Turning It Over
The holidays can be both joyful and challenging, especially for people early in their recoveries. As 2019 draws to a close, it can be helpful to take time to reflect […]
Valerie Simon
About Valerie Simon
Posts by Valerie Simon:
An Attitude of Gratitude
“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie Thanksgiving can be a time to reflect on the year and […]
Emotional Sobriety…What Is It?
It was Bill Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, who called emotional sobriety the “next horizon” to be met once physical sobriety is achieved. Emotional sobriety is often considered the foundation […]
From Co-Dependent to Inter-Dependent
“The only person you can now or ever change is yourself. The only person that it is your business to control is yourself.” – Melody Beattie As Melody Beattie, co-dependency expert, […]
Remembering Self-Care
It can be easy to neglect taking care of ourselves when we’re busy and overwhelmed. In fact, when we’re stressed, self-care may be perceived as an afterthought rather than part […]
Learning to Play in Recovery
Recovery is hard work. It involves going to meetings, getting a sponsor, working the steps, among other challenges like confronting painful emotions and dealing with old wounds. Individuals in substance […]
Authenticity: Valerie’s Journey
In a 2010 interview, Brene Brown discussed the idea that authenticity is a practice. It is not something that happens to us, but something we choose. It is a willingness to […]
Psychodrama, an Experiential Treatment, Helps Diffuse Anger: Reducing anger opens possibilities for compassion and connection
Valerie’s Psychology Today guest blog post
Four Ways Psychodrama Creates Emotional Intimacy: This visionary modality rewires the brain
Valerie’s Psychology Today guest blog post
Addiction Isn’t Funny
I, like so many of us, feel heart sick at the news of Robin William’s passing. How could someone so talented, so brilliant, so funny take his own life? How could his public persona and his private demons be so incongruous?