Author: Steve Barnard

In the world of addiction recovery, one question has lingered in the background for decades; whispered in meetings, debated in therapy rooms, and shouted by those who found healing on both sides of the spiritual line: Is God necessary for recovery? I propose it’s not a question of theology, but rather a question of transformation. […]

a poem to a God who is distant & mute – hidden & silent I built the boat, Lord.Just like You asked.Planked it with prayer,Sealed it with sacrifice,Ribbed it with obedienceAnd sailed it straight into silence. Oh Captain of my soul —You charted the course,Whispered Your will in holy riddles,Sent dreams disguised as direction,And I […]

A metaphor for addiction is that of a person digging themselves into a hole; while their original intent may have been harmless (e.g., have fun, experiment, group/peer pressure, etc.), if digging continues, eventually the person begins to experience problems. Research shows that most people who begin using (digging) at some point decide to stop on […]

It’s safe to say I’m not the same person who crawled into his first AA meeting in a smoky church basement in Detroit, Michigan in 1982. I’m more than just sober, and much more than just a person in recovery, or one who has recovered from an addiction. Look at the lives of people who […]

Is the Bio-Psycho-Social Model Enough? For decades, the bio-psycho-social (BPS) model has been the dominant framework for understanding addiction, mental health, and physical well-being. By examining the biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to disease and recovery, the BPS model provides a holistic approach that has guided countless treatment programs. However, a growing number of […]

Context plays a crucial role in how we interpret, understand and react to events in life. Context in habit work is especially important as it exists as the initial filter we use to interpret and respond to what’s happening. For instance, when we’re triggered by something which causes us to drop into a ritual or […]

I’ve long held that addiction can be thought of as a habit – certainly a powerful, destructive and maladapted habit, but a habit nonetheless. This ‘addiction habit’ idea arose after evaluating my own struggle with addiction, then observing and working with countless others as they navigated into and through recovery. It’s become increasingly clear to […]

I propose every human has the same basic needs necessary to thrive and pursue a life of full self-directed wellbeing. Building on the SAMHSA 8 Dimensions of Wellness (https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/sma16-4957.pdf) which addresses community-level principles and policies, I’ve distilled their prescription down to four essential elements – safety, security, wellbeing and success – I believe every person […]

A central theme across all my work is that the word ‘addiction’ has been co-opted and neutered to the point it no longer has useful meaning or utility. The term has become slang, and ascribed to any thought, attitude or behavior to which anyone wishes to make a point; there’s no longer any specific meaning, […]

There’s a popular book in neuropsychology titled, The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk which has seen widescale adoption and appreciation since its publication in 2015. The author suggests trauma is not only a psychological experience but also a physiological one. The author posits traumatic experiences alter how the brain and body […]