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RedChair

Addictions Counselling & Treatment

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Author: bill

  • ACT Just For Today

    ACT Just For Today

    ACT Today

    It is likely that 90% of what you think about, that overwhelms, challenges, induces stress etc is not actually happening in the here and now, but  our minds looking out for threats. Being able to ground yourself in the here and now as often as possible is a useful tool.

    I invite you to choose to notice, to really notice,  what are you seeing right now, hearing right now, touching right now, tasting right now and able to smell right now?

    Choosing to notice the difference between our minds activity about our reality and our reality is often the key to a rich and meaningful life today.

    We are not our thoughts, but we do have them. “I am having the thought that…” and then “I am noticing I am having the thought that…..”  This is a pragmatic and flexible approach to our thoughts. I invite you to notice your thoughts you are having, to perceive them. Some are really useful and need action in the here and now. 90% are just our minds doing what our minds do.

  • It’s Football

    It’s Football

     

    To you heroes of the roundball game, who come rain or shine, lace up the boots, pull on the shirt and take to the field, I wish you well.
    Prepare yourselves well. Your kit, your body, your mind and your soul.
    Improve. There is one thing you can improve upon each and every game, in every corner of the pitch, in every minute, in every moment, you can improve. Yourself.
    Set yourself goals as naturally as you would breathe. Set personal goals for each and every gym session, training session, every meal you eat and every game you play. You can improve.


    So, today, wherever you play, may you take to the field with your mind, your heart, your body, your soul, your desire, your character and all that you are, secure in the knowledge that you are a King, a player of the wonderful game, privileged to step out onto the green stage, to perform and bring life to all who feel every moment with you.

    All the best for today.

    Its Football.

  • V.A.T.’s – Value Added Thoughts

    V.A.T.’s – Value Added Thoughts

    Just For Today. V.A.T.

    What if, rather than being dictated by our automatic thoughts, every action we took today was mindfully connected to our principles and values of choice?

    True mental freedom can never be about disputing thoughts and fighting against them. True freedom is the learned ability to difuse from the content and notice the nature and pragmatic usefulness of a thought. If it’s useful, go ahead and act on it; if not, then accept its presence and pass. Quite simply, you are not your thoughts; you have your thoughts.

    Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) promotes mental liberation via the practise of a higher perspective and an observant self (called defusion). The paradox is that the less you oppose thoughts, the less they stick around.

    Our minds are filled with thoughts, most of which are in service of anxiety, fight-or-flight instincts. Our minds have been evolving for a long time, but they are still lagging behind in terms of modern living. There is rarely any risk that necessitates dread, rage, worry, or paranoia, but our minds are incapable of accepting that rationale. They are preoccupied with identifying and mitigating any risk, even if it is merely an idea in the first place. 

    To choose to open up to our values in the present moment is a practical, adaptive, and compassionate way of living. We must practice because our minds do not do this automatically.

    Values serve as a lens through which to evaluate the effectiveness of any ideas. The basic choice is whether these thoughts pull me closer or further away from my principles. On this anvil of truth, one can act with confidence.

    Bill Stevens

  • Feel Stuck? Intervention ACT now.

    Feel Stuck? Intervention ACT now.

    ACT Interventions

    Ground-hog day behaviours, feelings, same old same old?

    ACT Interventions move everyone towards goals and away from stuck patterns.

    Acceptance Commitment Therapy, A.C.T. suggests we only move towards goal in ways conducive to our values. Sometimes this is really difficult, but we accept the difficulty, even if we could avoid discomfort by old patterns of avoiding, procrastinating, or in the case of family interventions, enabling.

    Enabling is an away behaviour used to give short term avoidance of fear, shame, guilt, hopelessness, but it is an away behaviour. It resolves nothing for the family, or the addict who still suffers.

    Acceptance Commitment Therapy underpins process interventions in a simple practical manner.

    Bill Stevens is a specialist addictions therapist who uses Acceptance Commitment Therapy within the Family Intervention process.

    If you are stuck with another persons untreated addiction we can help. 0800 5300012

  • Get in on the A.C.T. Acceptance Commitment Therapy

    Get in on the A.C.T. Acceptance Commitment Therapy

    A.C.T. Acceptance Commitment Therapy

    Get in on the A.C.T. 3rd Wave behavioural therapy

    What are you Stuck with? What thoughts and behaviours would you like to be released from, the ones you feel will by with you for always. You adapt, you cope, but really you wish you could shake them off, be free to see, move and feel your world in an open, present and felt manner.

