Join me at your regional support group and we'll celebrate the season together!

by Melanie Zapf, Alumni Services Coordinator

Every year the holidays "sneak" up on me. I'd like to think it's because I'm in the moment, but my hunch is denial is closer to the truth.

Getting through the holidays is always a hot topic over coffee for all of us in recovery at this time of the year. It's true, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah and New Year's Eve tend to be emotionally loaded events.

They are loaded because of our memories and our expectations. If we had great experiences as kids, we tend to hope for the same. If past experiences were anything but great, we get "stuck" in expecting disaster. Everything conspires to keep us away from the present moment and we are thrown into the past.

• This year's holidays won't be like last year's or those of your childhood.
• We can bring whatever attitude to the season we choose.
• You don't have to do the holidays as your family dictates. You have regained your power of choice!
• Take a mini-inventory - write down what happened last year that you didn't like. Now, with great honesty and no guilt, take a look at what part you played in the event. It will take serious self-discipline to see what part you play in the holiday drama...but remember, you are the only one you can change.
  
• Ask yourself what you would like to do differently this year. Spell it out in detail and make it happen.

All of our workshops at regional support group meetings through the holiday season will focus on finding that joy. Take a look at the schedule --Each of these workshops are two hours long and are open to you, your family AND all your friends in recovery.

I'll be seeing all of you at each and every one of these events!

Our Featured Speakers:

At Charlotte

Deborah Leighton, LCSW, LCAS, NCACII

At Raleigh & Kernersville

Ginny MIlls, MAEd, LPC, LCAS

Ginny Mills joined the field of behavioral health over 20 years ago and now owns and operates Full Life Counseling in Winston-Salem. A graduate of Wake Forest University (BA, 1985, MAED, 1996), Ginny's experience includes directing an older adult residential treatment program through WFU Baptist Behavioral Health, Chief Clinical Officer for Partnership for a Drug-Free NC, and serving on the NC Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board. She has a strong understanding of the complexities of addiction and recovery and is privileged to join with individuals and families in addressing a variety of self-destructive patterns of behavior and the pursuit of full lives in recovery.

At Asheville & Greenville

Marilyn Malcolm,BSN,MA,LPC,D.MIN

Dr. Marilyn Malcolm holds credentials in Spiritual Formation from the Institute for Spirituality at Palmetto Health Hospital and has served as a counselor. She has worked in private practice as a spiritual director and has a master's degree in counseling from Gordon-Conwell Seminary, and a doctorate in Pastoral Counseling from Graduate Theological Seminary. She was the Spiritual Care Coordinator for Pavillon for two years, and now serves our clients in Extended Care with weekend retreats. Marilyn now resides in Myrtle Beach, SC where she is in private practice. 

At Charleston

Barbara Fox, LISW

Barbara Radin Fox is a Licensed Independent Social Worker in the Charleston area and has been in private practice for almost 20 years. Before that she was a Human Resources Manager at The Washington Post for 16 years. She is a recovering addict and started attending AlAnon meetings 29 years ago