Facing Personal Pain Frees Phelps
August 17, 2016
Michael Phelps’ turnaround after rehab to return to the Olympics in Rio is an inspirational story to everyone, especially those that struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. But the real breakthrough is how Phelps allowed himself the time in therapy to uncover the source of his negative behavior. This is the daily goal of mental health professionals at Elk River Treatment Program for adolescents.
“Placement in a residential program will halt negative behaviors because the patient is in a safe, therapeutic environment without outside stressors. The key to lasting recovery is addressing the underlying issue that drives self-sabotaging behavior,” said Karen Lee who founded Elk River Treatment Program 10 years ago. “The most painful step is uncovering the core issue (usually an event beyond the patient’s control) since typically the patient has ignored or carefully guarded it for years,” Lee explained. For example, in a recent interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer, Phelps revealed that his father’s absence for more than 20 years was directly related to his lack of confidence which ultimately led to self-destructive behaviors.