    A.C.T is a simple hear and now therapy that moves you towards the experience you have named, removes you from the groundhog day of repeated stuck patterns, behaviours.

    A.C.T. fits very well with addiction treatment. Taking the psychology of the 12 step program, the logic and strengths and presenting them in way that is workable and receivable, in a manner and language for the 21st Century.

    Teaser:

    Your Brain is not your friend. You are not your thoughts.

    You can “notice” thoughts, accept them, and still carry on moving towards your goals, unhindered by a thought that used to stop you in your tracks, or have you scrabbling to avoid situations or sensations with well worn patterns.

    Values plays a large part in ACT, as do SMART goals. Stuckness is noticed, but left behind. Value based living works in the present, the here and now.

    Mindfulness on top of CBT is one way of describing A.C.T.

  • They said “No”, and are still out there, using.

    They said “No”, and are still out there, using.

    They said “No”

    This happens. You gather, you offer love, you offer treatment and nothing. However, Family Intervention is about Intervention on the family illness as well, the fear, the pain, the enabling that alleviates these feelings. This is part of an email to a mum who is in day 3 of waiting whilst the loved one continues. 

    Dear Family Member,
    You are so worried that she is lonely, but talking to others in the group has helped.
    We may or may not be able to project exactly how she feels, rarely do we know the true extent of another’s person’s feelings. Our own needs to feel proactive, or helpful, or to relieve our own discomfort of having to wait, often means we will project a thought in order to justify our own actions.
    So, I really appreciate the power you and the other group member have, to talk about this and not act out on the urge. That is not easy.
    A using drug addict does and will need family, so as you wait, they will come to you. Maybe in anger, or sadness, humour or distress, but they will come to you. By phone or in person, text or email, they will come to you and will try to make you take care of her problems. 
    So, be patient, and always talk to them where everything comes second to him/her putting down the drugs, and the offer of help you have for them. 
    Unless there is a very real risk of harm, (always call the emergency services), then be loving, firm and resolute. 
    I suggest you all meet and read a chapter out of Love First together soon, discuss it in the way we met and were able to listen to each other, to process our fears and hopes. Do invite him/her to the gathering, regardless of the response, meet anyway.  Offering treatment to a lonely person is not wrong, but with drug or alcohol addiction, how you do it is crucial.
  • Bill Stevens Presenting @ Recovery+ & Intervention+

    Bill Stevens Presenting @ Recovery+ & Intervention+

    Training, Education, Insight, Opportunity, Networking, Credits….

    Recovery Plus: 22 May 2015, Hilton London

    Save time, save lives – do you increasingly encounter patients/clients with alcohol or drug problems? If so, benefit from this intense fully-rounded ‘crash course’ in how to recover from addiction: from the basics to neuroscience to mutual-aid groups to LGBT, BME, factors in the elderly vs youngsters, and more. You will meet more people and learn more at Recovery Plus than you could from months of research. Organised in response to demand: www.recoveryplusdb.com.

    Interventions Plus: 23 May, Hilton London

    Speed reluctant addicts into recovery – for families and professionals who want to add a 2nd string to their career. Chaired by Rebecca Flood, immediate past president of the Association of Intervention Specialists.

    Bill Stevens C.I.P.  of RedChair is a guest speaker and will be presenting on Friday Afternoon, and is part of the panel on Saturday.

     

    Please sign up and attend this fantastic event with speakers from all over the world. Hear what you need to from the best in the business.

  • Addictions counsellor in Wilmslow

    Addictions Counsellor in Wilmslow

    RedChair Specialist Addictions Treatment is pleased to announce that it runs a private clinic on Tuesday mornings at The Affinity Centre, Water Lane, Wilmslow.

    We provide help in the Wilmslow and surrounding areas. Family Interventions, drug and alcohol issues, advice and guidance.

    Why A Specialist is needed?

    Alcoholism, alcohol problems, drugs, prescribed or illegal, gambling, internet etc etc. affect individuals and families in a way many other conditions do not. If you are a family member, then think about this.

    • You did not CAUSE it
    • You can not CURE it
    • You will never CONTROL it
    • … but you can bring about recovery with the right help.

