Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)

Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) is an evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral Counseling strategy designed to assist individuals in the enhancement of self-image and to facilitate the development of higher stages of moral reasoning. MRT is aimed at decreasing the likelihood of someone returning to the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol.

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DUI Evaluation

ASAM Often time’s individuals may find themselves “caught up” in situations that they just did not foresee happening just like a DUI. Those situations could involve going out with co-workers after work, for drinks and being pulled over by the police, or celebrating a friend’s birthday at the bar and getting pulled over for falling asleep at the light, whatever the situation may

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Alcohol and Drug Evaluations in Decatur, GA

Alcohol and Drug Evaluations is an assessment that could be sought for many reasons. Dekalb County courts and several criminal justice partners may request and individual who has a pending or a probationary proceeding to obtain an alcohol and drug evaluation.

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ASAM Level I Classes

ASAM Level I classes are designed according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine  (ASAM) criteria for addiction Counseling. Specifically, ASAM Level I classes and Substance Abuse Counseling provide individuals with a supportive and instructive environment where they are encouraged to develop deeper insights into the causes and conditions, as well as the effects, of their addictive and abusive behaviors.

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Addicted to Drugs

Brief Description of an article from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Many people do not understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. It is often mistakenly assumed that drug abusers lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop using drugs simply by choosing to change their behavior. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting takes more than good intentions or a strong will.

In fact, because drugs change the brain in ways that foster compulsive drug abuse, quitting is difficult, even for those who are ready to do so. Through scientific advances, we know more about how drugs work in the brain than ever, and we also know that drug addiction can be successfully treated to help people stop abusing drugs and lead productive lives. Click for the entire article

What Is Drug Addiction?

Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the addicted individual and to those around him or her. Although the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, the brain changes that occur over time challenge an addicted person’s self-control and hamper his or her ability to resist intense impulses to take drugs.

The Addicted Brain

Fortunately, Counseling are available to help people counter addiction’s powerful disruptive effects. Research shows that combining addiction Counseling medications with behavioral therapy is the best way to ensure success for most patients. Counseling approaches that are tailored to each patient’s drug abuse patterns and any co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and social problems can lead to sustained recovery and a life without drug abuse. Click for an entire article on NIDA

Accountability Cognitive Skills

Accountability in Cognitive Skills. Why does being accountable for our emotions and behavior require so much effort? In society today the more we get away with reckless and unacceptable behavior the more we continue that behavior.

We trick our minds into accepting the lack of accountability as normal behavior. When our reckless behavior is addressed, we don’t like it. We get angry with everyone that has input in addressing that behavior.

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Relapse in the Warmer Season

Warm weather is here and life starts feeling easier, right? Well, not always, if you’re in recovery. Recovering people face serious challenges while staying sober during the spring and summer seasons and official holidays. Relapse in the warmer season is avoidable. Spring and summer come with sports games, picnics, barbecues, weddings and celebrations all seem to involve alcohol of some sort. Some of us may run into your old marijuana or drug-loving friends at the beach, pool, or a friend’s party. How do we stay clean and sober over the season when temptation present at all corners?

The warmer season is all about being casual and having fun in the sun. Most of us have a carefree attitude with lower inhibitions. However, we have learned not to be carefree about recovery. No matter where summer fun leads, sobriety and recovery should remain our number-one priority every day — We can still have plenty of sober fun under the sun and catch some rays or waves.

AACS offers tips for staying sober during the spring and summer holidays. We have listed tips to help us navigate both daily lives as well as those special occasions like graduation parties, weddings, and 4th of July parties that all seem to coincide with summer fun.

Here are ten simple suggestion that can help you stay clean and sober during the warmer season. We will be grateful by the end of the season for maintaining our recovery.

  1. Put recovery first
  2. Attend 12-step or self-help meetings
  3. Plan ahead with friend in sobriety
  4. Use the buddy system
  5. Be honest with yourself and others
  6. Plan sober fun
  7. Don’t focus on what you can’t have
  8. Avoid resentment at all times
  9. Volunteer
  10. Call your sponsor daily

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TIPS for Surviving the Holidays; Stay Sober During the Holidays

TIPS for Surviving the Holidays

Tips for Surviving the Holidays

Do you want to stay sober during the holidays? The holidays can be a joyful or painful time of the year. Tis the season for greetings, family, cheer and beer but for addicts it can be a time of triggers, running emotions, stress and disappointments. What does one in recovery do when the holidays come and family is too far away to see and you start to feel a little lonely or when that one cousin is insisting that just one drink won’t hurt? Here are 10 helpful tips on how survive the holidays without substances.

