Coming Up for Air — A Toolkit to Help with Your Loved One's Recovery from Addiction & Mental Illness

In times of conflict, any interaction with your loved one -- positive or negative -- can reinforce using behavior. Our hosts discuss how the CRAFT process of simply removing yourself from the situation can create a paradigm shift in the relationship. Join our Member Site today to take full advantage of Allies in Recovery’s program, including 8 video modules, three blogs, and  dialogue  with experts in the fields of treatment and recovery. Learn more @ alliesinrecovery.net

How do you communicate with your loved one in a way that is helpful for everyone? By becoming a "positivity detective." Our hosts dispel the myths of confrontation, detachment, and tough love, explaining how these approaches can damage the relationship and cause you to miss opportunities to encourage recovery. Join our Member Site today to take full advantage of Allies in  Recovery’s program, including 8 video modules, three blogs, and dialogue  with experts in the fields of treatment and recovery. Learn more @ alliesinrecovery.net

How important is it to know for certain whether your loved one is using? The greatest value comes in following your instincts, rewarding your loved one's positive behavior and removing rewards when you suspect use, rather than getting caught up in finding the evidence. Join our Member Site today to take full advantage of Allies in Recovery’s program, including 8 video modules, three blogs, and dialogue with experts in the fields of treatment and recovery. Learn more @ alliesinrecovery.net

Our hosts discuss a family struggling with alcohol use and mental health disorders, accompanied by concern over the children's well-being. Dominique cautions about when and how to intervene, the consequences of involving the authorities, and how the CRAFT approach can help.

How can greater self-awareness and realistic expectations about impacting our loved ones’ behavior allow us to be more “in the game?” As we continue to focus on practice rather than perfection, the tools of CRAFT can change how we feel and interact with our loved ones, gently shifting the dynamic between us over time. Join our Member Site today to take full advantage of Allies in Recovery’s program, including 8 video modules, three blogs, and dialogue with experts in the fields of treatment and recovery. Learn more @ alliesinrecovery.net

A basic overview of the CRAFT model for families facing a loved one's addiction -- including how it works, and why it works. In this segment, you will learn how the CRAFT skill set can be applied to any situation. Laurie also shares her personal experience with CRAFT and how it helped to empower her own  family. Join our Member Site today to take full advantage of Allies in Recovery’s program, including 8 video modules, three blogs, and dialogue with experts in the fields of treatment and recovery. Learn more @ alliesinrecovery.net

What's the impact of substance use and other health challenges on the entire family, particularly when all the attention is focused on one person? This important and often difficult conversation helps alleviate the guilt that parents and other care providers feel about such disparities, and shows us how to be more sensitive to those family members who may appear to be doing just fine. Join our Member Site today to take full advantage of Allies in  Recovery’s program, including 8 video modules, three blogs, and dialogue  with experts in the fields of treatment and recovery. Learn more @ alliesinrecovery.net

How do you approach it when a loved one expresses suicidal thoughts? How do you tell the difference between suicidal ideation and the idea of killing oneself over time through substance use? What opportunities do these conversations afford, and how do you intervene in a way that keeps your loved one safe, while at the same time, fosters connection and supports recovery?  Join our Member Site today to take full advantage of Allies in Recovery’s program, including 8 video modules, three blogs, and dialogue  with experts in the fields of treatment and recovery. Learn more @ alliesinrecovery.net

Hosts Laurie, Kayla, and Dominique discuss a foundational part of the  CRAFT model from module 1: working on your own reactions; looking for  positive moments to step in with your loved one, and moments to gently  step away. When your loved one is not high or using, you can engage with  the person rather than the substance. CRAFT is a long-term process, so  allow yourself the patience to try new things, adopt a different  orientation, learn new skills, and give a relationship space. This can  have a positive impact on the entire dynamic, and a positive influence  on your loved one's choices. Join our Member Site today to take full advantage of Allies in   Recovery’s program, including 8 video modules, three blogs, and  dialogue  with experts in the fields of treatment and recovery. Learn more @ alliesinrecovery.net

When you want something, how do you request it? Hosts Laurie and Kayla talk about developing a communication style that aims to influence, not control. Influence comes from a softer, more open and compassionate position, and it can change the dynamic of the relationship over time. Join our Member Site today to take full advantage of Allies in Recovery’s program, including 8 video modules, three blogs, and dialogue with experts in the fields of treatment and recovery. Learn more @ alliesinrecovery.net