An Interview with Meme English
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Limited contact is hard. Learn to calm down so you can respond simply and strengthen the connection through humor and interests.
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Agency, the sense of self-control, is important to CRAFT. Foster agency in others by offering positivity, gaining more agency of your own.
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Become an agent of change — by changing yourself. How do you step back, take space, and change the dance of the usual interaction?
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We intend to be supportive, but aren’t always perceived that way. How do you hear when they feel upset, and shift back into connection?
What’s a Functional Analysis?
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Rupture and Repair
Some relationship moments feel like huge rifts. They’re opportunities to show you’re changing, becoming someone safe for them to come to.
Well-Worn Sayings
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Consistent Practice vs. “One-Offs”
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Victim Stance: The “Why Me?” Episode
Feeling victimized means you’re being passive. Shift focus–you have agency and control, and you’re responsible for yourself and your care.
Do They “Have to Want It?”
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What Does It Mean to Be an Ally?
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You Don’t Have to Be Perfect
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Building Your CRAFT Muscle
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What Do You Do When You’ve Hit the Wall?
Emotions feel unmanageable? Step back. State them briefly, then take care of yourself. Give yourself compassion and patience.
Handling the Call Saying Treatment Is Terrible
You get a call: treatment is bad, and they want to leave. Hold the line. Tell them they can get something good from the situation.
What Do You Want, and What Do You Need?
When you’re dealing with difficult circumstances and the actions of others, it’s important to shift focus from external to internal, to pause and check in with yourself and ask yourself what you need and want. Take your power back. We believe that taking care of yourself in this way has a positive impact on the other person. It’s a demonstration of boundaries and self-care.
Interview with Christina Dent
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Trust, Hope, and Expectation
When it comes to hope, trust, and expectation, what’s our part, and what’s the part of others? Hope is ours. It’s internal, doesn’t damage anyone, and is loose, open, and a way to stay positive. It’s also ours to accept — to say this is how things are and soothe ourselves. What not ours? Trust. It’s the other person’s job to become trustworthy for themselves. Expectations, too, are theirs — if we impose expectations on others, we set up failure
The Season of Expectations
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Interview with Alex Ribbentrop
Alex Ribbentrop joins the Allies in Recovery hosts to discuss intergenerational trauma, substance use, the importance of family, and finding connection. Alex is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Qualified Supervisor, EMDR Trained Clinician, and Certified Family Trauma Professional, practicing in Virginia, Maryland, and Florida.
Filling the Gap
How do you handle that difficult time when your loved one comes home from treatment, and is back in an old environment, complete with o