Sovereign Health of Pompano Beach Welcomes

Juan Feliciano, M.Ed., M.S., Psy.D.,LMHC         Dr. Tina Goodin, Ph.D., ABPP, P.A.

Presenting: "Addiction, Disease And Family Dynamics"

Bio: Juan Feliciano, M.Ed., M.S., Psy.D.,LMHC, has a B.S. in human development and family studies from Cornell University, an M.Ed. in counseling from Florida Atlantic University and a Psy.D. from Carlos Albizu University. He became an LMHC in 2001 and a Licensed Psychologist in 2011. Over that time, he held various roles providing direct care while working with populations as diverse as emotionally disturbed children, traumatic brain injured adults and abused and neglected children. Dr. Feliciano successfully provided counseling and therapy to individuals, couples and families from ages 4 to 68 years old. He is currently the Site Training Director for Sovereign Health of Florida in Pompano Beach.

Addiction as a Disease

When it comes to addiction, many people still see the problem as a character flaw or a person lacking in morality despite research to the contrary. In this training, we will discuss the concept that addictionis a disease and how science validates the disease model. Further discussion will address how the disease model can impact and assist provision of treatment. We will also explore the value of explaining to clients and families that addiction is a disease.

Course Objectives

• Define how addiction can be considered a disease.

• List the utility of describing addiction as a disease.

• Describe how to apply the disease model of addiction in treatment

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Bio: Dr. Tina Goodin, Ph.D., ABPP, P.A., a Board Certified Clinical Psychologist, has worked with families dealing with addictions for decades. She has a special interest in family dynamics, both conscious and unconscious, that, if carefully understood, can be utilized to ease ongoing family, group and workplace grief and loss. Dr. Goodin has given multiple presentations on this topic, and she hosted radio talkshows in Montreal. She is currently the Founding Executive Director of the Psychology Center in Palm Beach, Florida.

Who Is Our Patient Anyway? The Psychodynamics of Addiction in the Family

The identified patient is generally the individual who enters treatment. As we work with our patients, the unfolding of a storyline reveals some of the external factors that have contributed to our patients’ addiction. The dynamics, both conscious and unconscious, between and among family members affect each member differently. Some family members act out their family-related conflicts by way of an addiction. The addiction then takes on a life of its own. Working with the underlying issues, we can unearth important dynamics for which each family member is responsible. Our patient may be the weakest link in the family theater and may thereby assume the family’s problems. Family work is predicated on understanding and working on these conflicts. In essence, each family member is an actor in a storyline. Essentially every family member is our patient, albeit in absentia. This understanding is critical to the healing of our in vivo patient.

Course Objectives

• List and define family dynamics that contribute to the patient’s addiction. These dynamics will be measured from minor to severe.

• Elaborate on and discuss the mechanisms by which the patient internalizes these family dynamics.

• Discuss the defense mechanisms utilized to cope with intolerable effect.

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There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, programcontent, research, grants or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.