Sherry Gaba LCSW, Psychotherapist, Life & Recovery Coach is featured Celebrity Rehab on VH1. Sherry is the author of  The Law of Sobriety which uses the law of attraction to recover from any addiction. Please download your Free EBooks from Sherry™s Enrich Your Life Series. Contact Sherry at sherry@sgabatherapy.com for webinars, teleseminars, coaching packages and speaking engagements. Listen to Sherry on A Moment of Change with Sherry Gaba on CBS.

“The Law of Sobriety” was written not only to help addicts recover from alcohol and drug addictions but also to create a different, positive and supportive frame of mind to shape the recovery and your life after recovery. Changing thinking from negative to positive allows an entirely new outlook on life, one that welcomes in the positive energy around you to sustain your recovery into the future. It is not a specific goal directed recovery; rather it is a way to become spiritual and connected rather than isolated and disconnected.

While this is a wonderful perspective and a positive change for the addict, there is still often a huge issue for the family, friends, spouses and partners that have been hurt by the addiction. These people need to also be able to move forward, to give trust and understanding and also to support the addicted person’s growth and change. In situations where co-dependency is an issue the co-dependent person needs to go through his or her own recovery program in order for the relationship to continue to be positive and possible. A life coach, addiction recovery therapists or a counselor may need to get involved to help both people understand the addiction and co-dependency issues in the relationship.

Addicts need to be able to understand the addiction from the family or friend’s perspective before they can truly begin to make the steps needed to strengthen and rebuild those relationships. Putting yourself in the other person’s shoes is a great exercise that will enable you to see things in a different light. By being able to take on a universal view of the addiction behaviors, not as a negative beat yourself up process but to gain understanding, you will receive a powerful message. By having the ability to empathize with your loved ones and friends you can get goals and look for positives that will allow you to build and rebuild the relationship.