addiction disorders Portland, OR

Accountability and Healing

Accountability is the cornerstone of healing the isolation of addictive disease for addicts and family members. In the normal course of all relationships there exists a natural process of healing and accounting for day to day conflicts and power struggles. We admit it when we are wrong and have hurt others. The past can not be changed but we can make an open and honest acknowledgement of the harm done to others as we move out of the problem into the solution.

In many cultures the natural healing process involves honest accountability of harm done, empathy for the victims and demonstrating clear understanding of the negative consequences for victims and their families then, now and in the future. Truth and Justice Commissions in over 30 countries have implemented aspects of the natural healing process from many Indigenous People. They have helped to heal diverse cultures of generations of violence, abuse and atrocities to innocent victims. It is in the spirit of this natural healing that we have posted the accountability letters of addicts to people they have harmed.

Addictive disease damages significant relationships with defensive excuse making, dishonesty, deluded and victim thinking. The process of discovery of betrayal and disclosure of the nature of the problem takes its toll on the emotional, spiritual and physical wellbeing of everyone involved. Everyone in the family has been affected by the mood swings of the addict and
co-addict. Accountability in the treatment of addiction is based on identifying and respecting the impact of addictive disease on all family members and leads to re-establishing trust, rebuilding trust and healing.

Goals of Accountability include:

Develop empathy for the victim’s of lies and abusive behavior.
Validate the realty of victims.
Respect for vulnerability.
Confront distorted thinking and Self Centeredness.
Reduce shame and guilt.
Differentiate who we are as human beings from our behavior.
Clarify how behavior affects other people.
Take full responsibility for the consequences of abusive behavior.
Make an apology for abusive behaviors.
Re-establish trust with a structured plan of recovery and clear boundaries.
Re-Negotiate relationships built on trust and mutual respect.

What addicts say about Accountability:

Accountability is not Amends.
Accountability is not Disclosure; there are no surprises in the Accountability Process
Accountability begins with identifying the negative consequences of our behavior for others as part of the 1^st Step of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Accountability “means letting go of being a victim.”
Accountability “builds a process by which you can become a moral person.”
Accountability “is a ‘Fail Safe’ for isolation and lying.”
Accountability “is cleansing for my wife so we can make a fresh start”
Accountability “is a legitimate need for those who have been betrayed.”
Trauma and victim issues from the past are often reenacted. Accountability put an end to my cycle of abuse.

The DeLugach Group treatment team uses state of the art evidence based addiction treatment tools and Dr. Patrick Carnes Task Centered Approach for the treatment of sexual addiction and trauma. All staff are Certified Sexual Addictions Therapists (CSAT). We work as a team to develop accountability, reduce shame and reconciliation for individuals, couples and families struggling with sex addiction and trauma.