Becky Flood, Executive Director and CEO of New Directions for Women, with colleagues at AIS conference

There was a time when addiction treatment professionals believed that addicts must lose everything before making the decision to seek treatment and be committed to recovery. This led to missed opportunities and worst case scenarios for treatment field professionals.

Thankfully, this is no longer the case. Treatment field professionals have embraced the still emerging method known as Intervention. Intervention is the process that attempts to convince a resistant addict to enter treatment. This process, which is consistently evolving, continues to prove itself as an effective and necessary tool for moving addicts from denial and disregard to recovery.

AIS (Association of Intervention Specialists) is a professional network of Board Registered Interventionists in the U.S. and abroad that meet regularly for education, information exchange, and networking. Becky Flood serves as the president and co-founder of this important organization.

AIS held their bi-annual meeting this year in Palm Springs, and focused on creating a standardized process for interventionist certification. Currently, this does not exist. That means that there is no clear set of requirements to equip treatment professionals to integrate intervention into their recovery practices. This is a problem.

This process will empower the treatment field to take intentional steps to equip employees and better serves those in need of help. Obviously, this is a necessary network. Becky Flood, NDFW Executive Director and CEO, and Rae Sandoval, Primary Counselor, enjoyed the discussion and progress at the November meeting. Rae is training to become an interventionist, and very much enjoyed the support and fellowship at the meeting.

Want to become an interventionist? Wish to learn more about AIS or New Directions for Women? Contact us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or simply by phone at 949-313-1192.

Mindfulness is an ancient form of awareness. It has been used, typically in the Buddhist lifestyle, to clear the conscious, relieve stress, improve thought process, and stimulate productivity. Today, it has been integrated into the addiction treatment field as a tool for recovery: a practice known as Mindfulness Meditation. It has proved to be extremely helpful as patients battle emotional responses and physiological cravings.

New Directions for Women recently hosted a Mindfulness Meditation workshop. We were fortunate enough to be taught on this subject by Fran DiDomenicis, Ph.D. Dr DiDomenicis is a psychologist in private practice in the San Francisco East Bay area. He has spent more than 35 years pursuing progress for those who suffer from addiction. He founded the Delaware Association for Children of Alcoholics and completed his dissertation on the personality traits of adult children of alcoholics and the prevalence of a variety of emotional stressors in alcoholic families. Dr. Fran has integrated his years of experience with his learning from the Buddhist field to improve the addiction treatment field.

Dr DiDomenicis led a seminar during our Annual Professionals Weekend, introducing more than 35 individuals to the advantages of Mindfulness Meditation in the treatment field. Many were familiar with this topic, and all attendees were glad to learn more about how this ancient practice could be easily integrated into treatment. They were particularly surprised at how mindfulness meditation can offer alternatives to medication while contributing to the types of therapy already offered.

New Directions for Women is committed to offering the highest level of care for women, children and their families. What better way than to integrate a practice that teaches self control, emotional stability, and combats addictive habits through the process of being aware and present!

If you wish to learn more about Mindfulness Meditation or New Directions for Women contact us at Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or simply by phone at 949-313-1192.

Mindfulness Meditation Led by Dr. Fran DiDomenicis

New Directions for Women is sponsoring a networking luncheon on Friday,January 6th, 2012 in St. Louis.  The event, co-sponsored by BHR Worldwide and the Illinois Institute for Addiction, and hosted by Recovery 360, is aimed at bringing together private practitioners and treatment centers in our field so that we can network and learn about each other’s programs in order to strengthen our resources and provide a seamless continuum of care for the people we help every day.

Date: January 6, 2012, 12:30pm-2:30pm

Recovery 360

1141 S. 7th Street

St. Louis, MO 63104

For more information on the St. Louis Luncheon, please call Courtney Mason at (203)803-6895 or email cmason@newdirectionsforwomen.org.

For over three decades, New Directions has been a leader in the addiction field, while providing a gender separate, long term continuum of care for all women, pregnant women, and women with children. We exist to provide a place where women and their families can begin the journey of recovery. We pride ourselves in providing a safe, caring, and home-like environment to help women, their children and families achieve and maintain responsible recovery.

