.webp)
.webp)
Recovery Planning for Behavioral Addictions
What Is Behavioral Addiction?
Behavioral or process addictions are when you engage in a behavior compulsively, despite the negative consequences. They involve diminished control over your actions, inhibitions, and decision-making processes and can devastate your life.
Behavioral addictions are rooted in how certain behaviors affect our brain’s reward systems. In theory, any behavior that offers some kind of reward or stimulation could become addictive.
If your loved one is struggling with a behavioral addiction, our interventions can stop their journey of harm and open the door to recovery.
Signs You Have a Behavioral Addiction
Many of the signs of behavioral addiction are similar to those of drug addiction. They affect your well-being and social and family life. Behavioral addictions are often even harder to notice and accept than substance abuse due to a lack of awareness about the conditions. However, recognizing a behavioral addiction is hugely important, paving the way for recovery and stopping you from falling further down a destructive path.
Common Behavioral Addictions
Research into behavioral addictions is relatively new, and many behavioral addictions still go unnoticed. Below are some of the most common behavioral addictions scientists have identified:
Internet addiction is when you spend large amounts of time compulsively using the internet, significantly affecting your daily life. Internet addiction can cause you to neglect your self-care and relationships with loved ones and affect your ability to work productively.
Sex addiction is when you engage in compulsive sexual behavior, despite any negative consequences for your everyday life. It's one of the most talked-about types of behavioral addiction.
Gambling disorder, classified as a behavioral addiction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), can have a destructive effect on a person's life, quickly leading to a financial crisis. Despite limits set by online betting sites designed to prevent individuals from engaging in compulsive gambling, gambling addiction is still widespread across the country.
.webp)
How Do Behavioral Addictions Differ from Substance Addictions?
Both behavioral addictions and drug addictions share common interactions with the reward systems in our brains. Our reward systems are a natural part of how our brains work, helping to reinforce important behaviors like eating or spending time with loved ones. When we engage in one of these beneficial behaviors, our brains release a small number of chemical messengers (such as dopamine), altering neuronal connectivity along the pathway and making it more likely that we’ll do the activity again.
Engaging in drug and alcohol abuse hijacks your reward systems by flooding your brain with chemicals in amounts that are much higher than normal. This leads to dramatic changes along the reward pathway that underpin strong cravings and compulsive drug-seeking behavior.
Behavioral addictions don’t involve an unnatural release of chemicals in the brain as with substance abuse. However, the frequent reward of activities like sex (and the corresponding release of dopamine) can still cause significant and lasting changes along the reward pathway that cause cravings and compulsive behaviors. These compulsions are strong enough to override decision-making processes, causing individuals to continue engaging in behavior even when it is harmful.
Behavioral addictions also don’t involve physical dependencies and withdrawal symptoms that often come hand-in-hand with drug addiction. Despite this, recovery from a process addiction isn’t easy, and effective long-term support is usually necessary to achieve lasting recovery.
How Can Interventions Help With Behavioral Addictions?
Behavioral addictions can be rooted in many different underlying issues. Each person’s story is different, and the roots of their condition are often complex and multi-causal. Effectively treating behavioral addictions involves identifying and addressing these root causes to encourage meaningful healing and promote lasting change. Our customized care plans address the multiple needs of each individual, from psychosocial and family dynamics to legal issues or history of trauma.
Our interventionists take a holistic approach to preparation. We take care to gain a comprehensive understanding of the individual, conducting a thorough family assessment to explore the full picture. This will be followed by an individualized, fully case-managed plan where we recommend the best course of action using our expert knowledge of treatment approaches, teams and centers. The aim of intervention is to implement this plan – in other words, to ensure that your loved one accepts the course of treatment being offered.
When Is It Time to Intervene and How?
When it comes to addictions, it’s never too soon to interrupt a loved one’s journey of harm. The earlier you can intervene, the easier recovery will be, and the sooner you can all reclaim a stable and healthy life.
Our team of interventionists is here to guide you through the intervention process. Our interventions emphasize love, compassion, and respect, rather than using shame or guilt. We aim to create a healing environment where families inspire their loved ones to accept help.
We also understand that interventions are a process rather than a single event, and we work closely with family members over an extended time because the healing of the family is as important as the recovery of the person of concern.
If you’re concerned about a loved one’s compulsive behaviors, get in touch with us today. Our expert team can answer any questions you may have and work with you to determine the next steps. All our communications are treated with sensitivity and full confidentiality.
