Addiction is a Symptom of Something Deeper - Dean's Story

Addiction is a Symptom of Something Deeper – Dean’s Story

The Truth about Addiction and Recovery

Addiction is a Symptom of Something Deeper – Dean’s Story. It means a lot to be helped by people who have walked in your shoes, and who are not only highly trained clinically, but who understand your struggle from the inside out. The Sanctuary at Sedona gives you that. In fact, our non-12 Step, holistic recovery program had its origins in the personal experiences of its founder, Dean Taraborelli. After seeking treatment in 15 facilities, numerous outpatient and extended care programs, Dean was still unable to recover from his addiction until he discovered the dramatic effectiveness of methods now used at our recovery center.

Dean’s efforts included extreme measures to remain sober, but none of his attempts to recover worked for 20 painful years. Beginning substance use at 12 years old, his long struggle became not unlike that of countless others—a revolving door of addiction and treatment that almost took his life. He has said “I should be dead a multitude of times over. As a matter of fact, I was dead clinically two times in my life”.

Dean finally realized that despite his best efforts, no core shift had occurred in his body that would free him from his addiction. Furthermore, whether using or not, he led an addiction-focused life. In every period of abstinence, addiction was still front and center as he focused on preventing relapse, being ever vigilant about his triggers, and going to addiction-focused meetings and counseling sessions. He has said that, in the numerous treatment programs he attended, “sobriety became the finish line”, but that was not enough to keep him sober and not enough to give him the life that he wanted.

Dean’s story demonstrates that getting “back to zero”, or abstinent again, wasn’t enough for him, however, the same is true for many, many people. In fact, this year alone, almost 2 million people will go to addiction treatment and most of them will be unsuccessful. Their struggle isn’t over. They haven’t found their answers. Underlying issues continue to sabotage their lives and addiction continues as a symptom of those unhealed problems.

Dean’s personal journey of recovery has resulted in the program we have today in Sedona. It grew out of a realization that addiction is a symptom of something deeper and that until a core shift is made, the problem isn’t solved. Once that deep shift occurs, however, a full and sustainable recovery from addiction is possible. You can hear Dean’s story and thoughts about recovery here.

Learn More About Holistic Addiction Recovery: 

Read more about Our Holistic Addiction Recovery Program

Program Principles 🔸 Healing the Body 🔸 Healing the Mind 🔸 Healing the Soul🔸 Healing the Spirit

He is the Founder, Administrator, Counselor at the Sanctuary at Sedona.

He has a BA in Political Science and is currently Senior teaching staff at Four Winds Society, an international school of energy medicine. His credentials also include being an Ordained Minister; a Certified Shamanic Breathwork® Facilitator; a Founding Member Society for Shamanic Practitioners; a Member of Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology; a Member of the National Institute for Holistic Addiction Studies. [email protected]