We also pride ourselves in developing industry and community relationships so that all women can take advantage of drug and alcohol rehab and recovery. Our goal is to not allow finances, location, or other barriers to prohibit any woman or family from taking advantage of available treatment services.

Consequently, we hold an annual Professionals Weekend, which offers an opportunity for treatment field representatives and industry professionals to travel to Southern California with New Directions for Women as their host. We offer networking, fellowship, relaxation, and the opportunity to learn more about New Directions for Women’s unique and specialized services.

October 27th-29^th, 2011 marked this year’s Professional’s Weekend gathering. It featured a CEU training on Mindfulness Meditation, luxurious networking meals, open 12-step meetings, drum circle therapy on the beach, a relaxing resort spa afternoon, and recreational golfing opportunities. We were joined by 30 professionals from the national treatment field –  from as far away as New Jersey and Texas. We enjoyed connecting face-to face, and look forward to working together effectively and collaboratively in the future.

Missed our latest Professionals Weekend? We have provided a slide show providing a glimpse of what you missed. If you wish to connect with New Directions for Women Call us at 800-939-6636 or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and/or LinkedIn 

Enjoy the pictures!

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New Directions for Women and National Therapeutic Services will be hosting a special NAATP Now Event in Orange County, California on January 12 – 14th.  We invite CEOS and Executive Directors of West Coast treatment providers to attend in order to spend time with other NAATP members and treatment providers and gain a better understanding of the benefits of membership. This is an opportunity for NAATP members and interested addiction treatment providers to build a deeper and more meaningful relationship with other leaders of the field in the West Coast Region. CEOs and Executive Directors that are not members of NAATP will learn more about how NAATP can support their organization.

This is also an opportunity to learn more about the political landscape of addiction treatment both locally and nationally. Several NAATP Board members will be present and available, and senators of the Recovery Caucus of California have been invited to join us. This event will provide us with the chance to discuss the critical issues that are facing health care reform and parity in terms of addiction.

If you would like to attend, please make a reservation at the Wyndham Hotel, Orange County, by calling (714) 751-5100. Let them know you will be here for the NAATP Now event, and they will extend the special rate of $129.00 per night. Also, please notify Courtney Mason at cmason@newdirectionsforwomen.org or 203.803.6895. This page will be updated with the most up-to-date information on this event.

Please register here for individual events.

Tentative Agenda

Thursday, January 12, 2012   

-6:00 pm    Guest Arrival, Wyndham Hotel Orange County

6:30pm –9:00 pm     Panel with Heads of Recovery Caucus & Reception Dinner, New Directions for Women Campus

Friday, January 13, 2012                  

7:30 am- 8:30am      Optional 12 Step Meeting, Wyndham Hotel, Symphony Room

8:30 am- 9:30am       Breakfast, National Therapeutic Services

9:30am—12:00pm    State of the Union Report on Addiction

1:00pm – 6:00pm      Free Time Activities:  Golfing or Spa Service

7:30pm-9:30pm          Dinner and New Member Presentation by Dwayne Beason

Saturday, January 14, 2012                           

7:00am – 8:00am     Optional 12 Step Meeting,  Wyndham Hotel, Symphony Room

8:00am-9:00am         Breakfast w/ Q&A with NAATP Board, Wyndham Hotel

9:30am-11:30am        PAC Presentation by Ed Diehl, Wyndham Hotel

What a wonderful time we shared during this year’s Alumnae Cruise!

New Directions for Women hosted our Annual Alumnae Reunion Harbor Cruise this past September 2011.  Over forty women in recovery and their guests celebrated the glories of recovery with a day of pampering and fun.

In honor of Recovery Month, we held a women’s 12 Step Meeting on the top deck of the yacht, as we were surrounded by other sailboats in the beautiful Newport Beach Harbor. There is nothing like sharing the freedom of sobriety over the cool breeze of the Newport Harbor. If you have not taken advantage of this opportunity next year is your year!

