In many ways, the current treatment model is not working. Suicide rates are up, overdoses are running rampant in our culture, and relapse continues to be accepted as a "part of recovery." I believe we can do better. At this time in our evolution, we may need to ask ourselves what WE can do differently. It is time to shift the conversation from addiction treatment to addiction healing.

In the current treatment paradigm, we as clinicians often treat symptoms without looking deeper into the root causes of addiction. We also often use language that can be disempowering and create an environment in which our clients remain stuck in a sense of hopelessness. Many of us have been trained to diagnose and treat, which is useful, at some level. We also sometimes look at our clients through the lens of "brokenness" rather than holding a space for them to access their inner-wisdom and heal from multiple layers of unresolved trauma, spiritual disconnection, and toxic shame.