See my videos on You Tube under the doc pete.  There is a video for every step of my seven-step model on parenting children who use drugs and/or alcohol.

Love and Peace,

Doc Pete, the imperfect therapist

If you want additional counseling

via internet or telephone or in
person go to :

www.docpetetheimperfecttherapist.com

facebook:  allabout addictions

You Tube (for Doc's videos) - the doc pete

drbutkins@gmail.com      (407) 786-1913

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Take charge of your home.  Get your child to treatment the right way.  Dr. Butkins explains how to progress through the steps of helping your child to get sober and clean.  Go to You Tube and search for the doc pete. There are seven videos on each step and others on treatment for drug and alcohol abuse/addiction.

Love and Peace,

Doc Pete, the imperfect therapist

If you want additional counseling

via internet or telephone or in
person go to :

www.docpetetheimperfecttherapist.com

facebook:  allabout addictions

You Tube (for Doc's videos) - the doc pete

drbutkins@gmail.com      (407) 786-1913

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Parents need to see that they are not at fault.  This problem is mostly genetic and not caused by the environment.  Drop the guilt.  Note that only certain siblings cross the line to addiction, even though they were brought up in the same household with the same parents.  This is proof that parenting does not create addiction.

However, if there is abuse in the household, the child may find tremendous relief from intoxification.  These same children, if not geneticaly pre-disposed to addiction, will quit when the intoxication results in pain or loss.  It is not providing relief and, because they are not pre-disposed, they will not 'crave' the drug.  The drug no longer provides relief but results in problems.

Love and Peace,

Doc Pete, the imperfect therapist

If you want additional counseling

via internet or telephone or in
person go to :

www.docpetetheimperfecttherapist.com

facebook:  the doc pete (for Doc's videos)

drbutkins@gmail.com      (407) 786-1913

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The most frequent time to get "stuck" when parenting is when we set firm boundaries and then have trouble enforcing them.  Remember to only set limits that you believe are fair and then follow through with the mutually agreed upon consequence(s).

Love and Peace,

Doc Pete, the imperfect therapist

If you want additional counseling

via internet or telephone or in
person go to :

www.docpetetheimperfecttherapist.com

facebook:  the doc pete (for Doc's videos)

drbutkins@gmail.com      (407) 786-1913

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Columbia Universitys' National Center for addiction and substance abuse announced their latest finding regarding teens viewing internet social networks.  They report that teens are seeing more sights that show their peers drinking and drugging and that, due to 'suggestibility', they are doing the same.

If this role modeling is that influential, why don't we model sober behavior at the same level?

Love and Peace,              

Doc Pete, the imperfect therapist

If you are interested in additional counseling or
coaching via email or telephone or in person log onto

www.docpetetheimperfecttherapist.com

Facebook: allabout addictions

You tube videos: the doc pete

 

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One of the problems in enteriiing young adults into treatment is that they have usually not 'used' long enoughto and may not have had enough time to progress to a clear and observable "bottom'.  Inother words, the problem is not advanced enough to see clearly.  Many people have an adaptation period of about ten years whereas the problems/consequences are minimal or easy to disguise.  This variable being present and coupled with denial and thus avoidance of "symptom-seeking", it is very difficult to tell whether the peron is abusing or truly addicted.  Nevertheless, seek treatment and find out.  One of the best strategys is to ally with the teen and mutually seek the truth over time by studying the problem ongoing.

Love and Peace,

Doc Pete, the imperfect therapist

www.docpetetheimperfecttherapist.com.

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We, as parents, need to learn how this problem is treated more than how it started.  Once we can see the problem as addiction, we can proceed to treat addiction.  The secret is to mutually decide what works and take action leading to success.

Love and Peace,

Doc Pete, the imperfect therapist

www.docpetetheimperfecttherapist.com

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This occurs when the family realizes that all have been affected and enter treatment.

Love and Peace,

Doc Pete, the imperfect therapist

www.docpetetheimperfecttherapist.com.

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The family is a stable force over the life of a child if they remain loyal and accept the child.  When 5 the child will misbehave by not picking up after self or forgetting something.  There should be corrective measures.  At 15, he may misbehave by using alcohol or drugs.  There should be corrective behaviors.  In neither circumstance should the child's character be demeaned.  Rejection of the behavior is much different than rejection of the person.

When parents suffer from misbehaviors of a teenage child who is using drugs and/or alcohol, the behaviors are much different from those of a small child.  However, the corrective actions need to be the same.  There should be an understanding that the misbehavior is not aimed at destroying the family but is a result of not having accurate information and, in the case of addiction, cravings.  In terms of the teenager, the parents have had to cope with more severe misbehaviors such as lying, disobedience, stealing and family betrayal in some cases.  This can lead to severe reactions by parents.  When armed with accurate information about the problem and support from others who have been there (Al-Anon), parents can avoid the flooded feelings and the emotional reactions of rage and sarcasm, lecturing, rejection and retaliation.  The key is to address the issue before college (Butkins, 1994) when the problem is still reversible.  By the time they get to college it is usually too late to get them to listen and the consequences can be life-changing for the child.  Get help for yourself first and then you will be equipped to handle the problem with your child.

Stay loyal to your child by issuing corrective behavior, setting boundaries, encouraging, loving and being sure of yourself.  When entering the world of drugs and alcohol be sure you know what works and what doesn't.

I caution you, as parents, to address this problem.  Do not let it fall through the cracks or sweep it under the rug.  If it's addiction, it will not go away!  This is your family. Protect it. Learn how to handle this unique problem.

Love and Peace,

Doc Pete, the imperfect therapist

www.docpetetheimperfecttherapist.com

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Who better than parents to motivate their children?  Parents are our first teachers.

Love and Peace,                             

Doc Pete, the imperfect therapist

If you are interested in additional counseling or coaching

via email or telephone or in person log onto

www.docpetetheimperfecttherapist.com.

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