However, the fun did not end with the 12 Step meeting. We all let loose with a Karaoke session and fun dance party. Over a gourmet lunch we socialized and took advantage of the opportunity to connect with other sisters in the quest for a sober world. One guest won a $30 Starbucks gift card, and everyone shared how blessed they felt to be with their sisters in sobriety on a boat in the beautiful Newport Harbor.

We were happy to connect with Hallie Metzler with OneRecovery. She attended the cruise hoping to educate our guests on the benefits of OneRecovery, which is an online social network service for NDFW alumnae to maintain supportive relations.  

New Directions staff would like to thank all the women who took the time to attend and share the lovely day with us, as well as the staff and crew of the Dreammaker Yacht and Adventures at Sea.

Missed this year’s celebration? Want to connect or re-connect with New Directions for Women and our Alumnae Association? Call us 800-939-6636 or find us on facebook, Twitter, and/or LinkedIn 

We have posted picture below for your enjoyment

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Becky Flood at NCAD 2011 presenting on "Pinking the Industry"

New Directions for Women strives to transform women, children, and their families, one day at a time. Part of this mission includes reaching out to the treatment field by offering lessons that improve the quality of care that each center is able to offer, or improve the addiction treatment field as a whole.

Recently, Rebecca Flood, CEO of New Directions for Women in Costa Mesa, CA offered a presentation on “the Pinking of the Industry.” In this presentation, Becky offered a description of how the treatment field has evolved since its inception. She also offered commentary about where the field is going and the steps that should be taken to insure the improvement of quality care for those who suffer from addiction and mental illness.

Her presentation left an impression with local media representatives as they covered the conference. We have posted an article below on her presentation. If you missed this presentation and wish to have Becky present at your location, please contact Tania Bhattacharyya at 949.313.1192 x 300 or tania@newdirectionsforwomen.org.

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Preparing women for leadership roles in the addiction field

Posted on: 9.20.2011 4:26:59 PM Posted by Nick Zubko, Associate Editor

The demographics of the addiction field are changing. According to Rebecca Flood, LCADC, NCACII, BRI II, executive director and CEO of New Directions for Women, Inc., there’s an “aging out” of leadership in the addiction field, opening the door for women (who now make up 70% of the field) to assume those roles.

“Those positions are going to be open, and then tag, you’re it … whether you want to or not,” Flood said during her presentation at the 2011 National Conference on Addiction Disorders (NCAD) titled “The Pinking of the Addiction Industry.”

But the bigger question, she noted, is whether enough women are going to be ready.

According to Flood, women in the field need to make the effort to get to know one another, create mentorship programs and share mistakes in order to learn from them and pass on the skill and knowledge they will need to lead the field.

In addition, she talked about the different methods that men and women use in leadership roles, and why it’s important to recognize and understand the differences. While boys are “raised to go on the battlefield and come out as friends,” Flood noted that girls tend to grow up much differently.

“Women are not nice to each other, because many of us were not raised in a way that taught us how to play nice,” she said. “Instead, you learn that the prettiest one wins, which puts us in direct competition at all times.”

As a result, Flood said female leaders need to understand where they came from, how they got there, and where they really want to go in order to address the “workforce crisis” that isn’t going to resolve itself.

“We’re the ones who are going to have to come up with the solutions,” Flood said. “So we have no choice but to figure out how to play nice with each other.”

If you know a woman who is suffering from addiction and want to recommend a drug and alcohol rehab facility for women, pregnant women, or women with children consider us. Contact us 24 hours a day on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or simply by phone at 949-313-1192.

Volunteer Appreciation Day at Tastebuds

Volunteers are integral to non-profit organizations. They increase the amount of products produced and people served. They brighten the environment through service and positive motives. They carry the mission, without monetary compensation, to their individual communities. They are the lifeline and progressive force standing boldly as the face of the non-profit world.

We celebrate the volunteers of the world, specifically those who commit their time to the mission and vision of New Directions for Women.

