We are passionate about our mission to provide the support, training and resources to help you and your clients succeed. We love hearing and sharing the “whys” of those who are chasing their dreams of helping make the world a better place. Our students choose to pursue an education in the behavioral healthcare field for various reasons, and we’re proud to be a part of their journeys toward making a difference. Each month we feature a student who is on the path to truly making an impact on the lives of others.

Our Student of the Month, Jason Pelaez, shares his experience with ATI:

My name is Jason Pelaez. I am a Crisis Specialist. My hobbies include hiking, reading, and learning about new things. I have one pet, a Chihuahua and Dachshund Mix called Roman. I am passionate about creating safe spaces for individuals to share stories and experiences to create community and promote healing and connection.

I have a bachelor’s in psychology and criminal justice from Kean University in Union NJ. I chose to pursue a career in Drug and Alcohol Counseling because of the urgent need for competent practitioners to address a huge public health crisis. I chose ATI for my educational needs because it provided me the flexibility, support, and financial assistance necessary to obtain my certification.

I want to become a well-rounded clinician to address many disparities and discrimination within the mental health and counseling fields. I want to use my knowledge to improve the quality of life of individuals and promote the public health of the community.

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Throughout any given day, you probably experience a range of emotions — joy, excitement, anxiousness, frustration, disappointment — all dependent on situations and events that occur during the day. And sometimes, you may experience intense emotional reactions – known as emotional triggers – that are sparked by specific experiences or memories, regardless of your current mood.

We all have and experience emotional triggers, and learning to first identify yours will then help you to find ways to manage, cope with and heal from your unique emotional triggers.

Emotions of all kinds are a natural and necessary part of our human experience, and acknowledging all of our feelings and the range of emotions we may experience even in a short time period is vital to being our resilient and authentic selves. How you handle all those emotions can give you insight into your emotional wellness — your ability to successfully cope with life’s stressors and adapt to change and difficult times.

There are several actionable ways to build up your emotional wellness and resilience and learn to manage your emotional triggers. Let’s explore these 5 ways to manage your emotional triggers:

1. Identify and learn to recognize your triggers. A key first step is to understand which situations, circumstances or events trigger those intense feelings. These vary from person to person and can range from uncomfortable topics, rejection, challenged beliefs, and being excluded or ignored, to criticism, feeling smothered or helpless and more.
2. Be honest with yourself. Your body can let you know long before your mind recognizes that you’re in distress. When you feel that familiar feeling – your heart pounding, palms getting sweaty, adrenaline pumping through your body, foot tapping and your mind on edge – you are feeling the signs your body is sending that your stress level has gone through the roof. Think back — where did that intense response come from? What happened that gave you those big feelings? Try following those feelings back to their origin to determine the root cause. Trusting yourself to withhold judgment can give you the space to manage your triggers.
3. Acknowledge the feelings of discomfort and anxiousness. Sitting in your feelings can be extremely uncomfortable, absolutely. But there’s a value in learning yourself and understanding how and why you feel so intensely so that you may better navigate those potential emotional triggers. It’s 100 percent ok and normal to feel however you feel. Accepting those feelings rather than ignoring them allows you to take back control.
4. Communicate. When you’re experiencing intense, heightened emotions, it may feel difficult to communicate. But if a friend, colleague, or loved one has triggered you, you both deserve a chance to talk it through so it does not continue to happen, taking a toll on your relationship. First, take a moment to calm yourself if necessary and gather your thoughts. It’s important to communicate clearly what has happened so they can understand how you’re feeling. You may also choose to journal your thoughts, or try speaking to a professional to help you explore your triggers and learn new ways to express your emotions.
5. Build up your resilience. Some people can survive just about anything life throws at them — and even thrive through difficult times. Learning how to be resilient and “bounce back” after adversity is a practiced effort in coping with life’s challenges. Be flexible and willing to learn more about how you can help yourself through these tough times. Stop negative patterns and actively shift your emotional state in order to be more empowered and resilient.

Identifying, managing and confronting our triggers may feel daunting, but these are critical steps toward genuine healing. The path to true recovery involves recognizing our own unique triggers, being honest with ourselves, acknowledging the discomfort, communicating and building up our resilience. By engaging in this process, we can emerge stronger and more empowered, freeing ourselves from the grip of triggers with newfound resilience.

