The path to recovery from addiction is at best a slippery slope. Just as there are many approaches to treat other medical conditions, therapeutic styles vary sharply in addiction counseling. Finding the right therapist is not easy, especially when you don't have a clue what "right" is,but you do know your life ( or the life of your loved one) depends on getting it right. Going to treatment for an addict is terrifying enough, like going in to a black hole, and failure is almost a certainty. My son was an advanced stage Opiate Addict when he finally went to treatment. While all his treatment staff had his best interest at heart, it was Andrea who was able to gain his trust and confidence. She was 100% honest with him, with us all, but was able to allow him a measure of dignity in spite of the very undignified condition addiction had brought him to. No other therapist he encountered was able to do that. I believe that simple thread of respect and dignity was a "crack in the plaster" for my son. Just enough for him to hang on, struggle on and put one foot in front of the other. He back slid and had many failures along the way, but Andrea stuck with him and with me. I don't know what I would have done without her guidance and direction through all this.
It has been 21 mos. since detox and 14 mos since leaving residential treatment. He is in recovery and sober, happier than I can remember . Employed and living independently ,enjoying a healthy relationship with his family for first time in years. Undoubtedly there will be struggles ahead for him as there is for us all, but knowing that Andrea is there for him provides a comfort for me that is priceless. My gratitude is enormous and the debt we owe her is immeasurable. She is an angel. read more