Codependency and Our Addicted Loved Ones

written by Monica Giuffre, UHV Supervised Practicum Student

Codependency is already an intricate issue, but it becomes even more complex when it involves an addicted loved one. Codependency, according to Melody Beattie, resembles grief in regards to the feelings and emotions, such as guilt, obsessions over what went astray, denial, bargaining, controlling, sadness, and anger. Further, it is a type of dysfunctional helping relationship and we start to lose our identities once we are wrapped in the vicious cycle. Addiction, on the other hand, is a disease that incorporates denial and the loss of control. We become invested in our addicted loved ones while our self-love dissipates. The good news is that ...

a prezi by Saima Husaini and Debbie Martin of Hope & Harmony Therapy, LLC along with Ginnean Clevland, Samantha Coy, and Dvora Yampuler.

Hope & Harmony Therapists are committed to offering our clients culturally relevant therapy services. No matter the culture you align yourself with; we will work with you to offer counseling services that work best for you. 

Hope & Harmony therapists have given presentations to other local counselors to help them be better counselors and always keep a clients culture in mind. Below is a link to the presentation on counseling clients who align with Africa American, Latino, Southeast Asia, and LGBTQ.

Viewing on your ph ...

Vulnerability: Strength or Weakness?

Written by Debbie Martin M.Ed., MA, LPC, LMFT 

Vulnerability is something we all struggle with most of our lives. It seems like there is a learning curve deciding when it is appropriate to show our vulnerable side and when it is not. Of course, never showing our weaknesses is easier and protects us from everything--even love.

That's right! When we put up our shields to hide our vulnerabilities, we lose opportunity to connect with others. Feeling connected to others is not only a human need, it is also a necessary component for love to blossom.

Our life experiences with emotional pain and hurt can cause us to put up walls so tall that connection with others is almost impossible. We forget how to be vulnerable. We forget how to handle our painful feelings. We become stuck in constant figh ...