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On Wednesday, September 20, Addictions Training Institute is joining the movement and celebrating the vital players of the health system and continuum of care – addiction professionals. We are proud to work with the amazing addiction professionals who dedicate their lives to helping change the world daily.

If helping people is one of your life passions, but you don’t know where to start, you may love a career as an addiction professional!

At Addictions Training Institute, we have certification programs for individuals at every level and offer continuing education for those already certified. We provide students with an affordable and flexible way to complete the required training to become a certified drug counselor in order to accomplish our mission to make the world a better place by training the people who help others.

ATI will give you several helpful things to make your time with us the most productive and rewarding, such as:

• Affordable, our entire program costs less than most other schools
• Financing available
• Educational materials based on IC & RC exam
• Curriculum designed to meet state requirements
• Exceptional student support
• Study from home
• Complete your education in less than a year

If you’d like to begin the rewarding journey toward helping others live their healthiest life, we’d be honored to help you reach your goals!

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Every life stage brings with it different stressors and challenges, and as we navigate those it’s imperative that we check in with our emotional health along the way. This is true for behavioral health professionals and clients alike. Oftentimes, especially when we’re busy in our lives, we tend to overlook personal emotional damage, with a dismissive “get over it, self” attitude. However, if we recognize that physical damage must be treated in order to heal, why not treat emotional damage as not only equally important, but equally treatable?

Without emotional wellness — the ability to successfully handle life’s stressors and adapt to change and difficult times — we are unable to navigate through everyday activities, relationships and responsibilities. And to secure our own emotional wellness, we must first pay attention to our emotional injuries and learn to practice emotional first aid.

In his popular Ted Talk, psychologist Guy Winch explains why practicing emotional first aid can elevate our quality of life, and how to reboot our emotional health:

• Pay attention to emotional pain. Recognizing when emotional pain happens and why, and then treating that pain before it becomes an issue is key. If a negative emotion persists, get to the root of the problem and find what you need to treat it before it does further – or permanent – damage.
• When you fail, learn to redirect your reaction. Failure can cause us to focus on what we can’t do, rather than what we can. Then, in turn, we lose the confidence to perform at our highest level, which leads to more failure. Break this cycle by focusing on the things you could control if you were to try again, such as better planning or preparation.
• Protect your self-esteem. Many of us typically practice compassion with others, but don’t give ourselves the same graces. Why? Treating yourself like you would a friend in your same position can work wonders for boosting and protecting your self-esteem. Positive self-talk and self-compassion can go a long way.
• Interrupt negative thoughts with positive distractions. Habitual brooding, when you’re constantly replaying stressful situations or events in your life without finding resolutions or new approaches, can be extremely harmful. When you feel yourself sinking into this habit, distract yourself with something that requires concentration, such as a brainteaser puzzle, trying to remember the names of a specific group of people or making your grocery list. This focus on something else can reduce the urge to stew on negative thoughts.
• Learn which emotional pain treatments work for you, specifically. We’re each individuals, so a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work. Pay attention to how you handle your own emotional wounds — do you get upset but recover quickly? Do you push the thoughts aside and deal with them later? Learning which techniques you tend toward, and then determining if those are healthy coping mechanisms, can help you to heal.

Find out more about how to practice emotional first aid by watching Guy Winch’s Ted Talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/guy_winch_why_we_all_need_to_practice_emotional_first_aid.

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Although addiction can happen to anyone, the good news is that it is a treatable disease. This month is National Recovery Month, celebrating the gains made by those in recovery, and reinforcing the positive message that while addiction doesn’t discriminate, people can and do recover.

There are safe and effective ways to recover from addiction, and those in recovery rely on the support from loved ones to be successful in overcoming substance use disease. Understanding addiction is the first step to take when supporting those on the journey to recovery.

Reducing Stigma is Important

While one in 7 Americans reports experiencing a substance use disorder, many don’t seek treatment for a number of reasons. A major obstacle to overcoming the challenges of addiction and overdose is stigma. This often happens due to a lack of knowledge or understanding, combined with the belief that those with addictions can just quit. However, there’s no one driving factor that leads to substance use disorder – it can affect people of any race, gender, social class or income level.

Whether people use drugs or alcohol to cope with stress and trauma, to help with mental health issues, or they overuse prescribed medications, intense cravings and continued use can lead to addiction. This is because drugs and alcohol flood the brain with chemicals that cause people to repeat behaviors that are unhealthy but feel good. The brain then develops more tolerance, which means that it takes more of the substance to feel the same result, and the brain is less able to resist the temptation. This creates a cycle of abuse.

