Waterloo therapist says his new Web
program
offers aid, anonymity to people with problems
Debra Black - Read Debra's bio -
click here
Staff Reporter -
http://www.thestar.com
Now that New Year's Day is upon us, everyone is
flush with determination to make and keep new
year's resolutions: eat less, drink less, smoke
less.
Living up to those desires to lead a better,
healthier life is difficult at the best of
times, but it can be almost impossible if you
have a serious addiction. It's not just a matter
of willing your bad habits away, it takes
serious work, says Waterloo-based
psychotherapist Paul Radkowski who has won an
award from the International Association of
Addictions and Offender Counselors – which is a
division of the American Counseling Association
– for his work.
So beginning tomorrow, addicts here and around
the world can sign up for help through
Radkowski's recently started online recovery
program. The cost is a minimum of $15 (U.S.) or
pay what you can for the first three months of
the six-month program – an attempt by Radkowski
to pay it forward in these times of economic
stress. The program usually costs $149 a month.
"I wanted to give back and make a difference,"
said Radkowski, who has a psychology degree and
master's degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Radkowski has seen in some of his patients the
emotional toll losing a job in uncertain
economic times can have and so he wanted to
bring "some sense of hope and resources to
people" with addiction issues.
Radkowski and others define an addiction as any
behaviour you cannot stop that has destructive
consequences. And the Internet provides a new
way for people to seek help with anonymity.
According to Radkowski about 70 per cent of
Canadians who have addictions don't seek
treatment because of the stigma associated with
the illness.
With the new year ahead, Radkowski feels it's a
great time to offer the online addiction
recovery program because people are keen on
making a lifestyle or behavioural change.
"Without support, guidance and accountability,
resolutions wane," he said. "A lot of people
live online and if it's a choice between
watching porn, gambling or gaming or engaging in
healthier choices in a recovery program, I hope
people would choose the latter."
He said a good thing about the online program is
it's 24/7. "It's immediate and accessible and
there's no judgment. No one is turned away.
Addictions and mental health issues don't rest
or sleep."
So what do you get for your investment? There
are seven downloaded video sessions as well as
weekly personal emails from Radkowski and a
series of homework assignments, the
psychotherapist said. Some of the areas touched
on in the lectures include discussions about the
impact of addictions physically, mentally and
emotionally as well as how they affect
relationships.
Radkowski also encourages those signing up for
help to go see their family doctors if they have
a substance abuse issue, particularly because of
withdrawal symptoms and complications. He also
recommends they reach out to 12-step programs as
well for accountability and support. Currently,
Radkowski has about three-dozen people enrolled
in his program. He often gets emails from people
in the middle of the night. "That's when the
stuff is really hitting the fan."
All Addictions Life Recovery Program
Paul Radkowski
(519) 746-0490
Email:
info@liferecoveryprogram.com
Website:
www.liferecoveryprogram.com |
