RESPONSE PART 2 This online program was not and is not meant to replace the conventional therapies for which we all have trained so diligently for and are accustomed to. However, are conventional therapies “reaching” many of those who may need help but don’t know where to begin? Perhaps our approach needs to implement a combination of the traditional and “unconventional” modalities to reach the masses. This program is meant to fill in the gaps of the system, to provide an immediate, feasible, accessible resource and relief. Mental health concerns and addictions do not rest or sleep, nor does this “treatment modality”. I invite you to see for yourself. I invite your response. Best of health and regards, Paul Radkowski www.liferecoveryprogram.com info@liferecoveryprogram.com -The truth is within our grasp, if only it were within our vision.

RESPONSE PART 1 The Life Recovery Program website has been created to address these need and issues, providing information and tools to assist in the “treatment” of the clients we serve. If a client is in a place of denial and dependency and they are provided with tools and information that leads them to a place where they can challenge their core beliefs (distorted thinking), provide healthy, alternative grounding techniques and strategies that lead to a greater degree of self efficacy, the means may be different than traditional treatment… but is not the ends the same? This is in terms of “treating” a condition that exists in a person that limits or debilitates their bio-psycho-social-spiritual functioning and to help make them more aware of self, others and context and to ameliorate those conditions that prevent someone from optimal health and functioning. This is done not with reading material, but with a qualified therapist i.e. me, who can convey through the use of video the qualities of empathy and encouragement as well as the provision of tools, support and information that challenge, comfort and behaviourally “model” a healthier way of being and becoming

It has been an informal study, largely anecdotal, that many people who struggle with addictions cannot afford either the length of time to be on a waitlist or the financial loss of being away from work/home for weeks at a time for conventional “treatment” (my own private practice waitlist is now creeping up to 6 weeks). The majority of my clients who have left treatment centres report that they are not getting day to day, real-life context transferable tools, helpful follow up or even informed of such things as Post Acute Withdrawal for the chemically addicted. Loved one’s of those struggling with an addiction have shared that they don’t have a clue regarding how to properly respond and/or support vs. enable.

This forum may beget the question, what is “treatment”? What is traditional “therapy”? Originally therapy was conducted directly, personally in face to face, flesh and blood relationship with an individual, couple, family or group. The last decade has seen the emergence of telephonic counselling, e-counselling (which studies have shown works considerably well with the often more emotionally reticent male populations) which can and does occur with there being considerable geographic distance between clinician and client. There are many “precontemplative” and barely “contemplative” clients who would normally shy away from not only group, but also individual counselling settings as well. This “program” for lack of better terminology provides an often vital first step to someone admitting they are experiencing a struggle that is beyond their control (a rather parsimonious assessment was set up based on Dr. Jerome Jaffe’s definition of addiction http://www.liferecoveryprogram.com/freeassessment.php).

I whole heartedly agree with the reluctance to include the terminology of “treatment” with such an online program. For the most part, I consider “treatment” to be an interactive process as well, between client and therapist, to be in relationship with client to provide empathy, validation, exploration of thoughts, feelings and behaviour, to test and challenge distortions/assumptions/schemas and to provide feedback etc. The first mandate of any clinician is of course to “do no harm”, hence the need of a proper disclaimer in that it is not meant as a replacement of traditional person to person assessment or therapy. There is of course a thorough and lengthy assessment (DSM-IV based) in the introduction of the program to guide one through whether they are “medically stable” to begin a recovery program (especially in the case of substance users and those struggling with disordered eating). There is a risk assessment also provided outlining the dimensional severity of harm to self or others and suicidality (especially important for those who struggle with gambling/shopping addictions as well as the other chemical and impulse/control issues).

RESPONSE PART 2- In the interest of being authentic and transparent, I invite anyone who may suspect otherwise (i.e. “misrepresentation”) to contact and verify my credentials and professional standing with the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists and Psychotherapists (www.oaccpp.ca) and/or with the International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors (www.iaaoc.org... please feel free to confirm my receipt of “Outstanding Addictions/Offender Professional” award with them as well) and/or with the reporter of the news article who did considerable due diligence to confirm my credentials before posting the article. I hope that will adequately satisfy any doubts that may have arisen? Best of health and best regards, Paul Radkowski info@liferecoveryprogram.com

RESPONSE PART 1- Hello fellow readers of JTO. My name is Paul Radkowski and I am the clinician who created the website/addictions program in question www.liferecoveryprogram.com. I wanted the opportunity to properly respond to the concerns raised in this message forum. To confirm, I am indeed a masters level clinician/psychotherapist, received training by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapist working as a marriage and family therapist, specializing in family systems, trauma and addictions. This information is all detailed on the website http://www.liferecoveryprogram.com/bio.php as the second drop tab (under “About LRP”).

The use of selected self help books, audiovisual material or internet set of information/ interventions/ tools usually has being a good/ valuable complementary help for many people; but naming them “treatment program” or “therapy” is in my opinion a dangerous exaggeration of the word. In my opinion it is more appropriate and adequate to use the term "self help tools/ information" to complement (not substitute) treatment. Since each person mentally ill has a very complex and different combination of mental/medical disorders/ severity and abilities/strengths; any generic approach that may benefit one may be harmful to other in a specific moment. The individualization and human (patient/family-therapist) interaction is gone or very limited in self help approach (if used alone) and this may have negative consequences specially in areas of assessment of dangerousness (suicide-aggressive risk, intoxication/detoxification, domestic violence, psychosis, physical illness etc.) in patients that may not detect/ control/ manage their misbehavior and may have impaired judgment secondary to their mental disorders/problems and/or intoxication/ detoxification/ medication use process.

Thanks for the note, John. Join Together summarizes news stories, so we rely on our source material to be accurate. We don't have the resources to run down every fact reported, but we do provide the links to primary sources so that readers can do so if they wish. Obviously what caught our eye about this program was its low cost; of necessity we will have to content ourselves with providing the information and leave it to experts like you to decide whether the program is worth the cost.

BE CAREFUL, JTO!! If you read the disclaimer on the program's web site, and check the credentials of its founder, you will find a lot of titles and offers, but none of them include "psychotherapist" or "treatment." You, JTO, are continuing a misrepresentation started in the local paper's report. What this guy is offering, he tells us, is only information, and it does not purport to be treatment.

thanks for the article on www.liferecoveryprogram.com i know a number of folk who would appreciate the anonymity of such a program. its sounds like a viable and timely treatment option.