What Types of Programs and Therapies Are Used to Treat Behavioral Addictions?
At Feinberg, we recommend a variety of treatment approaches to treat behavioral addictions. Our treatment plans address the underlying causes of the addiction to promote lasting change.
Our treatment programs typically involve a combination of different approaches to address the multiple needs of each individual. They usually combine talk therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy with holistic mind-body approaches like meditation or yoga. We may also involve social interventions, life skills development, and legal support, depending on the need. Importantly, family interventions and interpersonal approaches also play a key role.
Frequently Asked Questions
The causes of behavioral addictions are different for each individual. However, they tend to be rooted in underlying issues such as co-occurring mental disorders, experiences of trauma, or lack of social support. Addressing these issues is key to effective recovery.
Some studies suggest that genetics may account for up to 50% of the risk of developing an addiction. However, many other factors also play a role, including early life adversity and social-economic conditions. Ultimately, addiction can affect anyone, regardless of your biology or story.
Behavioral addiction is a mental health disorder characterized by physical changes in the brain that make it very difficult to stop engaging in the behavior through willpower alone. If someone is living with addiction, it is neither their fault nor their choice. Everyone deserves effective care to help them recover and regain a sober life.
Having an open conversation with a family member is often a good way to show your concerns and talk about options for treatment. In some cases, you may want to think about staging a formal intervention. At Feinberg Consulting, we’re available to offer expert advice on how you can best support your loved one, whatever their situation.
Identifying problematic behaviors early on and seeking support can prevent them from developing into an addiction disorder. More generally, looking after the mental and physical well-being of yourself and others around you helps to manage the underlying issues that often drive behavioral addictions. In this way, it’s also important to seek effective support for any mental health issues to prevent individuals from trying to cope with them in unhealthy ways.
Yes, support groups can be hugely valuable for those struggling with addiction. They offer a source of inspiration, a chance to share advice, and a sense of comfort in shared experiences. Support groups are free and easily accessible, providing a reliable support system in the long term.
Currently, there are no medications specially designated for behavioral addictions. However, medications may be able to help treat some of the underlying physical and mental health conditions that drive addictive behaviors, so they can play a role in a person’s recovery journey.
How We Can Help
Assessment & Planning
A Holistic Approach
Substance use disorders and addiction develop for a number of reasons and they vary for every individual. They can develop as a result of underlying genetic, traumatic, mental health, and/or medical issues. In order to gain a holistic understanding of a person’s past history and current needs, we meet with them and their family to get to know them better, learn about their past, and discover the ways our services can best support their care needs.
Our Clinical and Case Managers first meet with the individual and/or their family to review the following areas outlined in the graphic below. Providers such as physicians, therapists, and other medical and mental health providers are also contacted to obtain additional information on the client if needed.
Once the assessment is complete, our Clinical Team meets to develop a customized care plan with treatment and care recommendations that are presented to the individual and their family. Recommendations may include a formal intervention if the individual of concern is resistant to treatment.
Our goal is to make the assessment process as comfortable as possible. We understand it can be difficult to discuss certain topics and experiences, but we are here to ensure individuals and families that the information gathered during the assessment is important because it allows our team to better understand the individual better so we can help them receive the best treatment available to their needs. Family members are encouraged to be involved in the assessment as they play an important role in their loved one’s recovery process.
Intervention
Interventions are a Process, Not an Event
An intervention is intended to help individuals and families who have suffered mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially as a result of a substance use disorder, behavioral or process addiction, or a mental health disorder. We like to think of an intervention as an interruption to a path that is currently causing harm to an individual, and often times the ones they care about the most. When this interruption is created in a safe and loving space, an alternative path to hope and healing is created. Whether a formal intervention is needed, or a different form of intervention is determined to be more beneficial, our trained interventionists and addiction professionals are here to guide families through this process.
Our team of interventionists approaches all interventions with dignity and compassion. An intervention is not about creating shame, blame, or guilt. Through effective communication, not confrontation, our goal is to create a healing environment that inspires families and their loved ones to accept help. During the intervention we let the family communicate what they’ve experienced, what their fears are, and what their hope is for their loved one. Our interventions are designed to not only support the loved one of concern but to also provide their family with meaningful guidance and tools.
Support During Acute SituationsWhile Feinberg Consulting does not provide emergency or crisis intervention services, we understand that situations involving process addictions can escalate quickly and feel overwhelming for families.
