By: Brittany McDonald, Addiction Counsellor, Graham Munro Treatment Centre Codependency: Many resources have helped me along my way in sobriety; however, I feel that the book “Codependent No More” by Melody Beattie has helped me the most. Doing much-needed work surrounding codependency, boundaries, healthy relationships, and inner-child healing has allowed for a tremendous amount of growth … Continued
I first tried drugs when I was 12 years old and by the time I turned 18, cocaine had become my drug of choice. It remained that way for 30 years. To be honest, it felt almost as though my addiction crept up on me. When I started using cocaine, it was just once a … Continued
It can be tough for someone to imagine exactly what depression feels like, especially if they have no experience with the illness. Renascent’s Cynthia Langill describes exactly how it felt for her, “Life was very, very dark – without any joy or laughter. There were days when I simply didn’t have the wherewithal to get … Continued
By Michael LeBlanc, Addictions Counsellor, Renascent’s Paul J. Sullivan Treatment Centre Step 9 requires is to be willing to go to any lengths to make amends. Step 9 is an action step and a step where you must take responsibility for your actions. This is the step where you must become accountable for your actions … Continued
Portions of this article are excerpted and adapted from the upcoming book Hope Against Hope, authored by Renascent’s Clinical Director Michael Lochran and consulting Psychotherapist Laura Cavanagh. Hope Against Hope’s anticipated release is in 2022. A Brief History For more than 40 years before Bill Wilson founded Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), alcoholism was considered to be … Continued
Portions of this article are excerpted and adapted from the upcoming book Hope Against Hope, authored by Renascent’s Clinical Director Michael Lochran and consulting Psychotherapist Laura Cavanagh. Hope Against Hope’s anticipated release is in 2021. Since the New York State Inebriate Asylum opened in 1864, inpatient residential treatment has been the gold standard intervention for … Continued
These days you’ll find Jim on the bike paths of Orillia. He heads out every morning for about an hour as part of his regular exercise routine. Just by looking, you’d never guess that just under two years ago the 71 year old was hospitalized due to his alcohol addiction. “I drank all of my … Continued
By Raj, Renascent Alumni The other day, my daughter asked me to make pancakes for breakfast. My youngest son, who doesn’t eat anything his sister eats, demanded crepes. Everything is to be made from scratch as per our breakfast tradition. I paused for a moment, frustrated at the parenting task of managing these seemingly daunting … Continued
By Monica G., Graham Munro Treatment Centre Step 6 for me is all about willingness and trust in my Higher Power. In Step 4, I made a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself and a Iot came up for me – my resentments, my fears, my anger toward people, myself and life in general. Step 5 allowed me … Continued
By John Bushell, Registered Psychotherapist and Addictions Counsellor, Renascent’s Punani Treatment Centre I joined Renascent’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee a few years ago because I wanted to help the clients we serve. Renascent’s clientele has always been diverse, and we’ve really continued to strengthen our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion over the years. The … Continued
