PAL Blog
A Parent’s Story
Articles by Parents Like You
I’m the one who needs help
My son was an athlete and very successful. We spent countless hours together as he grew up, traveling the state for baseball tournaments, practices, and social functions; baseball was our life. I was a single dad doting on his every need as he was an only child and I...
How PAL Helped my Relationships
When I found PAL, I had no idea it would have such a powerful impact on so many of my relationships. Yes, I have three children I came for, but now realize I am here not only for them, but for my mom, and my brother and sister-in-law. There is a long history of...
Expectations
It can be hard to maintain a positive attitude at times. It can be a challenge when facing hardship and struggle to keep a smile on your face. Sometimes during these holiday seasons, the effect of depression and anxiety can be magnified. Culturally speaking, these are...
The View from Recovery
Articles by People in Recovery
When I had no love for myself, others did
There was a period of time, in the earlier days of my struggle with active addiction, where I had little to no interest in getting better. Typically, in the form of pressure from family, intervention, friends, even the judicial system at a certain point, I found...
Strength Comes From Trying Times
The human body is constantly striving for homeostasis. We inherently try (without even recognizing it) to maintain an equal, steady, even-keeled, and most importantly safe state. Of course this is typically in reference to physiological processes literally keeping our...
Change, Restoration and Healing are within Reach
I can remember autumn seasons filled with joy, laughter, thanksgiving, and family congregation. Beautiful swaths of orange, red, and yellow dotting the Northern Arizona forest. Recollections of time spent together, experiencing moments of happiness, gratitude, and...
From Counselors
Articles by PAL and Partner Counselors
A House United
A House UnitedOne of the first things parents who have a child abusing drugs and alcohol can ask themselves is, are we one the same page about how we want to respond? The answer varies, but is often no. This is one of the critical issues that will need to be addressed...
The Three Cs
The Three CsIn my 25 years of working with parents of those suffering from substance use disorder, few concepts or perspectives stand out as much as “The Three Cs”. The concept comes from the Al-Anon Family Groups, but the idea has spread to countless other family...
Being Uncomfortable to Grow
Sometimes We Have to Get Uncomfortable in Order to Grow Having a child with an addiction can create a lot of chaos and discomfort in a family. Most people who find themselves reading this blog will know this from first-hand experience. Participation in a parent...
