This written piece describes and explains the psychotherapeutic process in my practice. All practitioners vary in the way they approach therapy, in response to different academic influences and experience. But for this discussion, I have chosen not to discuss the specific teachers and lessons that have taught me, although there are many. Simply I shall describe how I guide the flow of psychotherapeutic healing for my clients.

My husband and I have psychotherapy practices that specialize in substance use disorders. Because of this we often hear tragic stories of overdose and death - and lately, with increasingly greater frequency. Although confirmation of this as a trend is anecdotal, we think the issue warrants the concern of all of us - and especially the parents of high school and college age youngsters. With that concern in mind, we've put together a list of prevention techniques that could help identify when a problem is on the rise or mitigate it if it exists. This list is not comprehensive, but rather suggests how to begin to address this serious topic and, however awkward and difficult, ways to structure a relationship with your children that confronts what is too often avoided:

First, a multi-vitamin/mineral daily. The best vitamins require that you take 1-2 with each or two meals, preferably in the morning; this maximizes absorption. Some people cannot tolerate on an empty stomach, so take with a meal. Early morning should be gentle on your digestive system. Have herbal tea, then an hour or two after rising eat breakfast…

Probiotic literally translated means, "for life," the opposite of antibiotic, "against life." Probiotics are different strains of good bacteria or positive flora that colonize in our intestines. They help us digest our food and make vitamins B and K. They also help the body produce naturally occurring antibiotics that in turn fight pathogenic bacteria that gets us sick…