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How Laurie and Kayla Became Part of AIR

Allies in Recovery May 1, 2023
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Learn about Allies in Recovery’s (AIR) groups – the CRAFT Educational groups facilitated by Laurie and the CRAFT Support group facilitated by Kayla – and how they became part of AIR. CRAFT isn’t easy, and you can’t do it alone. These groups provide essential information, feedback and support. You do not have to be alone during this overwhelming, painful process. Allies in Recovery is here for you.

CLICK HERE or PRESS PLAY in the SoundCloud box below to listen to the podcast. Enjoy!

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Wishes & Dips

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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

Answering Listener Questions

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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

Motivation: What Drives Change?

Motivation drives change. How do you find motivation to change your part of the dynamic, and allow time and space for the process to unfold? It’s okay to sometimes feel like maybe things aren’t working, then get back on track. If you don’t know how to change, Allies in Recovery offers a toolbox. As long as you stay interested and use the tools, things can change.

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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

What Is Radical Acceptance?

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jamesheflin August 24, 2022
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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

When Your Loved One Uses Several Substances

If your loved one uses multiple substances, our CRAFT experts suggest completing the “functional analysis” exercise to understand which substance to focus on first. Start small, by changing your own behavior in response to your loved one’s use. Laurie MacDougall, Dominique Simon-Levine and Kayla Solomon, the hosts of the “Coming Up for Air” podcast suggest aiming to shift over time and studying eLearning CRAFT Modules 3, 5, and 6 closely to help make your plans. Listen in to this episode for further insight.

jamesheflin August 17, 2022
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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

Coming Home

After any treatment, when someone is in early recovery, check your expectations. Your loved one is likely in a fragile state, uncomfortable, edgy, body wrecked after dependency, and dis-regulated physically and emotionally. On this episode of our podcast “Coming Up for Air”,  hosts Laurie MacDougall, Dominique Simon-Levine and Kayla Solomon talk about how your loved one coming home is a time of transition and encourage listeners to have realistic expectations. Be gentle, caring, and connected, not an inquisitor. Connection is key.

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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

Unsolicited Advice: Helpful or Hurtful?

On this episode of our podcast “Coming Up for Air”,  hosts Laurie MacDougall,  Dominique Simon-Levine and Kayla Solomon talk about unsolicited advice. It’s smart to avoid giving unsolicited advice. If you receive it, hold your ground, knowing that you’re dedicated to upholding the CRAFT model. Consider telling the advice-giver to look into CRAFT to understand what you’re doing.

jamesheflin August 3, 2022
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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

An Interview with Meme English

Guest Meme English, a former family therapist and consultant in the legal system, discusses family dynamics with hosts Kayla and Laurie. When it comes to substance use, family dynamics are complicated. There are many layers of trauma, from generational to personal, and competing needs among family members. Balancing all these factors and personal situations means deciding whose needs get most clearly met. Trauma therapy also requires time and commitment, and is harder to find since the pandemic.

jamesheflin July 18, 2022
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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

The Antidote to Shame: Part 2

In Part 2 of this podcast series, “Coming Up for Air” hosts look at shame and negative thinking, discussing ways to slow down, gain awareness, and soothe your system. They focus on the essential tool of empathy — especially for yourself — as a way to understand what narrative you’re creating, and changing that narrative by looking for the positive even in the most difficult moments.

jamesheflin July 8, 2022
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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

When Do You Work on Use of Less-Dangerous Substances?

Should the family now focus on their loved one’s cannabis use? Our hosts discuss harm reduction and the role of the “functional analysis” in CRAFT to address such questions. The analysis involves reviewing what’s changed, patterns and dynamics, and making sure your own behaviors support reduction of use. These actions are subtle, and their subtlety makes them more effective. Even with multiple substances, they recommend addressing one at a time. The functional analysis should keep happening with different drugs, so that you know which behaviors to reward and which to walk away from. The Allies site includes cannabis resources discussing withdrawal and tolerance, and the more-concentrated form of use called “dabbing.

jamesheflin July 4, 2022
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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

Conditional Love, Unconditional Love, and What Leads to Shame: Part 1

Even when love is not conditional, there sometimes must be conditions regarding people’s behavior. Love in romantic relationships may change if you break up, but with family members, conditionality applies to behavior, not love. What we as family members can modify is how we react and our expectations. Conditionality goes back to boundary issues – there are edges someone comes to where they must stop what they’re doing. It’s important to note that wishing someone would go away is a normal, protective reaction to difficult feelings.

jamesheflin June 20, 2022
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Our Podcast: Coming Up For Air

Facing the Obstacles: Part 1

On this episode of Allies in Recovery’s “Coming Up for Air” Podcast, Laurie and Kayla discuss the obstacles between knowing what to do and putting that knowledge into real practice. In Part 1, they focus on avoiding a “crisis” response, and slowing events down to avoid being reactive.

jamesheflin June 6, 2022
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