New Directions for Women recently hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Day inviting supporters to fellowship over food and recognition. We are filled with gratitude to the women who attended; who truly give of their time, talent, and treasure for the betterment of the women healing from drug and alcohol addiction.

These women give their time in a variety of ways, including volunteering at our foundation store Repeat Boutique, making welcome baskets to make women coming into to the program feel at home and safe, and helping with our special events such as the Open House or raising money in our Phone-a-thon.

We had a wonderful time enjoying lunch at Tastebuds in Costa Mesa, CA and enjoying each other’s company. Attendees got to meet other volunteers and share their passion for New Directions for Women. We look forward to continuing this relationship. From all of us at New Directions for Women, Thank You!

If you are interested in contributing your time and talent with New direction for Women, the door is open. Contact us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or simply by phone. We will happily acknowledge and respond to you appeal.

Please join us for a workshop on the Applications of Mindfulness to Addictions Treatment and Relapse Prevention. This half day workshop will introduce participants to the basics of mindfulness and how it can be applied to addictions treatment and relapse prevention, and provide 4 continuing education units (CEU’s).

 
Participants will be guided through a selection of mindfulness practices to get first hand appreciation of how mindfulness can help to relax the mind/body and provide mental “spaciousness” that helps reduce the grip of cravings and distressing emotions. We will also overview several specific therapeutic approaches that integrate mindfulness as a key component of treatment. Online and printed resources will be provided for students’ further study and for use within their treatment settings.

RSVP by October 14, 2011 by registering here, or returning our Registration Form (click here to view) to tania@newdirectionsforwomen.org. Please call 949.313.1192 ext. 300  if you have any questions. 

Event Info
When: Friday, October 28, 2011
Time: 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
Cost: $45 per person, including Breakfast and Lunch. Parking will be $2.
 
New Directions for Women is proudly sponsoring this event in order to disseminate this helpful information to as many practitioners as possible.
 
Location
Wyndham, Orange County
3350 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa, California 92626
 
Schedule
8:30 – 9:30 am, Registration and Breakfast

9:30 – 12:00 pm – Introduction to Mindfulness practices, applications to addiction recovery, experiential exercises in sitting meditation and walking meditation, with opportunities for questions and suggestions for how to apply mindfulness to treatment settings.

12:00 – 12:45 pm – Lunch and Networking

12:45 to 1:30- Presentation of several mindfulness approaches to treatment and relapse prevention.
This seminar will provide 4 continuing education units (CEU’s).
CAADAC Provider # 1N-05-548-1011;
BBS Approval # PCE358
About Fran DiDomenicis, Ph.D.
Fran DiDomenicis, Ph.D. is a psychologist in private practice the San Francisco East Bay area. Fran started his career as an Addictions Counselor with the Delaware Division of Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health in 1973. During his 15 years with the Division he also trained counselors and other addictions staff in a variety of treatment, prevention and supervision approaches. Fran is proud to have founded and served as first President of the Delaware Association for Children of Alcoholics in the mid 1980′s. He completed his doctoral program in 1990 at Temple University in Philadelphia. His dissertation focused on the personality traits of adult children of alcoholics and the prevalence of a variety of emotional stressors in alcoholic families.

Fran’s interest and practice of meditation goes back to his late teens. With experience in a variety of traditions and techniques, he currently integrates the principles and practices of mindfulness, taught in many Buddhist traditions, into his work with clients to address a variety of concerns such as anxiety, depression, and addictions. To visit Fran online, go to www.east-bay-counseling.com
 
About New Directions for Women
New Directions for Women is a safe, caring and sensitive residential treatment facility for women, pregnant women, and women with their children, located in Orange County, CA. By providing exceptional, gender-separate and specific addiction treatment services that are grounded in 12-Step principles, New Directions assists women, families and their children to achieve sustained responsible recovery.

3 Days…50+ Treatment Centers, Private Practitioners, Interventionists…AND YOU

Announcing the Sixth Annual Addiction Treatment Centers & Professionals Consortium of California, July 23 – 25, 2012 at the Fess Parker Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara, California.