Recovery is Possible for Everyone

The good news is, people can and do recover. The recovery journey isn’t just for the person with the substance use or mental health issue—everyone who cares about them, including those working in the behavioral health profession, play a role in the support of the person in recovery. Understanding addiction and the ways to support those in recovery can help reduce stigma and encourage treatment-seeking behaviors. There are a number of ways that healthcare professionals support the recovery process, and those affected by addiction can use many of the same methods to support loved ones:

• Identify support people. Who will stand in solidarity with them as they go through the recovery process? Different people will offer different types of support, and the variety of help will make an enormous impact on the process.
• Identify realistic goals. Encouraging abstinence from alcohol and/or substance use is the recommended route, but there are negotiated treatment steps that make sense for some patients.
• Understand that recovery is a process. Recovery comes in stages, and continuing care during the recovery process is key, as there is no “quick fix.” There will be challenges, but positive encouragement can help maintain the momentum of progress, not perfection.
• Be a resource. Encourage activities that do not involve alcohol, and give some suggestions. Identifying hobbies and activities they once enjoyed or would like to try can be helpful. Identifying possible mutual support groups — such as Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, women only meetings, groups structured with or without religion involved — can help with the recovery process.

Make an Impact on the Lives of Others

If you’re looking for a way to make an impact in the behavioral health field, becoming an alcohol and drug counselor can be an immensely rewarding career. Here are a few highlights that make this field so fulfilling:

• You have the opportunity to aid vulnerable individuals in improving their lives.
• You can make a significant positive impact on society.
• The role allows you to build robust relationships with clients.
• It provides a deeply meaningful and emotionally rewarding career path.

Addiction counselors provide the support, resources, and treatment plans that individuals need to overcome drug and alcohol addictions. Visit Addictions Training Institute to learn more about our comprehensive programs and resources designed to help you succeed in this rewarding career path.

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Owning a small business means owning data. You’re constantly acquiring new information related to your customers, your financial details, and all the vendors and contractors with whom you work. One cyber criminal, though, one lucky hack, and you’ve just exposed your business to a major blow. From lost trust among your clients to costly lawsuits for the damage done, protecting your company from data theft is among your most important responsibilities.

A lot of it comes down to one simple choice you make: passwords.

“Overall, passwords still present the biggest challenge for businesses of all sizes,” said Ron Schlecht, founder and managing partner of BTB Security. Businesses hire Schlecht’s company to test their digital security for weak spots and, he said, “you can’t imagine how many times we still break in to companies because of a bad password.”

If you want to avoid weak passwords at your business, start by steering clear of the following list. Read on for seven passwords you should never (ever) use.

Password

Arguably, this is the number-one and most common bad choice. Also prevalent are variations such as P@ssword and P@55w0rd!. These might be easy to remember, but they’re also among the first options hackers will try.

QWERTY

Easy-to-guess passwords often take root because they’re simple to remember. That’s the story with this hacker-friendly option constructed from the sequence of letters at the top left of the typical computer keyboard.

12345

Or, 98765. Or, 4567. You get the picture — no consecutive numbers (and the same goes for sequential letter combinations). You can only count on passwords such as these to expose your business to digital theft.

BusinessName1

If your shop is called Serafina’s Weddings, don’t set your password as SerafinasWeddings1. That would be a early choice for hackers looking to break into your valuable data.

Business Address

Skip it entirely, when it comes to passwords. Also avoid trying to mash together similar details, such as your street name and street number — i.e. Main215.

Date of Birth

Thanks to the Internet, it doesn’t take much effort to find a person’s DOB. Birthdays, birthdates, years of birth — all of them make for readily attainable passwords and are poor choices for your company.

Simple Dictionary Words

Especially if they’re related to your business, don’t use them. No baseball, football, or soccer for your sporting goods store. No muffler, tire, or spark plug for your auto garage.

And so, what should you do when it comes to picking a password?

A key approach starts with thinking of a passphrase. Next, substitute letters, characters, and abbreviations for parts of it. For example, my first car was a Honda in 1990 would be easy enough to remember, if that was the case in your life. Now, change it to my1stc@r=honda90.

Steer clear of the not so magnificent seven above, and protect your data with hard-to-guess constructions. With a strong password strategy, you’re well on your way to foiling online attacks.

