“SURE I DRINK, BUT I DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM”
It’s one of those phrases I hear frequently enough in the consulting room. Sometimes they’re right. But often, the person sitting across from me is denying a very unhealthy reality. What is a drinking problem? Simply stated, a drinking problem can be defined as any drinking behavior that causes trouble in any one of the […]
HELPING A FRIEND
Making the decision to help a friend with a substance abuse problem is a big one. When making this decision, be aware that you’re likely to experience many different emotional reactions, such as anger, frustration and sadness, to name a few. You might find yourself asking questions like: “How can I be helpful?” and “Is […]
WHY COMMITMENT MATTERS!
Perhaps one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is: “What do I believe I was born to do?” As I walk and talk with LASD deputies, I often feel I’m among people who’ve discovered their purpose. They truly believe in being society’s peacekeepers and servants. They really do believe in protecting the […]
And So It Begins
What happens when you start buying drinks for yourself because you “deserve” a drink for doing a good job? Are you toasting yourself? Are you the only one celebrating? You might be entering a phase called “reward drinking,” which is often an early sign of trouble. The transition from social drinking to reward drinking is […]
THE POWER OF EXERCISE
A couple of months ago, a friend called me in a panic. She shared a number of stressors, including uncertainty about her job, feeling overwhelmed as a mother, increased tension in her marital relationship and feeling “down” lately. She asked for my advice and the first thing I asked was, “How long has it been […]
FOR YOUR PEACE, SAFETY AND HEALTH!
In mid-March, our good friend Rabbi and LASD Chaplain Eric Morgenstern sent out this wish for peace, safety and health. I’d like to share it with you. Whether or not COVID-19 is still active at the time these notes appear, his wishes are still relevant. With his blessing, I added some brief observations as well. […]
PROBLEM? WHAT PROBLEM?
One of the most frequent questions I get from people seeking advice about their drinking has to do with differentiating between being a heavy drinker and an alcoholic. After all, being a heavy drinker isn’t a problem, right? Well, question of whether or not your drinking is a problem is not only answered by how […]
WHAT IS VETS4VETS WITHIN THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM?
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) was one of the first in the country to develop a peer support program specific to serving military employees in a law enforcement organization. The mission of the Vets4Vets (V4V) peer support program is to provide peer-level support to Department members who are military veterans or reservists. The goal […]
HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD COPE WITH THEIR WORRIES ABOUT THE CORONA VIRUS?
Kids are hearing about the coronavirus disease at school, among their friends and listening in on their parents’ conversations. You might be noticing their fear, confusion and anxiety about it, so this article is intended to help you feel prepared to talk to your kids. Before starting a conversation, make sure you have an understanding […]
CIRCLE OF CONCERN VERSUS CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE
It is true that part of our daily life experience involves negotiating a number of challenging, unpleasant or adverse circumstances. How many times have you focused on the reality of a situation and thought, “There is really nothing I can do about this”? Is that really true, or is it possible that your thinking is, […]