Taking Treatment Into the Great Outdoors

Why is being in the great outdoors so helpful to our mental well-being? The benefits of spending time in nature have long been understood, and their value in therapy is beginning to be accepted and documented by psychological research. Read More

What’s So Good About Gender-Specific Treatment?

By Melissa Riddle Chalos When it comes to seeking treatment for substance abuse, it is important to understand gender differences and the role they play in addiction. Women and men develop substance use disorders for different reasons, with unique circumstances fueling relapse and recovery. Women with… Read More

Cocaine’s Comeback

By Melissa Riddle Chalos There was a time when cocaine was the recreational drug of choice. It was the 1980s when the Columbian cocaine trade reached its zenith as the “vice” of Miami and cities all over the US. Nixon had declared war on drugs in 1971, but little had… Read More

Overdose Risks, Rates, and Repercussions

By Clint Fletcher As data from 2020 continues to pour in from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s becoming increasingly clear just how devastating the pandemic was on our country’s health. During a year that was spent mostly in lockdown, overdose deaths… Read More

A Codependent Relationship vs. a Supportive One

By Clint Fletcher The word “codependency” gets thrown around a lot these days and has taken on the general meaning of being too attached to a partner. If we’re chatting with our friends and overhear someone describe a person as codependent, they’re usually painting a picture of someone… Read More

Experiential Exploration of Trauma via Timeline

At the Claudia Black Young Adult Center, trauma is described as anything less than nurturing. This definition allows for all traumas, big or small, to be acknowledged and honored. In doing so, the client’s protective defense mechanisms such as denial, rationalization or minimization are explored and challenged so that… Read More

Five Warning Signs You Need a Higher Level of Care for Eating Disorder Relapse

Recovering from an eating disorder is a process that involves diligence, perseverance, and the support of people and professionals who know how to help you best. The eating disorder recovery journey is highly individual and will look different from one person to the next. A common experience among women recovering… Read More

Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label: What Does This Mean for You?

If you haven’t already noticed, you will likely start seeing significant changes to how your food is packaged and sold. Rolling out Obama-era policies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring food makers to implement a new Nutrition Facts label, which will include the following information and updates [1]:… Read More

How PTSD Treatment Cured my Back Pain and More on the Mind-Body Connection

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in my early twenties. Why were my young bones already losing tissue? Women who struggle with anorexia nervosa, like me at the time, are at a higher risk of developing the disease. I also believe that my eating disorder may have contributed to my sluggish… Read More

Neurofeedback and Young Adults

The clinical professionals at the Claudia Black Young Adult Center at The Meadows understand the enormous complexity of how the human brain functions in young adults aged 18-26. Addictions, psychological trauma, and certain mood disorders often surface during this time period in a person’s life and may be connected to the presence of a dysregulated brain stem. In recognizing this crucial aspect of recovery, we utilize proven treatments to help regulate our patients throughout the healing process, which allows them to embrace long-term recovery. Read More