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READ THESE PERSONAL TESTIMONIES FROM DR. BUTKINS' CLIENTS

"Dr. Butkins played an integral part in my recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction. He provided me with knowledge about the disease of addiction and taught me how to overcome the triggers that would lead me to go out and use or drink. Dr. Butkins is a very knowledgeable, respectable, and professional counselor. He truly cares for his clients and you can tell from the minute you first meet him that he is a man who has genuine concern for the addict and is willing to do what it takes to help you. I am forever grateful to Dr. Butkins for teaching and giving me the tools necessary to maintain my recovery from alcohol and substance abuse." John - Orlando, FL January 2009

“I met Dr. Butkins when I went to a counseling session with my alcoholic husband about 2.5 years ago. He is a highly skilled professional and is very knowledgeable on the disease of alcoholism and its affect upon the families of alcoholics. When we met, I was sick with worry and fear, angry, and unhappy. Living each day in fear of what awful thing would happen next, both my mental and physical health were beginning to suffer. When my husband went off to a rehabilitation center, I continued to see Dr. Butkins. As he challenged my thinking and attitudes and encouraged me to recognize and deal with my feelings, my mind began to open and allow me to look at life situations and the disease of alcoholism in ways that would never have occurred to me on my own. He sent me to Al-Anon where I found other people affected by a loved one’s alcoholism that were working the 12 Steps and willing to help me in my recovery. Today, there is less worry and fear in my life and more serenity. I know that Dr. Butkins’ skill, wisdom, and compassion guided me to this better way of living. I will be forever grateful.” Karen, Lake Mary, Florida

"Dr. Pete probably saved my life 7 months ago when I came to him in October, 2005. He has a great talent in evaluating problems and making you aware of them. He has helped me turn my life around and helped me see things about myself that I have been able to work on; he also helped me help others. It is the best money I have spent in many years. Thank you for being there for me." Richard A. March, 2006

"Dr. Butkins has been treating me since I was in middle school; later on at 19, (he helped me again) I had to see someone I felt comfortable with. He talks to me like a friend, not a doctor. I choose him over any other (counselor) because I look forward to seeing him; he’s just like one of my own friends. He’s very real, but not in your face;he doesn’t sugarcoat, but he’s very understanding and kind. He will help you make progress through anything and leave you feeling better than when you came in."
Jerry K. April 2006

"Dr. Butkins is the best thing that ever happened to me. I would have been dead a long time ago if it were not for him. I drank way too much and wanted to die. He has brought me through a lot; because of him I can handle anything and I love myself today." Janie D. April, 2006

"Dr. Peter Butkins has provided much needed support and direction during emotional turmoil in my life."
Ken H. - Longwood, FL April, 2006

"Dr. Butkins is an amazing guy. He has helped me so very much. When I first came to him I was ready to give up on life. With his help and guidance I pulled myself up. I’m now accepting a full paid scholarship to Stetson. Dr. Butkins saved my life. Thanks for everything." Ann A. - Orlando, FL April, 2006

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Glossary

Glossary of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse/Addiction Terms

There are 225 entries in this glossary.

