READ THESE PERSONAL TESTIMONIES FROM DR. BUTKINS' CLIENTS
"Dr. Butkins played an integral part in my recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction. He provided me with knowledge about the disease of addiction and taught me how to overcome the triggers that would lead me to go out and use or drink. Dr. Butkins is a very knowledgeable, respectable, and professional counselor. He truly cares for his clients and you can tell from the minute you first meet him that he is a man who has genuine concern for the addict and is willing to do what it takes to help you. I am forever grateful to Dr. Butkins for teaching and giving me the tools necessary to maintain my recovery from alcohol and substance abuse." John - Orlando, FL January 2009
“I met Dr. Butkins when I went to a counseling session with my alcoholic husband about 2.5 years ago. He is a highly skilled professional and is very knowledgeable on the disease of alcoholism and its affect upon the families of alcoholics. When we met, I was sick with worry and fear, angry, and unhappy. Living each day in fear of what awful thing would happen next, both my mental and physical health were beginning to suffer. When my husband went off to a rehabilitation center, I continued to see Dr. Butkins. As he challenged my thinking and attitudes and encouraged me to recognize and deal with my feelings, my mind began to open and allow me to look at life situations and the disease of alcoholism in ways that would never have occurred to me on my own. He sent me to Al-Anon where I found other people affected by a loved one’s alcoholism that were working the 12 Steps and willing to help me in my recovery. Today, there is less worry and fear in my life and more serenity. I know that Dr. Butkins’ skill, wisdom, and compassion guided me to this better way of living. I will be forever grateful.”Karen, Lake Mary, Florida
"Dr. Pete probably saved my life 7 months ago when I came to him in October, 2005. He has a great talent in evaluating problems and making you aware of them. He has helped me turn my life around and helped me see things about myself that I have been able to work on; he also helped me help others. It is the best money I have spent in many years. Thank you for being there for me." Richard A. March, 2006 "Dr. Butkins has been treating me since I was in middle school; later on at 19, (he helped me again) I had to see someone I felt comfortable with. He talks to me like a friend, not a doctor. I choose him over any other (counselor) because I look forward to seeing him; he’s just like one of my own friends. He’s very real, but not in your face;he doesn’t sugarcoat, but he’s very understanding and kind. He will help you make progress through anything and leave you feeling better than when you came in." Jerry K. April 2006 "Dr. Butkins is the best thing that ever happened to me. I would have been dead a long time ago if it were not for him. I drank way too much and wanted to die. He has brought me through a lot; because of him I can handle anything and I love myself today." Janie D. April, 2006
"Dr. Peter Butkins has provided much needed support and direction during emotional turmoil in my life." Ken H. - Longwood, FL April, 2006
"Dr. Butkins is an amazing guy. He has helped me so very much. When I first came to him I was ready to give up on life. With his help and guidance I pulled myself up. I’m now accepting a full paid scholarship to Stetson. Dr. Butkins saved my life. Thanks for everything." Ann A. - Orlando, FL April, 2006
The sound of enabling has come to sports over the past twenty years or so. Pot, steroids, alcohol, cocaine - they're all prevalent in most sports. Just read the newspapers, magazines, internet and listen to the news. It's a daily occurence for a sports figure to be arrested for a problem related to drug and/or alcohol abuse. And these are the ones who make it in spite of continued use. The ones who don't make it due to drug and/or alcohol use are seldom mentioned because they are not 'today's news'. However, their lives are ruined because their coaches, atheletic directors did not say anything, usually for personal reasons. Injuries occur more often, coaches and managers, fans, society... cover it up for one reason or another.
Let's bring back the humbler, more fan-oriented event instead of the arrogant, more self-absorbed game that is based on individual vanity and proccupation with self. Let's reinforce and support the team player who still exists today. Let's get behind the athelete and their coaches who still care about others and 'higher levels' of sports and life.
The addict is sick not bad whether he is on skid row or front row. We need to help the person, not by turning the other way and ignoring the signs and symptoms but by caring enough to hold the person accountable. Just like we need to hold our children as responsible for their actions, we need to stop harming our boys by helping them believe that they are better than others.
The main obstacle to an adolescent's treatment is the intense fear and frustration that the family feels coupled with an intense need to fix the problem in a controlling manner. This makes it difficult to treat the child.
Healing comes with non-possessive surrender of the child to the Higher Power and then years of Alanon. Otherwise, the parents and other family members can become addicted to fixing the child (fruitlessly I might add) and suffering themselves due to this hopeless task. The key is to seek experts and do what they say.
Make sure that your motive is to help. When you care that the person gets help and do not so much need to be the helper, you can then proceed. See next blog. See Ipod for detailed education on interventions.
We are we. The first word of the first step is we. Find a friend and confide. Be a friend. Try to accept another's faults. Look at oneself and one's own shortcomings. Be there for a friend. Thank him or her for their friendship, their time and their caring. Be a friend. Don not control, do not overly depend. Give these to God. Overly depend upon Him. Have someone in sobriety. Have someone you can be with.
We now have access to a new family. Keep close to those in successful recovery. Stay with the winners. Your time will come. Be patient. That connection with a close friends and friends will be there if you trust God and stay close to the winners. Be a friend.