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Work-related stress can be a factor in many professions, but becomes an even more significant concern when high-pressure careers, such as those in the behavioral health field, are already facing workforce shortages. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout was prevalent among healthcare workers and frontline employees.

People facing burnout due to chronic workplace stress often deal with depersonalization, exhaustion and energy depletion, a reduced sense of personal achievement and more.

Recent estimates find that 50 percent of behavioral health providers report feeling burnt out due to high levels of stress, low salaries, perceived lack of career advancement opportunities, and increased caseloads. This adds to the problem of healthcare workforce shortages, with new survey data from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, conducted by The Harris Poll, finding that the vast majority (83%) of the nation’s behavioral health workforce believes that without public policy changes, provider organizations won’t be able to meet the demand for mental health or substance use treatment and care. The dangerous imbalance between demand for mental healthcare and lack of qualified professionals can be rectified by not only caring for those who are working in the field but also by adding more trained professionals.

So what steps can we take to prevent burnout among behavioral health workers?

1. Understand the signs of burnout. Burnout can feel similar to stress, but where stress is temporary or situational, burnout typically won’t ease up until action is taken to resolve it. As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout has three dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and reduced professional efficacy. It can be difficult for healthcare workers to distinguish between “normal” feelings of mental exhaustion and detachment and actual burnout, due to the complexities of dealing with human suffering, struggles and pain. Burnout often feels overwhelming and long-term, while stress feels less permanent.
2. Make wellness a priority. Healthcare workers are often so focused on the health of those they’re caring for that they forget to care for their own mental and physical health, too. However, it’s important to note that if we are going to continue to face the challenges and complexities in our careers and do the important work of helping those in need, we must first take care of ourselves. This means taking preventative measures to care for yourself before burnout sets in by routinely exercising and eating well, checking in on your mental state, getting outside for vitamin D, connecting with loved ones regularly and taking time to do the things you love.
3. Engage with and encourage peer support. The pressure felt among healthcare workers can be intense for a number of reasons, and the support from colleagues can help relieve some of that burden. For healthcare workers, connecting to peers who understand the daily challenges and frustrations of the profession can be invaluable. Mutual feelings of vulnerability combined with shared experiences can help create strong bonds so that colleagues can better support one another, and also recognize when a peer needs support through their own challenges.
4. Know and respect your personal boundaries. When you know you need to rest or take time off, don’t push those feelings aside. Speak with your supervisor or team and determine how to make it happen. Admitting that you’re feeling burnt out may feel like it’s at odds with your dedication to helping others, but you’re not alone. Your peers understand the nuances of working in the field, and can help you take the necessary steps to avoid burnout.

With well-managed stress and self-care routines, even a high-stress job likely won’t lead to burnout. Protect your wellbeing and continue on your journey to helping others live their healthiest lives while you live yours!

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Many people now in addiction recovery have experienced the negative impacts of addiction, including the loss of friends or loved ones, loss of income, and loss of connections. These effects can be widespread and overwhelming for those struggling with addiction, which is why the support of a community can be even more impactful during the journey to recovery.

National Recovery Month not only recognizes those who chose the path to recovery, but also the loved ones supporting the recovery and the dedicated workers who provide the prevention, treatment, and recovery support services that help make recovery possible. Recovery is possible for anyone, and as healthcare professionals, we are often responsible for determining how to best support individuals in the recovery process.

Community can make all the difference in recovery and sober living. For those in recovery, support is not only beneficial, but a vital part of a successful journey to recovery. There are many ways that we as healthcare professionals can support the recovery process, and we can arm those affected by addiction with the same methods during National Recovery Month and beyond:

1. Support network: Bhelp those in recovery determine who is in their support network. Personal support systems can include family members, friends, coworkers, members of a support group and anyone else supporting the recovery process. Making the powerful decision to begin the journey to recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction can be life-changing for one’s future, and a solid support network during this time is a must.
2. Communication: check in often, from a place of support and care. It’s important to be mindful of where the person is in the process, and follow up along the way, not just during the beginning stages. This also helps support people to keep track of how those in recovery are coping.
3. Patience: help those in recovery recognize that recovery is a process — a marathon, not a sprint. Continuing care during the recovery process is key, as there is no “quick fix.” Be patient with the process. Like any journey in life, recovery is not always easy. It’s typically not a straightforward path. Recovery comes in stages — there will be challenging times, and may even be some setbacks along the way.
4. Be a resource: there are many tools and resources available for those in recovery, as well as their loved ones. Finding out what help is available is a great way for loved ones to connect and show care. Arming yourself with the tools to help loved ones start conversations about prevention, treatment and recovery is important. A great resource to share is https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/recovery
5. Hope: no one is alone in the journey through recovery. People in recovery can ‘borrow’ the hope of others in their ability to get better when they can’t see that hope for themselves. There’s power in positive thinking as a group, and expressing those positive thoughts to someone who is deep in the trenches of recovery can really help them see the light at the end of a potentially long and difficult struggle.

