By George Livengood – Program Director, Canon House Do you remember moping around the house as a kid and mom saying, “Go outside and play!”? Mom was onto something. There are numerous studies that indicate exercise is helpful in reducing depression. There is no one identifiable reason as to why it works. So let’s look…
Details
By Jesaca Lepper, MFT – Ventura PHP/IOP Creative therapies are very important and valuable for adolescent treatment therapy. Adolescents often benefit from different treatment modalities that do not only focus on cognitive interventions and strictly “talk therapy.” Adolescent brains are still growing and sometimes experiences can unlock and express deeper feelings. There are many artistic modalities…
Details
On Sunday, August 7, Destinations to Recovery partnered with two other local treatment facilities (Engage and Changing Tides Treatment) for our first annual Ventura Beach Clean Up event. Over 100 participants joined together to clean the beach by Ventura’s famed pier. Participants ranged from staff and clients of the treatment centers to locals who wanted to give back…
Details
By Alyse Rose, MSW, Assistant Program Director, Woodland Hills Millions of Americans are affected by mental illnesses, and although we have made strides in increasing awareness of mental illness, stigmas and stereotypes continue to prevent many from seeking the services they need. It is important to stay updated and aware of facts and stereotypes about…
Details
By Parviz Nafari, MFT, Woodland Hills PHP/IOP As children grow and go through a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional changes, it can become more and more difficult to distinguish between normal teenage “moodiness” and a legitimate mental health concern. Teens are often not able to articulate their thoughts and emotions easily, which makes…
Details
By Ani Thomson, MFTi, Woodland Hills, PHP/IOP It’s normal for teens to experience symptoms of anxiety, especially when it comes to school. There is usually pressure to succeed, to get good grades, and to fit in with their peers. All of these pressures can lead to an internal worry that has the potential to grow…
Details
By Brittany Cohen, MSW, Program Director PHP/IOP As therapists treating teen addiction, we repeatedly hear one question from parents: “How could I not have known they were using?” Parents feel that they drive their kids to school in the morning, pick them up from a friend’s house after school, and generally feel their teen is…
Details
According to statistics from the Pew Research Center, use of social media sites has increased by more than ten times in the past decade. Nearly two thirds of American adults use at least one social networking site, and a whopping 90 percent of young adults ages 18-29 use social media. The Appeal of Social Media…
Details
Managing anxiety is important for those in recovery. Everyone can relate to the idea of feeling anxious from time to time. It’s that unpleasant, uneasy feeling we get when we’re especially concerned or worried about something. Those occasional bouts of anxiety are part of everyday life. Nervous emotions are not the same for those who…
Details
| CA | Destinations for TeensWhen an individual suffers from both a mental health disorder and an addiction to drugs or alcohol, the simultaneous occurrence of these disorders is known as a dual diagnosis. These conditions aggravate each other. This can severely diminish the effectiveness of treatment that addresses only a single condition, or even…
Details