Family Members Are Trauma Survivors

Pervasive feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or anxiety can result from traumatic experiences—with long-lasting consequences. “The effects of unresolved trauma can be devastating,” wrote psychologist Peter Levine in Healing Trauma. “It can affect our habits and outlook on life, leading to addictions and poor decision-making.” Trauma, depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions are known to […]

Grief and Addiction

The famous five stages of the grief process were first introduced by Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in the late 1960s. In order to deal with painful loss—especially the sudden loss of a loved one—people experience the stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, acceptance. Although not all grief involves trauma, and not all trauma […]

“Feel-Good” Hormones and the Disease of Addiction

Addiction to substances like alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and cannabis used to be described as “chemical dependency,” suggesting that these substances simply hijack the brain promoting further misuse. In recent decades, neuroscience revealed that reality is far more complicated.  “We are all chemically dependent,” declared Ward Blanchard, MA, MBA, CCS, LCAS, the founder and CEO of […]

Family Support in Blanchard’s Resilience Group 

Family involvement is crucial in anyone’s recovery journey. At The Blanchard Institute, we empower families to participate actively in the healing process. By learning and applying specific strategies, families can significantly impact the recovery trajectory of their loved ones. Our family-centered approach is designed to educate, support, and empower families to play a crucial role […]

Ready to take the next step?