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The Wood TV Interview – Sanford Outpatient Center

  Thanks to Wood TV and Emily Linnert for this fabulous piece on Sanford Outpatient Center. Our newest facility is located in Suite #101 of the landmark, Grand Rapids Masonic Temple. ย Serving those with substance use disorders (SUDs) in another lovingly restored historic space.   ย Wood TV Interview – Sanford Outpatient Center      

What Does it Mean to Fail? Open Up to Imperfection!

Confronting the โ€œFโ€ word in early recovery… In addition to my clinical work, I also do freelance gigs in the community. Over the weekend, I had one such engagement.   For whatever reason, I wasnโ€™t quite myself that night. Walking into the workshop, I felt uneasy – dread creeping in. You see, I have a […]

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I’m an Expert on Cravings…

The wall of words… I feel like Iโ€™ve become a bit of an expert on cravings. Itโ€™s been hard not to, given I am an addict through-and-through and my brain likes to crave things…   How the Brain Craves… After I quit booze I became very aware of how my brain craved. I spent many, […]

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Warning – Bariatric Surgery Can Lead to Alcohol Addiction

  There are times on the road to wellness, when the only thing one can say is, “No fair.” I remember thinking no fair when six months sober, a long dormant eating disorder popped up like the head of a Hydra. Just when I had my alcohol use disorder (AUD) licked, another trial presented itself. […]

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Michigan Recovery – Hiking Your Way to Sober Success!

I was at a presentation last month. An august fellow in a well-cut suit was so excited about his topic (convincing us that voting to legalize recreational marijuana was a bad idea), he actually jumped up and down at the podium. DO (jump)!ย NOT (jump)! ALLOW (jump)! THIS TO HAPPEN IN MICHIGAN (jump, jump)! Sometimes I […]

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Enabling VS Empathy – It’s a Fine Line – Interacting With Addiction

  Even if you arenโ€™t familiar with addiction treatment, youโ€™ve probably heard the term “enabler”.ย Enabling describes how loved ones interact with a person with a substance use disorder (SUD). And although many of us have heard the word, few of us know what it actually means.   Enabling behavior is anything that supports an addictโ€™s […]

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Dysfunctional Drinking – Am I Being the Fun Police?

    I was scrolling through Instagram a couple of days ago when I saw a photo that a local celebrity had posted. It was of a takeaway cup filled with wine and the caption read: โ€œSneaking a light beverage into the school prize giving tonight.โ€ ย  The photo was liked by over 2,000 people […]

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Inside Sanford House at John Street for Men – Before and After Pics

  MLive’s business reporter James Harger and photographer Cory Morse were two of our first visitors to 221 John Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan.ย Jim called the house, “hidden in plain sight”, because the former Hazeltine mansion sits far back on a hilly lot. You can miss it if you are not looking carefully.ย ย It is one […]

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Powerful Allies in Recovery – Educating the Family About Addiction

Why is it important to include family in recovery? ย At Sanford, we believe family involvement is one of the most important components for a healthy, long term recovery.   Family members can be powerful allies in the recovery process. And while a person is in treatment, it is the perfect time to involve family members. […]

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