Positive Communication Skills Archives

“What We All Require Is To Be Heard”: Kayla Solomon On Effective Communication and Connection

In March 2023, Allies in Recovery's very own Kayla Solomon led a 90-minute ZOOM conversation with leaders of the East Bay chapter of the National Alli…

rredick May 12, 2023

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How CRAFT Can Help: Supporting Your Partner to Successfully Moderate Opiate Use

His partner is trying to moderate her use of heroin and methamphetamine with no formal support. Her use consumes so much of his partner's life that it…

Allies in Recovery May 5, 2023

I Don’t Want To Ignore What’s Happening. And I Don’t Want To Accuse.

Fortunately, CRAFT skills can help us avoid both extremes. Faith asks a basic, vital question — and one that Allies in Recovery writer Laurie MacDou…

Laurie MacDougall May 5, 2023

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How to Use the CRAFT Approach to Communicate with a Loved One Living with Substance Use Disorder

Substance Use Disorder can often involve volatile emotions on all sides. When family members use the CRAFT approach that we teach at AlliesinRecovery.…

Laurie MacDougall April 28, 2023

“I Want To End This Cycle” Was Music To My Ears. How Can I Be My Son’s Best Ally?

Member Barbars has a grown son who struggles with alcohol. The great news is that he wants to change, and she is there for him. Allies writer Laurie M…

Laurie MacDougall March 24, 2023

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Speaking Up: The Compassionate Way

How do you communicate when you see problematic behavior? The key is intention: observing behavior, and pointing it out calmly and thoughtfully. The i…

jamesheflin November 30, 2022

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Speaking Up: The Compassionate Way

How do you communicate when you see problematic behavior? The key is intention: observing behavior, and pointing it out calmly and thoughtfully. The i…

jamesheflin November 21, 2022

Giving Your Loved One Trust and Agency

Kayla and Laurie discuss short-term vs. long-term change -- start by working on one change in yourself rather than in your loved one, like focusing on…

jamesheflin November 9, 2022

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Giving Your Loved One Trust and Agency

Kayla and Laurie discuss short-term vs. long-term change -- start by working on one change in yourself rather than in your loved one, like focusing on…

jamesheflin November 4, 2022

Asking Effective Questions

Laurie and Kayla discuss questions that create space for your loved one rather than hemming them in. We may have brilliant ideas about what others sho…

Allies in Recovery October 31, 2022

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