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How Addiction Alternatives can help
you!
Today, more than any time in history, there are tools
and techniques that can empower you to
take control of your life. No longer must you feel a victim or
helpless in the face of a problem with alcohol, drugs, food,
procrastination or other unwanted habits. No longer must you feel that
you have to attend meetings for the rest of your life, feel ashamed or
guilty, turn your life over to a higher power, or expose yourself to
public humiliation to be free from destructive behaviors.
Through cyberspace, by telephone or in person, Addiction Alternatives
professional staff can teach you what you need to know, advise you about
what to read and suggest when a local treatment professional needs to be
contacted. We can act as your "personal-change trainer" or coach to
assist you in overcoming your unwanted habit(s) and becoming the person
you aspire to be. In addition, we can offer the following:
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Ideas, information and motivation
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Help in designing a personalized plan of action
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Recommendations for seeing a medical doctor for
medication, when desirable
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Targeted exercises for developing specific coping
skills
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Help in identifying "blind-spots"
With our unique combination of personal life
experiences with addictions and professional training we can bring to
you state-of-the-art information gently, privately, conveniently and in
a dignified manner.
What We Cannot Do
It is very important that you understand that if we
work together over the telephone or through
the internet, that our work together should not be construed as therapy
or psychotherapy. We can teach, coach, train, discuss and suggest
things, but we cannot do psychotherapy. There is no way, given our
present state of technology, to replicate the hundreds of important
dimensions that are factors in therapy or psychotherapy.
Further, while telephone and e-mail contacts can be very useful, they
are not a substitute for professional
face-to-face assistance. Emotional and behavioral problems can be
debilitating and very dangerous. Always seek professional face-to-face
help immediately if you have thoughts of harming yourself or harming
others.
We will always act professionally in any interactions with you but if we
do telephone consultations, by definition
we do not enter into a formal, traditionally defined doctor-patient
relationship. We therefore cannot accept the same level of
responsibility for your behavior as we would have in an in-person
relationship.
Lastly, no matter what route you we choose to work together, we cannot
be responsible for any of your actions or consequences of your actions
if our approaches do not work for you or if you do not follow through on
our coaching suggestions. While we will do our very best to assist you,
you must do the "homework", practice the techniques, and most
importantly, be honest about your problem (s).
A NOTE ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY: Your
name, address and your concerns will always be held in the strictest
confidence. They will never be published or released to anyone. All
e-mail correspondence will be sent to your personal computer and all
telephone calls will be handled via our private phones. However, we
cannot guarantee the confidentiality and security of e-mail or the
telephone lines. If you have further concerns please contact
Dr. Kern
directly at (310) 275-5433 ext. 1.
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