Inner Voice - Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan

E388 – "Inner Voice: A Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan Zeine." In this episode, Dr. Foojan Zeine chats with Dr. Brian Licuanan an author, speaker, and board-certified psychologist practicing in Southern California. He specializes in insomnia and family crisis interventions as well as has extensive experience working with highly acute clients struggling with substance abuse disorders and mental health conditions. Dr. Licuanan is passionate about educating the public on mental health and substance addiction as he has appeared on The Doctors show on CBS, Dr. Drew Midday Live, Good Day LA along with several podcasts, and has authored several articles. Additionally, his book, "How to Get Your Resisting Loved One into Treatment: A Step-by-Step Guide for Mental Health and/or Addiction Crisis" is a strategy guide to help family members with loved ones refusing help or treatment. www.drbrianlicuanan.com # 1 on the 20 Best California Mental Health Podcasts list by FeedSpot. https://podcasts.feedspot.com/california_mental_health_podcasts Check out my website: www.FoojanZeine.com, www.AwarenessIntegration.com, www.Foojan.com Summary Dr. Foojan and Dr. Licuanan discussed the importance of Dr. Licuanan's book, "How to Get Your Resisting Loved One into Treatment," which addresses the challenges families face when dealing with a loved one's addiction or mental health issues. Dr. Foojan and Dr. Licuanan discussed the challenges families face when dealing with addiction. They highlighted the confusion and guilt that can arise from different approaches to addiction, such as tough love or being overly nice. Dr. Foojan noted that addiction can be functional or non-functional, affecting the family's dynamics. Dr. Licuanan emphasized the importance of a balanced approach, which he termed "assertive love" or "respectful boundaries." He warned against the dangers of harsh, unconditional love, which could lead to hopelessness and potentially tragic outcomes. Dr. Foojan and Dr. Licuanan discussed the importance of understanding addiction and its impact on individuals and their families. Dr. Foojan emphasized the need for individuals struggling with addiction to recognize their behavior's impact on others and take responsibility for their actions. Dr. Licuanan agreed, noting that interventions can be effective when done appropriately and focusing on the family unit rather than just the individual. He also highlighted the importance of recognizing each family member's role and responsibility in perpetuating the addiction. Both agreed on the necessity of educating families about addiction before engaging in conversations about it. Dr. Licuanan discussed the concept of disease, emphasizing that there is no single definition and it can encompass various aspects of life, including mental health and substance use disorders. He suggested that everyone has their version of the disease, which can impact their lives. He emphasized the importance of operationally defining terms to ensure everyone is on the same page, particularly in group therapy settings. He highlighted the need to identify and address the actual problems within a family, not just focusing on the individual causing the most harm. Dr. Licuanan also discussed the concept of a 'coalition' or support system, which includes a primary and secondary support system. He stressed the importance of carefully selecting members of the primary support system to avoid fractures in relationships and a unified vision. Dr. Licuanan and Dr. Foojan discussed the importance of family involvement in the treatment process for individuals struggling with addiction. They emphasized the need for careful selection of family members to be involved in the initial phases of the process, as not all family members may be suitable or willing to support the individual throughout the treatment journey. They also highlighted the importance of creating a safe environment for family members to share their experiences and concerns, and to collaborate in supporting the individual in need of treatment. Dr. Foojan asked about strategies to manage resistance from the individual or the family, to which Dr. Licuanan responded by stressing the importance of upfront knowledge and understanding of addiction for family members. Dr. Licuanan discussed the challenges families face when dealing with loved ones struggling with addiction or mental health issues. He emphasized the role of guilt and fear in perpetuating the disease and the importance of setting boundaries and limits. Dr. Licuanan also highlighted the three inevitable consequences of untreated mental health or addiction: jail, institutionalization, or death. He advised families to accept these consequences and focus on what they can control, such as providing options and support. Dr. Foojan then asked about a step-by-step plan for getting a resisting loved one into treatment, to which Dr. Licuanan responded by emphasizing the importance of recognizing what one can and cannot control, and accepting the inevitable consequences of inaction. Dr. Foojan and Dr. Licuanan discussed the importance of calling the police in situations where a loved one is in imminent danger of harming themselves or others. Dr. Licuanan emphasized that law enforcement is increasingly receiving mental health education, which can lead to a more appropriate response. He advised calling 911 and providing as much information as possible about the situation, including any untreated mental health conditions or substance abuse. Dr. Licuanan also stressed the importance of hope and the power of family members to make changes in their loved ones' lives.