Our team can respond promptly in acute, high-stress circumstances to help families slow things down, assess next steps, and determine the most appropriate path forward. This may include guidance around timing, communication strategies, care coordination, or whether a more formal intervention approach is appropriate.
If someone is in immediate danger or experiencing a medical or psychiatric emergency, families should contact 911 or local emergency services right away.
.webp)
Treatment Placement
Treatment Recommendations and Coordination of Care
Based on the assessment and the information we learn about an individual, our Clinical Team develops and presents treatment recommendations that reflect the appropriate level of care needed. Treatment recommendations vary based on the individual but may include residential treatment placement, outpatient treatment, therapy, recovery coaching, family coaching, and more. Proper placement and treatment recommendations are the foundation for lifelong recovery.
When residential treatment is recommended, our clinical team will present options for treatment centers based on our knowledge of the programs and the clinical and ethical vetting process we provide. We work with the individual and their family in supporting them to choose a treatment center that will provide the highest quality of care and peace of mind. We also develop a plan for continuing care upon discharge from residential treatment.
We are advocates for our clients and do not have any financial connection or receive any financial benefit from the programs and facilities we recommend. We strictly recommend facilities that have been personally vetted by our team and meet the needs of the client.
Our Sober Companions support individuals by providing 24/7 support and accountability to their recovery plan. They are currently in recovery themselves and provide compassionate and judgment-free companionship to clients.
We provide a sober transport to drive or fly with clients to their intended destination. From traveling to and/or from a treatment facility to providing local transportation, we make sure clients get where they need to go safely.
Clinical & Case Management
Your Clinical Team
Each individual has their own Clinical Team which includes a Clinical Manager and a Case Manager. Clinical and Case Managers play a crucial role throughout the entire recovery process and are an essential element of our multidisciplinary team approach. Our Clinical and Case Managers are experienced and compassionate addiction and mental health professionals who provide advocacy, oversight, coordination, and collaboration to everyone involved in the individual’s care.
In addition, they are also able to intervene and provide guidance when the agreed-upon care plan is not being properly followed. They have the awareness and skill to interrupt this early and work with the individual’s care team and family to put contingency plans in place.
Family Programming
The Importance of Family Healing
When it comes to substance use disorders and addiction, it affects everyone in the family system. Through our family-centered approach, we work with families to guide, educate, and support them through their own healing as well as their loved ones’ recovery journey. We also provide the following services to support this process.
Family Coaching provides ongoing education and support to families related to substance use disorder, addiction, and/or mental health concerns. Our compassionate Family Coaches build trusting relationships with families to assist in helping them through the treatment and recovery process.
Through coaching sessions, we work with families to help them identify the patterns or actions that are currently not working and explore ways they can achieve the results they are looking for. Our Family Coaches also provide practical strategies on codependency, boundary setting, and effective communication. We also work with families on improving their self-care so they are better able to support their loved one(s).
Coaching for the family takes place in-person, via phone, or video conference and is tailored to meet the family’s needs.
Experiential Breakthrough Intensives are for families or individuals who have been impacted by or experienced a substance use disorder, addiction, trauma, and/or mental health struggles. These intensives take a close examination of the behaviors, thoughts, feelings, and coping mechanisms of the participating family members, which have proved to be unsuccessful in the past. By exploring this, we are able to connect a line to the resulting shame, stress, and unwanted results.
Experiential Breakthrough Intensives are facilitated by trained and credentialed clinicians, who design each intensive for the unique needs of each family. During the intensive, participant(s) will be provided useful information (on what?), and participate in experiential exercises, such as psychodrama, physical movement, breathing exercises, and mindfulness.
The results available through the intensive have proven to be very profound. We are able to uncover what is driving the emotional reactions of participants, and create tools and strategies to support emotional resilience and ongoing health for everyone involved.
