Kathy Sowder
M.S.,Licensed Professional Counselor, Chemical Dependency Counselor
Free
Addictions and Substance Counseling and Recovery Expert
Kathy Sowder Quick Facts
- Main Areas
- Addiction, depression, anxiety and stress disorders, couples therapy
- Best Sellers
- Published article on Relationship Addiction
- Career Focus
- Counselor and therapist, workshops, seminars, classes.
- Affiliation
- Affiliate of managed care companies to provide Employee Assistance Assessments and Counseling.
Kathy Sowder, Licensed Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Addiction Counselor, now located in Mobile, Alabama, has over thirty years of experience in a variety of psychotherapy, and counselling settings, including fifteen years in private practice. Her specialties include treating addictions, substance abuse and codependency, depression and anxiety disorders, stress disorders, eating disorders, PTSD and trauma, sexual abuse and trauma, relationship issues, and grief and bereavement. She is very familiar with 12 Step Programs, and with Hospice care. She uses a spiritual and holistic approach, as well as cognitive and behavioral therapies. She is trained in Emotional Freedom Therapy, guided imagery and relaxation techniques. She is a provider for most insurance companies, and Employee Assistance Programs. She can be contacted by phone (251)447-3284, fax, (251)645-4725, e-mail, kathysowder@hotmail.com, or by website, http://www.kathysowder.com.
Websites & resources
SelfGrowth-published websites, downloads, and contributor profile websites connected to this expert.
Favorite Quotes & Thoughts from Kathy Sowder
I believe that nearly any disorder (e.g. addiction, depression, anxiety, abusive relationship) is an imbalance of emotion, mind, spirit, and physical body, and that all of these are interconnected. Therefore, all of these must be treated and returned to a balanced state for true, long-term healing. Counseling and therapy helps the client assess honestly all of these areas, and address ways to become more whole and balanced again.
How to get started
In my article on Codependent Relationships, published in a book of readings published by Health Communications in 1988, I parallelled the codependent to the addict in symptomology, including loss of control (of the addict as well as his/her own behavior and major life areas), increasing tolerance ( e.g. for unacceptable behavior), preoccupation (with the addict and controlling his/her use of chemicals), and defensiveness (including denial, justification and blame, gaining temporary relief as the addict does from use of the chemicals themselves). Overcoming compulsive behaviors requires building positive attachments and focuses in order to become whole and balanced again, as an individual, as a couple, and as a family unit.