Relapse prevention

Prepare or amend your relapse prevention (RP) plan.

The purpose of a relapse prevention plan is to proactively set boundaries and guidelines in order to keep your sobriety. Relapse is not a onetime, overnight event, it is a process that can begin days, weeks or months before you use again. A well prepared RP plan can help you better prepare and navigate through the various stages of relapse (emotional, mental and physical). Check back later for more details on the various stages of relapse. Check out the links below for more information on relapse prevention.

  1. Keep calm and work the steps.

Attend 12 Step meetings before and after any big events and continue to go to the meetings during the holiday season. The importance of meetings cannot be stressed enough. This is where you can develop support systems, remain strong in your commitment to recovery and gain a sense of stability, comfort, and confidence.

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Alcohol and Drug Evaluation Court Approved Counseling & Programs

Alcohol and Drug Evaluation Court Approved Counseling & Programs

What is an #Alcohol and Drug Evaluation used for?

Probation, Parole,  Pretrial, Drug Diversion, Pre-employment, Department of Transportation (DOT), Division of Family and Children Services, Attorneys or pre-indictment/arraignment purposes. Individuals are referred to be evaluated based on many situations. It could be an arrest, sentencing,  testing positive during a random on the job,  a divorce or custody battle case or just as simple as someone who needs help with addiction.

The types of cases and situations may vary for an #alcohol and drug evaluation. Some of the most common cases are (driving under the influence), (possession of marijuana)s (possession of controlled substances), (possession with intent), (reckless driving), (theft by receiving), (minors in possession of alcohol-MIP), (criminal trespass), (battery), (disorderly conduct), (failing a drug test on the job), (inquiries as to parenting ability based on substance dependence), etc..

Given that #Alcohol and Drug Evaluation, along with the Counseling recommendations provided, are often used to minimize and alleviate court sentences, individuals are highly encouraged to undergo Assessments as soon as possible, which demonstrates to the court and prosecution your willingness to take responsibility for your actions and follow-thru with the suggested Counseling plan. If you or someone you know is in need of an Alcohol and Drug Evaluation#, please contact us for a comprehensive, personalized assessment or make a referral, please call 800-683-7745.

Based upon the assessment a recommendation is made on the appropriate course. Most individuals are encouraged to refrain from using substances and lead a healthy lifestyle.
An evaluation is the first step..

To know more related to Alcohol and Drug Evaluation Near me visit us now. or to set up one for yourself, be sure to call us at 1-800-683-7745 or visit us at www.aacscounseling.com

Relationship Groups; Saving your marriage

Creating and cultivating healthy relationship is a two part process; first learning how to have a healthy relationship with the self, and then manifesting reciprocal behaviors with others.

The goal of the Relationship groups; Saving your marriage serries is to help members be more intentional in interpersonal relationships while providing psycho-education and support.

Relationship Groups
Relationship Groups and Couples Therapy.

Relationship Groups are very popular form of therapy in the modern world. Group therapy is an effective form of psychotherapy that is based on interdependence and interaction among the group members who mutually disclose personal challenges and issues in their relationships during group sessions.

Relationship Groups
Relationship Groups

The focus of the Relationship Groups; Saving your marriage series is to regain confidence in your communication with your partner. It’s based on the premise of interpersonal learning. The process serves as the agent of change.  The group presents realistic challenges to maladaptive interpersonal belief systems and behavioral patterns via feedback from participants and encouragement to experiment with healthier alternative behaviors, first within the group and then outside the group.

According to Irvin Yalom (2005) the following is s brief list of the benefits group psychotherapy can provide.

Universality – feeling of having problems similar to others, not alone.

Altruism – helping and supporting others.

Instillation of hope – encouragement that  recovery is possible.

Guidance – nurturing support & assistance.

Imparting information – teaching about problem and recovery.

Developing social skills – learning new ways to talk about feelings, observations. and concerns.

Interpersonal learning – finding out about themselves & others from the group.

 

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