es an individual’s entire life: mind,
body and spirit. And one should not
dismiss the very real impact that
trauma — such as physical or sexual
abuse, neglect, profound loss, natural
disaster or war — can have on the
individual and their loved ones.
Recovery can be achieved through
various pathways, such as profes-
sional healthcare, counseling,
medications, as well as support from
families, schools and communities,
whether faith-based or secular, pro-
fessional or peer. While we can list
these various pathways, it is impor-
tant to emphasize the supportive role
that interpersonal relationships play.
Many people come to my office
saying they want to “do it on my
own,” and I point out to them the
empirical and anecdotal evidence that
indicates conclusively the importance
of reaching out for support and assis-
tance. Knowing that someone else
believes in you can go a long way.
Supportive relationships can also
prevent an individual’s addiction or
mental health behaviors from wors-
ening. But there’s no guarantee; if a
loved one appears to be going down-
hill, those in supportive relationships
do not have to go down with them.
I’ve heard some say it’s like watching
a train wreck, and while you might
not be able to stop an actual train
wreck, you can be available to assist
with the cleanup.
Jewish Family Service is here to not
only assist with the cleanup, but also
to help the conductor avoid having
to pull the emergency brake. We do
that with outpatient counseling for
individuals suffering through addic-
tion and/or mental illness, as well as
their families.
If you or a loved one could use
some help, you can contact the Jewish
Family Service Resource Center at
(248) 592-2313 or resourcecenter@
jfsdetroit.org.
*
Maureen Lyn Bernard, LMSW, is a clinical
therapist at Jewish Family Service and a certi-
fied addictions counselor.
Wishing our patients,
friends and familes
a healthy, sweet
New Year!
L'Shanah Tovah
LAKES URGENT CARE
WEST BLOOMFIELD
Lakes Medical Center Building
2300 Haggerty Road, Suite 1010
West Bloomfi eld, MI 48323
LAKES URGENT CARE
LIVONIA
Mendelson Medical Building
36622 Five Mile Rd.
Livonia, MI 48154-1900
(On Haggerty Road just south of Pontiac Trail)
(across from St. Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital)
248-926-9111
734-853-6510
www.lakesurgentcare.com
20085560
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