Addictions

Addictions. One word. So much meaning. For many it paints a word picture of chains encircling them, closed with a huge lock for which the key has been thrown away. For others it is a black cloud that hovers and consumes them, moving with them every minute of every day and within which the light of freedom can never penetrate. For others it is the sword that destroyed their family, friendships, and even relationship with God.

No matter what word picture the word “Addiction” paints for someone, it always carries meanings such as “caught, captive, destruction, no escape, ‘there is no hope for me’, ‘I’ll never beat this’, ‘I’m a failure’, ‘it’s impossible to break this’, despair, pain, agony, etc. The list could go on.

To such statements True Hope Counseling responds, “set free, healing, rebuilding, a way out, there is hope, you can overcome this!, Jesus already ‘beat it’ at Calvary, you are a child of the Most High God, God is a God of the impossible, happiness, joy, peace, etc.”

In addition to using the principles found in Neil Anderson's work (Victory over the Darkness and The Bondage Breaker; (www.ficm.org) such as who and what a person has in Christ, True Hope Counseling also uses the "Celebrate Recovery" program in helping clients find freedom from their addictions ( www.celebraterecovery.com ). This program was developed by John Baker, associate pastor to Rick Warren (author of The Purpose Driven Life). Celebrate Recovery uses the basic AA principles coupled with Eight Principles based on the Beatitudes. True Hope Counseling uses the participant's manuals while in the counseling process as an aid to helping guide clients to freedom from their addictions.