5 Star Google Rating
.png){kind=icon}
.png)
Where do I begin? The knowledge, the compassion, the kindness, the support, the professionalism. All of it contributed to one of the most wonderful experiences my family has ever had. And as a result of their greatness, my sister is finally getting the help that she needs. I know that we wouldn't have been able to do it without the leadership and guidance of Feinberg Consulting. Steve and Pam are exceptional at what they do
.png)
I am a probate/estate planning attorney. I reached out to Feinberg to assist one of my clients in procuring a residential placement for hospice in the Metro-Detroit area. I spoke with Becky Eizen, who assisted my client with a relocation from Western Michigan to Metro-Detroit, so that she could be closer to her son and her grand-children. Becky and her staff rapidly responded to my client's need, giving her and her family the peace of mind that they needed. Becky was able to harness several different resources to accomplish this effort in a prompt and professional manner. Feinberg and its staff handled my client's case with the utmost care and consideration. I would highly recommend Feinberg Consulting for elder care assistance, as I believe that they are at the forefront of providing this service in the Metro-Detroit area,
.png)
If you are a family looking for help because your loved one has a substance use or mental health disorder and don't know where to turn for help then Feinberg Consulting is an excellent place to start. Having worked several cases with them, I can tell you that they are a wealth of knowledge, they care about helping people and have worked in this industry for many years. It is my pleasure to recommend Feinberg consulting and their excellent team of professionals.
.png)
I have had the pleasure of referring to Feinberg Consulting for several years. Based in Michigan and South Florida, they serve their clients and their families nationally. With assessment, intervention, case management, coaching, and family support they provide complete wraparound services for those afflicted by mental illness, addiction, and injury. As an organization they are professional, respectful, passionate, ethical and trustworthy. While dealing with issues that are not so pleasant, they remain a joy to work with. I would trust them with my own family members.
.png)
Hands down, the Feinberg Consulting team is one of the BEST we have ever worked with. I love the fact I only have to make one call and my needs are met successfully. The added bonus is that when I call, they LISTEN to my needs and concerns and provide solution. Their team is highly qualified, compassionate, professional, and dependable. they always show up with the "right intention". They show up with the "right intentions". They are filled with integrity and their communication with us is beyond wonderful. Thanks Pam, Steve and team... you make our lives MUCH easier and we appreciate you.
.png)
The team at Feinberg Consulting are some of the most caring people I've ever met. They really take time to get to know and understand you and your family's needs. They are a team of exceptionally qualified and compassionate caregivers.
.png)
If I could give more than 5 stars for a rating, I would. I can't say enough great things about the service provided by Feinberg Consulting. Our case worker, Sandi, and sober coach, Thatcher, were a key integral part of my son's recovery. My son's treatment took place out of state and Sandi served as almost like a second mother to him. She was kind, compassionate, resourceful, responsive and always there to make sure my son got the care and services he needed. She was also very non judgemental and understanding of the struggles my son's mental illness presented. Her incredible service gave me complete peace of mind. Thatcher was also very kind, compassionate, warm and helpful. He was there as a support and companion when my son needed him most. He was open and created a trusting relationship so that my son felt free to be open about his struggles and needs. The staff at Feinberg was also very friendly, helpful and on top of things. My son is doing fantastic now and I know he would not have gotten here without the support of these wonderful people.
.png)
Feinberg Consulting provides families with an exceptionally responsive team of professionals to provide resources and care to individuals who need support and guidance. Their team is skilled in getting to know the identified patient, prioritizing his/her needs, and putting an appropriate and individualized plan in place. I have had direct experience with families that the Feinberg team has helped; I would trust them with my own family.
.png)
Feinberg Consulting has succeeded where three decades of medical and mental health interventions have failed. So much in my life has changed for the better. For the first time I am actually happy. It started with an occupational therapist, who provided financial budgeting education and implementation accordingly. A nurse practitioner helped arrange much needed medical appointments, and even attended the appointments with me. The most significant referral was to a Recovery Coach who continues to be one of the most positively influential people I have had in my life to date. The other key component to my care team is a Case Manager, who has lead the plight to get me well, advocating for my best interest every step of the way. Thanks to Feinberg I am now 3 years sober. Thanks to Feinberg I am now back in good graces with everyone I lost during my struggles, most importantly my son. Evidence of my comeback from near death is noted by feedback I get from others on how they’ve seen positive changes in me, namely my family who saw and dealt with me at my worst- they tell me I am the most stable, content and happiest I have ever been. I also now find myself gainfully employed going on three years, with plans to transition back into my true passion, special needs paraprofessional. To say I’m grateful is an understatement. I cannot thank the Feinberg team enough for all they have done to get me back the life I was too far gone to even know I was missing. Much love!!
Feinberg Consulting is an exceptional resource for families navigating complex behavioral health and substance use challenges. We’ve had several families benefit from their clinical expertise in case management, treatment placement, and intervention services. Their team brings professionalism, compassion, and clarity to what can often be an overwhelming process. Feinberg plays a vital role in paving the way toward long-term recovery, and we confidently refer families and clients to their care.