REGISTER HERE >>

Why attend? Listen to what our attendees say:

“It’s so great to get a bunch of treatment centers in a room just to hear all the ideas and experience…it’s just a great comparison. We get to see who’s great at what, and really they’re all great at what they do, but everyone specializes in something.”

Jen Sneider
A&E “Intervention” television series

• Earn 18 CEUs at this single event (CAADAC and CA Board of Behavioral Services certified)
• Exclusive access to 50+ participating addiction treatment organizations and private practitioners over three days
• Form lifelong referral sources

This conference is an opportunity to exchange information with other treatment providers and professionals in an effort to create a seamless continuum of care to meet the needs of all patients. During the conference each facility, interventionist or therapist is provided a formal opportunity to present information about what distinguishes their services and programs and how to access their services. There are also numerous networking opportunities and a chance for some summer relaxation in beautiful Santa Barbara. Our hope is that everyone will leave this conference knowing where to turn when they are presented with a situation that is outside their area of expertise.

Space is Limited, and we have a waiting list every year. We recommend you register early! If you have questions, please call Tania Bhattacharyya at 949-313-1192 ext. 300 or tania@newdirectionsforwomen.org

REGISTER HERE >>

“All I have to say is this is the best conference of the year. Ya gotta come.”

Kelley White
Coastal Mountain Youth Academy

Who Should Attend

Executive Directors, CEOs, Medical Directors, Private Practitioners, Administrators, Therapists, Admissions Personnel, Interventionists, Treatment and Discharge Planning Personnel. Marketing Representatives may attend if a Clinician is also in attendance.

REGISTER HERE >>

Out of courtesy for all presenters it is mandatory that you attend the entire conference and do not leave early.

“It’s one of the best conferences that I have ever attended, and I really feel that I get bang for my buck.”

Rick Parrish
Sober Escorts Inc

Please make your own hotel reservations. Contact the hotel at 805.564.4333 and be sure to mention New Directions for Women ATCPCC Conference.

“New Directions has done an outstanding job to bring together the leaders in addiction treatment from around the country. We’ve heard from each other on new trends, new ideas, new ways of doing business, interventions, everything from the intervention process right through to aftercare. This is the place where leaders in the field need to be, and I’d encourage you to be here next year.”

Jim O’Brien
CEO, Maryville Addiction Treatment Centers

REGISTER HERE >>

More Comments from Attendees:

“ATCPCC is a great opportunity for professionals to talk about the work we’re doing. And it’s really a benchmark for the level of care that we’re offering, so I find it invaluable. ATCPCC is worth our time, and it’s an absolutely incredible site right on the ocean in Santa Barbara!”

La Rhea Steindler
Pat Moore Foundation, Harmony Heals of Laguna Woods

“I highly suggest you come to this conference. You get intimate space with treatment centers, the professionals that work there, and you really get to know each other from not just a professional space but kind of a personal space, and you have a better connection with each other.”

Alonso Dominguez
Executive Director, Echo Malibu Treatment Centers

“ATCPCC is a fantastic opportunity to network with your colleagues in the field and a bunch of people who passionately believe in recovery for all people and all circumstances. I recommend you be a part of this process and network with your peers and share all the gifts of your program and what you’ve been involved with it.”

Bev Roesch
Cirque Lodge

“I couldn’t believe how many resources we had until I came to this conference. I’m so glad I came here. I can’t wait till next year.”

Richard Watts
ABC Recovery Center

“We’re a mood and thought disorder program based out of Orlando and Sevierville, Tennessee, and this is an opportunity for me to meet with a group of individuals, some I know, some I don’t know, and it was just a great chance to connect with a bunch of people and find out a lot about other programs, and I hope to be here next year. This was really wonderful. I want to thank everybody involved, and I’m very grateful to be here.”

Tom Maisel
Pasadena Villa

To Register

Register online through the link below or fax your registration to 949.574.8977.

REGISTER HERE >>

Make checks payable to

Please contact Tania Bhattacharyya at 949.313.1192, ext 300 or tania@newdirectionsforwomen.org if you have any questions