Happy Holidays!

I want to thank all my readers, clients and colleagues for an amazing year of growth, support, and love. I have learned so much from all of you and have felt so honored to be a part of all of your lives. I look forward to 2009 and our continued growth.

Thank you and see you in the New Year!!

Holidays & Recovery

For some the holidays can be a triggering time when recovering from an addiction. You find yourself running into people that you may have acted out with or those who may trigger intense emotions in you. That’s why it’s very important to develop distress tolerance skills and use program to help you through this time period.

I have listed various strategies to support you through this holiday:

  • Keep visits short and sweet
  • Visit in a public place rather than going to someone’s home
  • Keep phone numbers handy and inform your support network in advance that you may call on them for additional support
  • Use breathing skills and meditation daily, and in crisis situations
  • Write affirmations and read inspirational books
  • Go to regular meetings or schedule additional sessions with your therapist
  • Journal daily
  • Bookend your visits (meaning make a call to someone in program before and after entering an emotional triggering situation)
  • Always take breaks from family members when needed
  • Stay with non-triggering friends instead of a family member.

Your ideas and suggestions are important to my readers and me. If you have any additional ideas, please feel free to post them on my blog at: http://blog.wholenessandhealth.com/?p=16

Evaluation Time

I am getting ready to send out evaluation surveys to all clients I saw during 2008. You should be receiving your survey between January and February 2009. I appreciate if you can take the time to fill it out and send it back to me. The surveys are developed to give you an opportunity to inform me of areas that I can improve. I look forward to your feedback

Workshop Announcement

How to Communicate with Difficult People
Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Beverly Hills, CA

Come to a free seminar and learn skills on how to communicate with difficult people who you come in contact with on a regular basis (at home, work or in the world). Please call Elana at 310-403-9147 to reserve your space. Limited space available!

Save the Date

I will be speaking at the 4th Annual Symposium, International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP), Phoenix, Arizona, February16 – 21, 2009. I will speaking on a panel with other other health professionals who specialize working with women and recovery. If interested in learning more, please visit: www.iitap.com.

Groups & Other Services

Women’s Process Group
Monday at 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m., Beverly Hills, CA
Gain insight, develop effective communication skills and increase confidence with others. If interested in joining this group, please contact Elana for an entrance interview. 2 spaces available!

Women’s Recovery Group
Tuesdays noon-1:30 p.m., Beverly Hills, CA
Join a group of supportive women who are recovering from various addictive behaviors (drugs, alcohol, sex/love, debt, shopping and codependency). Develop effective boundaries, increase independence skills, and develop skills to stay sober. Starts February 2009!

Foundations of Recovery
(Individual Recovery Packages)
Elana offers Foundations of Recovery a package which includes 2-3 individual sessions weekly for an affordable monthly cost for individuals who are in their early stages of recovery from drugs, alcohol and sex/love addiction. Contact Elana to learn more about this special offer.