Pets in Recovery – Best Friends or a Distraction?

We recently published two articles on our therapy dog, Apollonia, which were food for thought. Animals—especially dogs—are good for recovery. But what about during a virtual intensive outpatient session? Can a pet make you feel more confident or willing to share? And consider a puppy or other young animal. When is it appropriate to bring […]

Human Resources (HR) and Recovery – Limelight Interview

Since mid-December, we have been publishing all manner of articles and interviews on hope for 2024. One name that came up several times was Sanford Behavioral Health’s Human Resources Generalist, Sam Domine. Sam is a breath of fresh air; almost six years sober herself, she works within Sanford to advocate for both team members and […]

Damp or Dry Lifestyle? The Trend Toward Sobriety

Recently, I met a friend for dinner at a local restaurant packed with partiers. I arrived first for our reservation and ordered my usual recovery cocktail of gassy water in a wine glass with a splash of cranberry. Some therapists I’ve spoken with say the wine glass could be triggering, but after ten years of […]

Admissions Specialists – The First Voice You Hear – Limelight Interview

The phrase “dream team” is overused for a reason. It simply describes people who do their jobs well, work well together, and are the kind of folks you would like to have lunch with. They make an organization better. Admissions Specialist Aaron Marshall and Lead Admissions Specialist Jordan Higby are that kind of team, although […]

Binge Drinking & Hangovers – Changing the New Year’s Norms

It is almost the new year, and folks around the globe are feeling the need to mark the occasion with parties, family gatherings, fireworks, and drone displays. It seems important to celebrate the milestone and enter the new year with a bang. In fact, drinking is socially sanctioned and normalized, and it is even expected […]

Benefits of a Therapy Dog in Mental Health Treatment

At Sanford Behavioral Health, we are doing a series of 12 articles on hope for the holidays and beyond. A series on hope would not be complete without talking about the benefits of a therapy dog in mental health treatment. We especially want to sing the praises of our therapy dog, Apollonia. Apol is an […]

A Few of Our Favorite Things to Maintain Recovery

Mocktails at parties and awe walks on beaches, family dinners where nobody preaches, 12-step meetings when traveling – these are a few of our favorite things. (Sung to the tune of My Favorite Things with apologies to Rodgers and Hammerstein.) We are in the thick of Spirit Week at Sanford Behavioral Health, and we have […]

Wintertime Mental Health Bonus – Best of Excursions

At Sanford Behavioral Health, we embrace winter with robust excursions in nature. In fact, it is a part of our evidence-based practices to get outside and experience a Michigan winter in all its splendor. Yes, it can be gloomy and cold. And we are well aware of seasonal affective disorder and the depression that can […]

The Psychology Behind the Sunday Blues – Wood TV Interview

Why does weekend frivolity make Sunday afternoons feel so foreboding? The term “Sunday Blues’, or “Sunday Scaries” refers to the anxiety 80% of American workers experience as the weekend winds down on Sunday afternoon. Wood TV 8 noon anchor/reporter Emily Linnert and Sanford Behavioral Health Founder Rae Green, JD, LPC, CAADA, discuss the psychology behind […]

Al-Anon and Family Support in Recovery – Wood TV Interview

Thank you to noon anchor/reporter Emily Linnert, Wood TV 8, for her informed reporting on the role of family in addiction recovery. Sanford Behavioral Health Founder Rae Green, JD, LPC, CAADA, spoke with Emily this week to discuss the value of Al-Anon and family programs in addiction treatment and recovery.   “We started a family […]