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Term	Definition
Addiction Ministry	Addiction Ministry refers to the outreach, treatment and recovery support services offered through the auspices of local churches as part of their ministry to their community. The rise in addiction ministries, particularly within African American communities, constitutes one of the most significant developments in the modern history of recovery support structures.
Affiliated Recovery	Affiliated Recovery is a style of recovery in which the initiation and maintenance of recovery is achieved through relationships with other individuals in recovery. Affiliated recovery also reflects incorporating the status of addiction and recovery into one’s personal identity and story style.
Alcoholism	Physical dependence on alcohol to the extent that stopping alcohol use will bring on withdrawal symptoms. The term may also be used to refer to ingrained drinking habits that cause health or social problems. Treatment requires first ending the physical dependence, then making lifestyle changes that help the individual avoid relapse. In some cases, medication or hospitalization are needed. Alcohol dependence can have many serious effects on the brain, liver, and other organs of the body.
Alexithymia	is the inability to cognitively label and express one’s own feelings and experiences. The term has relevance here as a metaphor for the experience of people for whom traditional words and ideas do not accurately depict their problematic alcohol/drug relationships or serve as a catalyst for change. While this condition is often attributed simply to a person’s failure to “get it,” the solution is usually found in an alternative set of words, metaphors and relationships that do fit their experience and needs and, as a result, incite change (see Metaphors of Transformation).
Amends	Amends means to "make-up" for past negative behavior(s) so as to relieve self of guilt and, therefore, stay sober and clean. It is an action, done genuinely to fix things, not merely saying, "I'm sorry". If my computer has a faulty cable and I pick up the cable and apologize, it does not get fixed. It is not amended, I have to change it. So it is also true with amends to people: when I cahnge my behavior after I have admitted that I was wrong, I have made great strides in amending the harm done. Eventually, we learn to "do the right thing" for virtue's sake, not merel;y because it will help US.
Amplification Effect	Amplification Effect is the strengthening of treatment and/or recovery support services by combining or sequencing particular interventions, activities, or experiences. These combinations and sequences interact synergistically to produce changes of greater intensity than would be achieved if the same elements were used in isolation from each other or in less effective sequences. For example, an individual in a Twelve-Step supported recovery gets greater benefit from combining active step work, home group attendance, sponsorship and other service work, and extra-meeting social activities than by doing any one of these activities in isolation.
anhedonia	Anhedonia is a term used to describe an inability to experience pleasure. With drug abusers, it most frequently occurs in those who have abused cocaine.
Anonymity	Anonymity is the tradition within Twelve Step programs to not acknowledge or link one’s identity (full name or photograph) as an AA/NA member at the level of “press, radio, and films” (and one would assume television and public Internet venues). This tradition allows A.A. members to speak as A.A.-identified members in a number of venues about their A.A. recovery experiences, but, as a matter of custom, usually precludes recordings, photographs or use of the full name of the speaker. Anonymity is a tradition limited to Twelve Step groups and is not practiced in such organizations as Secular Organization for Sobriety or Women for Sobriety. Going public with one’s recovery status is viewed in some cultural contexts as an important dimension of recovery(Williams, 1992).
Assessment	Assessment for addiction occurs when a trained professional such as a counselor, an addictions specialist or other substance abuse/addiction professional or addictions trained therapist performs a clinical interview with an addict/alcoholic to determine severity and extent of the problem and, therefore, outline a course of treatment. This is essential to effective counseling in many areas which seem unrelated to addiction because its effects are often hidden causes of other problems.
Assisted Recovery	Assisted Recovery is a style of recovery in which the initiation and maintenance of recovery is achieved through relationships with other individuals in recovery. Affiliated recovery also reflects incorporating the status of addiction and recovery into one’s personal identity and story style.
Bicultural Style (of recovery)	Bicultural Style (of recovery) is a style of recovery in which individuals sustain their recovery through simultaneous involvement in the culture of recovery and the larger “civilian” culture (activities and relationships with individuals who do not have addiction/recovery backgrounds). A bicultural style of recovery implies the possession of subcultural and cultural skills to fluidly move in and out of the activities and relationships in the recovery culture and activities and relationships with individuals in the larger society (White, 1996).Big Plan (see Sobriety Priority)
Big Book	A basic text for “Alcoholics Anonymous.” The first edition appeared in April 1939, and in the following sixteen years, more than 300,000 copies went into circulation. The second edition, published in 1955, reached a total of more than 1,150,500 copies. The third edition, which came off press in 1976, achieved a circulation of approximately 19,550,000 in all formats.
Born Again	Born Again is a phrase used to depict the state of spiritual conversion. In the context of recovery, it refers to a type of quantum change characterized by egocide (death of the old self), a new Christ-centered or God (as I understand him)-centered identity, deliverance from desire (craving) and entry into membership in a faith-based community (see Conversion and Redeemed).
Centering Rituals	Centering Rituals are regular, alone-time activities that help keep one recovery-focused. Praying, meditating, reading pro-recovery literature, journaling, setting daily goals and taking an end-of-day inventory, and carrying/wearing sacred objects/symbols are common centering rituals of people in recovery. Other such rituals within the history of recovery include fasting, sweating, seclusion, aerobic exercise (running, swimming), chanting, singing, dancing, artistic expression, and pilgrimages to sacred places.
Character Defects	Character Defects (Shortcomings; Wrongs)within Twelve Step recovery, are those “emotional deformities” that have harmed alcoholics and those close to them. These liabilities include pride, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth (the “Seven Deadly Sins”). They include obsessions (“instincts gone astray”) with sex, power, money, and recognition, and also self-centeredness, selfpity, intolerance, jealousy, and resentment. The A.A. program suggests that if identified and disclosed via the Forth (“Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves”); Fifth (“Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs”); Sixth (“Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character”); and Seventh (“Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings”) Steps, these “ghosts of yesterday” could be replaced by a “healing tranquility” (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, 1981, pp. 42-62).