Can a spiritual practice really help in addiction recovery?

There are many benefits to the spiritual practice of Meditation. Chiefly it acts as the ideal relapse prevention tool as it connects you to you higher power and higher self.

As a former Monk I can confidently say that these are 10 good reasons to Meditate:
i. It will tend to get you out of your own self-focused ego awareness.
ii. It will open you help from other levels!
iii. It will relax, re-focus and naturally refresh you;
iv. It teaches grounding skills… centering you;
v. It lets you trust a process of emptying and letting go;
vi. It pushes you to take responsibility for your own spiritual growth by doing what you can… i.e. practicing meditation!
vii. It lets you go from being to doing;
viii. It gives a sense of serenity when used as common practice;
ix. It teaches frustration tolerance and self-discipline;
x. It increases self-acceptance… reducing stress levels.

If you need any advice or want to chat about the many significant benefits of meditation then please contact me.

Peace,
Brian
1-604-746-1164 or 1163
info@innercare.org
www.innercare.org
Based in the Fraser Valley, near Vancouver… serving the rest of the world.

Reforming rehab?

In order to address and reform the world of addictions there needs to be a real emphasis on getting to the core of the addiction & the person. This simply isn't possible with inadequate or poorly matched tools.... i.e. counseling is not designed to deal with acute underlying issues. That's a the role of Psychotherapy.

The 12 steps unfortunately are often done from the head... this simply doesn't work! At the heart of the steps is the 'higher power' issue. But, most addicted persons have significant blocks in their unconscious to a healthy higher power. So, by simply competing written exercises to 'work the steps', you merely bypass the unconscious and end up with a superficial spiritual process. This means that the recovery process is severely compromised.

As a former Monk and pastor I know, from my experience of spiritual direction, the skills that are required to get people thru dysfunctional images of 'God' ...these skills are acquired only after years of serious spiritual formation and discipline... this creates a person who is highly attuned to any spiritual energies and is well acquainted with the many blocks to inner growth... for example:

• 'God' the control freak;
• 'God' the avenger;
• 'God' the puppet master;
• 'God' the unrelenting perfectionist;
• 'God' the sadist......

Meditation is all the rage in the therapeutic world at present... and that's fine on one level but, once again there is a real need for some serious training by those who are guiding recovering person thru meditation.

My reflections are not intended as a severe judgement on the world of rehab ... they are an invitation to take spiritual formation of staff far far more seriously and seek the necessary outside help to do this, if need be.

Let me know you thoughts,
Peace,
Brian

info@innercare.org
www.innercare.org
Serving the world... from British Columbia, near Vancouver.

Alternatives to rehab!

We live in a world messed up by a range of addictions:

• Oxycontin;
• gambling;
• sex addiction....the list goes on and changes each month!

Despite the low success levels, the standard approach is for the family/doctor etc. to send the addicted person to 'rehab'. Well, that's one answer... but, surely there is room for other alternative approaches!?

As a former Director/founder of rehabs I have my own intensive 'retreats' that act as an alternative. There are others... a growing trend of alternatives... a new wave!
I'd very much welcome a dialog with other groups and therapists who offer sound alternative approaches.
click image to enlarge view

My approach is grounded in modern Psychotherapy and ancient Meditation.
Let's hear from others?... to see what they can offer the world at a time when celebrities are dying thru addiction... this is a dangerous cultural message! Our countries need hope! Hope that addiction can be healed / overcome.




Let me know your thoughts.

Peace,
Brian Innercare Services International Inc. Psychotherapy & Soul Care for Addictions!

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www.innercare.org