For those I haven’t met yet, I’m Michelle Luttrell, MA, LMFT-S, MBA, MHA, Co-Owner & Chief Operating Officer, and I wanted to connect. A little bit about me: As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, I consider myself a therapist first. I’m also an avid learner, earning a master’s in business administration and…
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is a global event held annually to raise awareness about overdose, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths, and acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends who have lost loved ones. It was initiated in 2001 by Sally J. Finn at The Salvation Army in St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia, as…
HOW DOES LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY DISCRIMINATION IMPACT HEALTH? Health disparities among LGBTQIA+ people are linked to stigma and discrimination for example: Many LGBTQIA+ people have reported experiencing stigma and discrimination when accessing health services, leading some individuals to delay necessary health care or forego it altogether.1 Do LGBTQIA+ Community members face mental illness more than…
Addiction is a growing problem in the United States, with the constant media airplay of “the opioid crisis” and past initiatives of “the war on drugs.” While substance use disorders are indeed a growing concern, the behavioral health industry has responded. There are now numerous federal and state programs to address addiction and co-occurring mental…
The growing public health crisis of addiction in America has led to the critical need for professional behavioral health treatment. Those struggling with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions require skilled, experienced behavioral health specialists to help break the cycle of addiction. For many, the greatest obstacle is admitting they need help, but…
WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF COMMONLY USED PHRASES THAT CAN HAVE UNINTENDED DAMAGING CONSEQUENCES? “This dessert is like crack to me.” “My girlfriend is psycho.” Have you ever considered certain language commonly used to reference behaviors can be harmful to those with addiction and behavioral disorders? What can you do? When you avoid using stigmatizing…
For many Americans and Texans, life can feel like a constant battle. It’s a scenario more common than many of us would like to admit, where the specter of past traumas haunts the present, leading to a desperate search for relief. This is the harsh reality for individuals grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and…
WHAT IS PROBLEMATIC SEXUAL BEHAVIOR? WHAT IS SEX ADDICTION? Problematic sexual behavior (PSB) is an on-going, uncontrollable pattern of sexual thoughts and behaviors that prove problematic in a person’s life. This particular form of addiction or compulsive behavior is often misunderstood. Sensationalized or worst-case scenarios may make headlines – but are not the norm. Though…
Q & A with Santé’s Medical Director, Melissa Pennington, D.O. WHY HAVE OVERDOSE DEATHS INCREASED? Drug overdose deaths have increased as deaths from fentanyl escalate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl and other synthetic opioids have had a rapid and dramatic rise; overdose deaths involving these drugs have nearly…
Many Americans find themselves entangled in the web of trauma and addiction, two complex conditions that often walk hand in hand, casting shadows over lives and families. Traumatic experiences can take a lasting toll on an individual and cause them to self-medicate or self-soothe with addictive substances like drugs or alcohol. Addiction and trauma often…