain and grief from the past that can reach a certain pitch when we hear the choir rendition of Oh Holy Night.

As clinicians, we have the honor of holding space and sitting with others as they unpack strong emotions; joy, pain, fear. During these moments, sometimes tears come and sometimes they don’t, but more often than not, those beautiful big droplets are paired with an apology. Tears are not a defect. Tears are an outward expression signaling connection and human bonding.

September is National Recovery Month. We celebrate recovery, increase awareness, build more understanding of mental and substance use disorders. Keep reading below to understand more about the impact of addiction on the brain as well as what we can do about it.

What is the cost of dehumanizing another person? What are the unseen aspects of living within the dynamics of power and control that constrain an individual from being their most authentic self?

Being in a relationship with the dynamics of power and control can be difficult to describe. It's not always overt. You can feel it and yet it’s difficult to identify specific incidents. It’s a constant feeling that you can’t shake, knowing that something is not right.

There is a conflict because your purpose and true self cannot fully exist in the relationship. It’s a glass cage that keeps you small, it exists, but others cannot always see it. You don’t wear the marks on your body and yet there is a heavyweight of shame, confusion, pain, and disempowerment that is carried.

So what exactly is collective trauma? According to Dr. Molly Castelloe, an expert in group psychology-“Collective trauma means, first of all, a shared experience of helplessness, disorientation, and loss among a group of people,” she explains. “The threatening event gives rise to a shared identification — despite the fact that the victimized individuals have different personalities and family backgrounds, different coping mechanisms, and capacities for resilience.”