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What is an Addiction Therapist?
By Tracey Bassett Psy.D. Deciding to take the step to seek addiction treatment is a very important and often difficult step. It can be complicated by the overwhelming amount of treatment centers, treatment modalities, and types of professionals that say they specialize in addiction. Today, our Manhattan addiction therapists will explore the different types of…
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The Effects of the Pandemic Lockdowns: Substance Use, Depression, Anxiety, Attention and Concentration
Written by Britt Gottlich, Psy D As we begin to see an end in sight for the pandemic, I’ve spent time reflecting on my time as a psychologist for the past year. While the pandemic may be ending and places are starting to open up and as we return to a sense of normalcy, I…
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Neuropsychological Testing and Substance Use Disorders
Written by Ronnit Nazarian, Psy.D. Most of us are aware of the long-standing emotional and behavioral effects of substance abuse. However, the more subtle and detrimental effects that are harder to assess are the negative impacts substance abuse has on a person’s cognitive abilities (e.g., short-term memory, fluid reasoning, processing speed). For example, we see…
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The Importance of In-Person Addiction and Alcoholism Treatment During the COVID 19 Pandemic
There have been many mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased depression, anxiety and exacerbations of PTSD as a result of isolation, changes in lifestyle and fear. Along with increases in suicidality and domestic abuse, one of the most dangerous mental health effects of the pandemic has been increased substance abuse.1Along with all…
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Coping Mechanisms Against Depression and Anxiety During the COVID -19 Pandemic
Written by Olga Megwinoff, MD I did not want to write about anything related to the pandemic given that we are already so saturated by news and information related to it. However, I have realized it’s unavoidable. This pandemic and the ensuing quarantine have changed everything about the world as we know it. Most aspects…
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Treatment Approaches Designed for Women with Addiction and Alcoholism
By Britt Gottlich, Psy.D. Through years of training and practice in the field of substance abuse, I have noticed some interesting gender differences. First, I have found that more men tend to seek substance abuse treatment than women. Second, I have noticed that often the core of what began the substance abuse problem is often…
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Group Therapy for Executives with Addiction
By Dr. Tracey Bassett In deciding what to write about this month, I drew from Dr. Glazer’s most recent post in which he said, “I now understand that my most important role as a physician and therapist for alcoholism and addiction is to help provide a safe space, a trusting, mutually respectful relationship where I…
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The Lack of Evidence in “Evidence Based Treatment” for Alcoholism and Addiction
By Samuel Glazer, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, NYU Langone Health Many “for profit” treatment programs, both inpatient and outpatient, tout “Evidence Based Treatment” (EBT) as their approach to treat alcoholism, addition, and other substance use disorders. This label can be misleading, and though EBT sounds effective and backed by research (thus justifying the…
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Meditation and Mindfulness for Alcoholism and Addiction
Meditation and Mindfulness for Alcoholism and Addiction Written by Olga Megwinoff, MD There is so much referring to meditation and mindfulness. Every mental health guru speaks of mindfulness and media outlets are saturated with everything meditation. It is definitely trendy and even in my own neighborhood, in the non-trendy suburbs, we started a meditation group.…