Contributor, Author at The Ranch

Since the tragic December 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School through October 2017, about 1,518 mass shootings have occurred in the U.S., resulting in at least 1,715 deaths and 6,089 people wounded. As of early November, 53,036 gun violence incidents in 2017 caused 13,324 deaths and 27,249 injuries. These statistics include victims of the […]

Treating mental health disorders is an investment that pays off fourfold or more, research shows. Among the many benefits of mental health treatment are increased productivity, reductions in substance abuse and medical issues, and lower rates of homelessness and poverty. But not everyone can access the treatment they need. An estimated 30 to 80% of […]

Sex addiction treatment has become big a topic for public discussion due to many recent sexual misconduct allegations against prominent men. But it’s a term that is sometimes misunderstood or misused. Media reports that portray recovery as a summer camp for privileged men does not accurately reflect what typically happens in rehab.

By Tommy Williams, LADAC, ASAT-C, Primary Therapist, Men’s Sexual Addiction Program, The Ranch So many spouses of addicts and alcoholics go through a torturous period of sensing something is off, or wrong, but not being able or willing to believe it. For the spouses of sex addicts, the feeling can be so difficult to bear […]

By Karen Brownd, CSAT, Director of the Center for Relationship and Sexual Recovery and Associate Clinical Director at The Ranch During the recent spate of sexual misconduct revelations and accusations about men in power, the public has had to come to terms with a difficult truth: Men we look up to have disappointed us by […]

By Brian Fuller, MD, Psychiatrist at The Ranch Tennessee With the opioid crisis claiming thousands of lives every year, public officials and health care agencies are scrambling to find solutions to an epidemic that sees no end in sight.

By Deborah V. Gross, MD, Psychiatrist at The Ranch Mississippi “This is ridiculous. It’s not a problem. I only purge when I get really stressed. I have to have something….” That was Belinda on her first visit to my office. When she passed out at her best friend’s wedding from dehydration due to laxative abuse, […]

Humans are not designed to live alone. From the earliest of times, they banded together in tribes and groups for mutual support, sustenance and community. Modern life and technology have led to an epidemic of isolation. This is especially a challenge for people with addiction and/or mental illness, who can quickly spiral into their illness […]

By Sara Schapmann Opioid abuse claims thousands of lives every year, but some people do manage to escape its crushing grip. Emily M.’s story is one of hope in the seemingly hopeless world of heroin addiction. With an excruciating amount of hard work, the help of specialized heroin abuse treatment, and a loving family that […]

Depression is a mood disorder that affects the way you think and feel. According to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 2009 and 2012, 7.6% of Americans aged 12 and older were struggling with depression during the two weeks preceding the survey. Some people reported feeling depressed due to external […]