    If you are the person in the grip of the addiction, the compulsion and obsession, the daily grind, then you are not responsible for this, but you can be treated.

    Our specialist staff understand the nature of the condition, the affect on the family and the who, what, where and how of active recovery resources.

    Phone now, for a free call and free advice. 0800 530 0012

  • Drug Driving – Drugalyser – Or? Intervene, Before It Happens

    Drug Driving – Drugalyser – Or? Intervene, Before It Happens

    Worried that a loved one is drug driving?

    We routinely attend court as part of a mitigation plea regarding a person’s untreated addiction to alcohol or drugs, an untreated condition that is best treated, rather than punitive punishment measures. When the court hears that a persons drink or drugs use was a problem that went untreated long before this episode in court, and the person is responding to a treatment plan, then they appear to support the recovery and sentence accordingly.

    Why Wait For An Episode Of Drink Or Drug Driving That Is Now A Court Case?

    We prefer to organise Family and Workplace drug or alcohol interventions, bringing a person into a safe way of living before this happens. Either way, treatment, education, monitoring etc are the best ways to save a person from their own dangerous and out of control process. We help with family recovery systems, referral into treatment, aftercare, recovery coaching, and of course formal Interventions.

    An Intervention, a preventative family or workplace process allows for treatment before a person hits a rock bottom, in whatever form. Loss of a driving licence and a criminal record will impact on a persons life and potential opportunities. For those with the psychology of addictive personality traits: minimising, denial, alibi systems and unreasonable irrational thinking, a knock back like loss of license can be used as a “poor me, poor me, pour me a drink or drug” type thinking.

    So, you are concerned for another person. You believe they use drugs and then drive. You know that the UK police force are now testing for drug use on the roadside with the Drugalyser test. They also do Field Impairment tests, and then they can prosecute.

    UK Police – Drugalyser & The Law

    The new Drugalyser tests in use alongside a Field Impairment Test mean the following:-

    https://www.gov.uk/drug-driving-law

    It’s illegal to drive if you’re unfit to do so because you’re on legal or illegal drugs.
    If the police stop you and think you’re on drugs they can do a ‘Field Impairment Assessment’. This is a series of tests, like asking you to walk in a straight line and checking the size of your pupils.
    If they think you’re unfit to drive because of taking drugs, you’ll be arrested and will have a blood test at a police station. If the test shows you’ve taken drugs you could be charged with a crime.
    You don’t have to be on illegal drugs to be unfit to drive – many prescription or over-the-counter drugs can also impair your ability to drive. If you’re on legal drugs and not sure, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional before driving.

    Penalties for drug driving

    If you’re convicted of drug driving you’ll get:

    • a minimum 1 year driving ban
    • a fine of up to ÂŁ5,000
    • a criminal record
    • Your driving licence will also show you’ve been convicted for drug driving. This will last for 11 years.

    The penalty for causing death by dangerous driving is a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
    Other problems you could face

    • A conviction for drug driving also means:
    • your car insurance costs will increase significantly
    • if you drive for work, your employer will see your conviction on your licence
    • you may have trouble travelling to countries like the USA

    UK Law Limits – Drugalyser Tests

    The limits in full (micrograms of substance per litre of blood)
    • Benzoylecgonine 50mcg/L
    • Clonazepam 50mcg/L
    • Cocaine 10mcg/L
    • Cannabis & Cannabino 2mcg/L
    • Diazepam 550mcg/L
    • Flunitrazepam 300mcg/L
    • Ketamine 20mcg/L
    • Lorazepam 100mcg/L
    • LSD 1mcg/L
    • Methadone 500mcg/L
    • Methamphetamine 10mcg/L
    • MDMA & Ecstasy 10mcg/L
    • Heroin 5mcg/L
    • Morphine 80mcg/L
    • Oxazepam 300mcg/L
    • Temazepam 1,000mcg/L

    Drug Testing In The Family

    We use Alcoscan Breathalysers, ToxCup or InstAlert urine tests for Drugs. As part of a family recovery contract and supported process these are useful in keeping loved ones safe.

  • Intervene

    intervene

    verb

    1. 1.

      take part in something so as to prevent or alter a result or course of events.

      Family Interventions by RedChair.

    UK Based Certified Intervention Professionals.

    We help clear the way for recovery to take place. With vision, experience, compassion and dignity we can help your family move out of the problem and into the solution.