Summit Malibu

Welcome to the Harmony Foundation podcast series. I’m very pleased today to be joined with Steven Buchan who was working with Summit Malibu out of Malibu, California. 

Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here. It’s beautiful here.

It’s no Malibu, but it’s definitely beautiful.

It’s different, but it’s… I mean, so I was talking to Marlyce about this. We have the ocean. You guys have the mountains.

And we are very grateful for that because we believe that it makes all the difference in recovery, especially with the people that we have that come up here. I know that Malibu has some beautiful places, the beaches are amazing there. We’re really excited to talk with you a little bit about Summit Malibu, but before we do that, let’s talk a little bit about what got you into the field of addiction treatment.
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Harmony Foundation Supports Long-Term Recovery

Aftercare Blog

By Michael Rass

A solid network of recovery support is a critical aspect of staying sober on the recovery journey. As part of their treatment program, Harmony connects clients with long-term alumni in their area who can continue the peer support and help them connect with the local recovery community. And, of course, they can stay in touch with their case manager and the Harmony alumni team. Continue reading “Harmony Foundation Supports Long-Term Recovery”

Erik’s House of Healing

Erik's House of Healing

I’m pleased today to be joined with Jerry Short with Erik’s House of Healing, sober living in Aurora, Colorado.
Thank you.

It’s good to have you here. I feel like it’s taken forever to get this, mostly on my side. I think we’ve canceled and started three or four times, but it’s definitely been worth the wait. So thank you so much.

Today’s meant to be. Thank you. I appreciate you calling.

It’s very. I’ve toured a lot of sober homes and I’m honestly very impressed with the quality of what you’ve put together here. It’s a really lovely place.

I thank you. I wanted to make it nice for people.

Let’s talk a little bit about Erik’s House. We started that conversation a little bit earlier. What was the impetus for you to launch Erik’s house?

Well, honestly, I wanted to … My son and I, Paul, when he was with us, we wanted to make a house better than we could find for him. We wanted to have a place where people could feel comfortable in a nice location. I wanted to offer counseling while people are here without charging extra. We got our house therapy dog, Lucy. We just wanted to make a place for people to heal. It takes a good environment.

We talked a little bit earlier about Erik’s House. Erik was your son.
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Harmony Foundation Announces Second Major Expansion During Its 50th Year

IOP

Colorado drug addiction program is celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary with a new intensive outpatient program with a unique twist and a Fort Collins Recovery Center. Gala celebrating milestone was held Oct 25 in Denver with special guest Carnie Wilson of Wilson Phillips. Continue reading “Harmony Foundation Announces Second Major Expansion During Its 50th Year”

Moving from Annoyed to Impactful: Working with the Selfie Generation

*This presentation is no longer eligible for the 1 CE credit*

If America can’t decide what to make of the Millennial generation, neither can our mental health and addiction professionals. Millennials are the most misunderstood cohort and are harshly critiqued by older generations and society at large. Millennials experience exclusive generational issues that are vastly different from Gen X and Boomers and need a tailored approach to best meet their unique needs. Attendees will learn about the specific generational issues that Millennials face and how to best address these issues effectively utilizing evidence-based practices. Continue reading “Moving from Annoyed to Impactful: Working with the Selfie Generation”

Addiction Reaches Sesame Street

Sesame Street

America’s addiction crisis is now so pandemic that it features on one of the most popular TV programs for children. As was revealed in a recent episode, one of the Muppet characters on “Sesame Street” is struggling with a big, “grown-up” problem. Show producer Sesame Workshop created a series of videos in which young Karli talks to her friends about her mom’s struggle with addiction. Karli came to “Sesame Street” in May to stay with a foster family because her mother was “having a hard time.” Continue reading “Addiction Reaches Sesame Street”

Harmony to Present Dorothy Dorman Service Award to NAATP

NAATP Award

Harmony Foundation, a Colorado-based addiction treatment center, has selected the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) for its Dorothy Dorman Service Award. The award was established to honor Harmony Foundation’s long-time CEO at her retirement. The award recognizes people or organizations sharing the same integrity and dedication for addiction treatment solutions as the award’s name bearer.

The award will be presented at Harmony Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Gala in Denver, Colorado on October 25th at the Four Seasons Hotel. Carnie Wilson of Wilson Phillips will be the special guest speaker of this milestone event that commemorates the long and impactful heritage of Harmony Foundation which has positively changed the lives of thousands. Proceeds from this event will benefit scholarships supporting those with the desire, but without the means, to receive the addiction treatment they need. Tickets, as well as sponsorship opportunities, are available to the public at www.harmonyfoundationinc.com/50th.

“NAATP has long been the voice for addiction programs across the country and for decades has led the charge in establishing meaningful ethical standards and protocols for this important treatment category,” stated James Geckler, Harmony Foundation President and CEO. “We wanted to acknowledge their continuing hard work in helping their membership collaborate and better serve their patients.”

Recently NAATP has been active on the national stage supporting the passing of bi-partisan legislation H.R.6 (115thCongress), which contains over 120 separate bills to address the opioid crisis. For the first time, the federal government is examining how individual states are enforcing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) passed in 2008 and making changes to the antiquated Medicaid limitation on residential treatment based on the number of beds operated by a facility.

NAATP CEO Marvin Ventrell added “The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers is honored to receive the Harmony Foundation Dorothy Dorman Award on the occasion of Harmony’s 50th Anniversary. Founded nearly a decade before the National Association itself, Harmony was among the first treatment programs to join the association and has since that time supported NAATP as a valued charter member. This speaks volumes about Harmony’s commitment to not just its own patients but the welfare the national addiction recovery community at large. Keep up the good work Harmony and here’s to 50 more years of success.”

About Harmony Foundation
Harmony Foundation is a nonprofit alcohol and drug addiction recovery program that serves in a collaborative and respectful treatment environment. Harmony promotes physical, emotional, and spiritual healing, empowering their clients to embark upon the lifelong journey of recovery. Visit HarmonyFoundationInc.com to learn more.

The Impact of Technology on Mental Health and Recovery

*This presentation is no longer eligible for the 1 CE credit*

This presentation with address the most current mental health trends shaping our newer generations and impacting us all. We will explore technology’s impacts on communication, relationships, and attention and discuss how to identify technology overuse or addiction. Therapeutic interventions will be introduced that can be applied with individuals, couples and families. Continue reading “The Impact of Technology on Mental Health and Recovery”

Buprenorphine: Friend or Foe?

*This presentation is no longer eligible for the 1 CE credit*

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) refers to the practice of integrating counseling and medication to treat substance use disorders. Buprenorphine is one of three medications that are FDA-approved to treat opioid use disorders. The use of buprenorphine beyond the acute withdrawal period is still debated by some addiction treatment providers, despite the strong evidence base that suggests this medication helps many people to sustain recovery.

In this presentation, Harmony’s Medical Director and Chief Clinical Officer will discuss the process and outcomes of the effort to best utilize buprenorphine within the context of comprehensive recovery plans for appropriate individuals. Continue reading “Buprenorphine: Friend or Foe?”

The Addiction Recovery Journey for Partners & Spouses

*This presentation is no longer eligible for the 1 CE credit*

Addiction strongly affects partners and spouses. They often feel confused, lost, angry and ambivalent in their own therapeutic process. This webinar provides an overview of clinical skill-building to help engage partners in their own process which can help support a healthy relationship. Continue reading “The Addiction Recovery Journey for Partners & Spouses”