Can BALM conversations have an impact? BALM families who attended last year’s retreat share their experiences on this session’s video.

Here are some things about BALM conversations and the BALM in general that can be good to know:

What does it mean to be a “BALMer”? And why is it so important to your loved one’s recovery?

In the BALM, we talk about being your loved one’s BEST chance at recovery. We say that regardless of the outcome of their recovery journey, if you practice the 12 BALM family recovery principles and walk the 7 Steps to Be A Loving Mirror, you are a BALMer, and you, the family member, will become their BEST chance at recovery.

What does the third BALM principle have to do with your emotions? When we explore the third BALM principle, “It is important to Let Go without Giving Up or Giving In”, let’s look at inner emotional energy.

As we have discussed before, at any moment, a family member is either contributing to the substance use disorder (SUD) or to the recovery. Contributing to the SUD includes behaviors such as enabling, staying in denial, and treating the loved one with disrespect and even contempt.

How has your perspective shifted since our last email/blog? If you are like most of us, exposure to the Loving Path begins to have an impact, even if only in theory, almost immediately!

As promised, here are five concrete differences BALM can make in your life and that of your loved one once you immerse yourself in these teachings:

A couple of years ago, and then again during the start of the pandemic, I noticed that something happened and I had an anxiety reaction. My heart rate quickened. My voice went from speaking to yelling. My level of upset shook me up and that energy impacted the people around me in a far less positive way than I would prefer.

As a teacher of the BALM, I chose to look within.

When I was studying to become a life coach, it didn’t answer the questions my soul was asking me to address about my life purpose. This resonated with me as over the years I had discovered a way of being in relationship with my loved one that helped him to attain sobriety, to sustain it, and later, when we both lost our way, to get back on track and then influence his path back to recovery again.

If you’ve heard of the BALM, you have probably heard us say that the 7 Steps to Be A Loving Mirror are the core of our family recovery program. Ever wonder why?

Over the next few weeks, we are providing a series of informational blogs and emails, to increase your understanding of these Steps. (You can read the blogs HERE ) You will also be able to watch 6 brief videos that discuss the value of the 7 Steps and how they can help you and your family. Your first video, Why a 7 Steps Retreat, is below. 👇

The BALM Coach Training Program is designed to help us fulfill our mission of helping ALL families blaze the trail to recovery in their homes.
Here are some of the ways we help prepare people to be a part of that mission:

When I was studying to become a life coach, it didn’t answer the questions my soul was asking me to address about my life purpose. This resonated with me as over the years I had discovered a way of being in relationship with my loved one that helped him to attain sobriety, to sustain it, and later, when we both lost our way, to get back on track and then influence his path back to recovery again.

This blog is an invitation to become aware of how you are using your focus.

Just notice where your mind is taking you and what feelings arise when you think the thoughts you think.

Excellence in athletics is driven by passion and love for the sport. But, what happens when the drive for excellence takes over and winning becomes paramount? Passion can become pressure that feels insurmountable. When it comes to the Olympics, for instance, is all that glitters truly gold?

Study Finds That People Can Recover and Thrive After Mental Illness and Substance-Use Disorders

I’m one of the fortunate ones, although many may disagree with this sentiment.  I was able to find healing from my traumatic grief after the

Almost six years ago, after losing our sweet Chris at age 34 to an overdose of heroin and fentanyl, following some 20 years of struggles