Real change
starts within.

What the day looks like We open the morning by building a safe, non-judgmental container for the group. Shale leads a deep dive into the neuroscience of addiction — how the brain gets hijacked, how trauma and unmet needs fuel the cycle, and why willpower alone never works. Drawing on NARM principles, we explore how early relational wounds and unmet developmental needs often sit at the root of addictive patterns. After a break we move into experiential work: body-based check-ins, reflective writing, and small group sharing to help you identify the emotional needs underneath the behavior. After lunch, Matthew leads a practical session on tools you can use immediately — urge surfing, the HALT check-in, grounding techniques, and compassionate substitution. The afternoon closes with a powerful session on supporting loved ones, setting boundaries from love, and what actually helps in recovery. We end together with a closing circle and a clear plan for what comes next.

What the day looks like We begin the morning with an icebreaker that immediately normalizes the experience — you will feel relief hearing others name the same feelings. Shale then leads a session on the neuroscience of stuckness: why freeze happens, how the nervous system holds it, and why "just push through" makes it worse. Drawing on NARM, we explore how unmet needs and early relational patterns often keep us frozen long after the original wound has passed. After a break we go deep into mapping your stuckness — a body-based exercise to locate where you feel it, followed by powerful journaling prompts that surface the fear, grief, or identity confusion underneath. After lunch Matthew leads the afternoon: introducing the concept of small moves, the neuroscience of tiny wins, and how to build real momentum without overwhelming your nervous system. We close with an extended experiential session — a guided future-self visualization, a letter from the person you're becoming, and a paired accountability exercise where you leave with one concrete next step and someone to check in with.