Change is possible, and taking the path to recovery means changing the course of the future. Those in recovery need the support of their community as they navigate toward a healthier, happier life.

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Putting off doing things we don’t enjoy is common, despite the potentially negative consequences. Procrastination takes many forms and often has complex roots. There are a number of causes for procrastination:

• When we miscalculate how long a task will actually take
• When we think we need to be in the “right frame of mind” to accomplish a task
• When we believe we work best “under pressure”
• When we overestimate how much time we have left to do something
• When we need immediate gratification, and the task won’t provide that

Whatever the reason we procrastinate, we can stop this habit by using these strategies:

1. Prioritize: By identifying your top priorities, you can allocate sufficient time and energy for that particular task. Writing these down in a “to-do” olst style can help you stay on task.
2. Break them down: Organizing large tasks into smaller ones can make them less intimidating and more manageable. This makes the overall goal less daunting and allows you to make steady progress.
3. Limit distractions: Identifying what typically distracts you, and removing that distraction can make an enormous difference. Silence notifications, dedicate a workspace and minimize interruptions from others in order to stay focused.
4. Fight perfectionism: Perfectionism can be a major source of procrastination. Instead of aiming for perfection, set specific and achievable goals for your tasks. Focus on completing them rather than obsessing over every detail.
5. Define “done”: What does “done” mean to you? Having a clear definition of when a task is actually complete helps you recognize when it’s time to move on to the next task.
6. Manage your time: Find your own best way to manage time, whether you prefer working in dedicated blocks, tackolng high-priority tasks first or assigning quick breaks along the way.

When you start incorporating these procrastination busters into your day, you’ll find yourself more productive and enjoying the boost that comes along with accomplishing your tasks!

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Throughout any given day, you probably experience a full range of emotions — joy, excitement, anxiousness, frustration, disappointment — all dependent on situations and events that occur during the day. And sometimes, you may experience intense emotional reactions – known as emotional triggers – that are sparked by specific experiences or memories, regardless of your current mood. We all have and experience emotional triggers, and learning to first identify yours will then help you to find ways to manage, cope with and heal from your unique emotional triggers.

1. Recognize your triggers. A key first step is to understand which situations, circumstances or events trigger those intense feelings. These vary from person to person and can range from uncomfortable topics, rejection, challenged beliefs, and being excluded or ignored, to criticism, feeling smothered or helpless and more. Sometimes you know when a situation causes you to feel stress, but you don’t necessarily identify that situation as a “trigger.” However, by identifying what caused you to feel how you feel, you can then learn to see these triggers coming and better manage them before they take hold.
2. Pay attention to your body. Your body can let you know long before your mind recognizes that you’re in distress. When you feel that familiar feeling – your heart pounding, palms getting sweaty, adrenaline pumping through your body, foot tapping and your mind on edge – think back: where did that intense response come from? Try following those feelings back to their origin to determine the root cause.
3. Acknowledge and communicate. There’s a value in learning yourself and understanding how and why you feel so intensely so that you may better navigate those potential emotional triggers. It’s 100 percent ok and normal to feel however you feel. When you’re experiencing intense, heightened emotions, it may feel difficult to communicate; but if a friend, colleague, or loved one has triggered you, you both deserve a chance to talk it through so it does not continue to happen, taking a toll on your relationship.
4. Learn how to be resilient. Some people can survive just about anything life throws at them — and even thrive through difficult times. Learning how to be resilient and “bounce back” after adversity is a practiced effort in coping with life’s challenges. Be flexible and willing to learn more about how you can help yourself through these tough times. Stop negative patterns and actively shift your emotional state in order to be more empowered and resilient.

Identifying, managing and confronting our triggers may feel daunting, but these are critical steps toward genuine healing. By engaging in this process, we can emerge stronger and more empowered, freeing ourselves from the grip of triggers with newfound resilience.

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