Gary Dinkelman | Retired Counselor of Burning Tree Ranch Gary Dinkleman, known for his insightful counseling methods and as a long-time counselor at Burning Tree Ranch, retired in 2021. Gary helped hundreds of family members break the cycle of addiction. Gary lived in Illinois and while 3-years sober he worked at a grocery store. His sponsor started going to school to be a counselor and soon Gary followed in his footsteps. He started classes in 1987. After graduating, Gary started working at a young adult program in Chicago. The short-term detox helped young adults come off crack and meth. The ..read more

The definition of relapse within addiction can be complex. We tend to view it as the moment when a sober individual returns to using their addictive substance again. A more precise definition would be that relapse refers to the process that leads a sober individual back to substance use. Relapse is multidimensional and its consequences affect each person differently. However, everyone with addiction will either do way more than they intended or not be able to stay stopped. People who haven’t experienced addiction often believe that it comes down to having the willpower to fight the “craving” t ..read more

What are the first 30 days of rehab like? It depends.  Often when going into rehab, clients need to go to detox. Medical detox is critical for people who are saturated with alcohol or drugs. Especially with alcohol withdrawal, clients can have seizures and even die. The First 30 Days of Rehab  Up to the first week can be spent detoxing from alcohol or drugs.  That does not leave much time for treatment if you are there for only 30 days. If you have been using alcohol or drugs for years, like some of our clients, and you expect to be transformed for the rest of your life in 21 da ..read more

Ultimately, many symptoms of alcohol or drug withdrawal are the result of the effects that these chemicals have on the body and brain. In the first days and even weeks during withdrawal, different withdrawal symptoms may occur as a result of abruptly stopping taking a substance. The longer someone has abused drugs or alcohol, the more likely they are to experience these side effects for a long time. This is known as Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS). Get Help For Your Famly When your child is suffering from addiction, finding a reputable drug rehabilitation center is important. At Burning ..read more

Oftentimes when we see a client who has successfully been admitted into Burning Tree Ranch, they have already had several treatment episodes. In extreme cases, we have seen some clients who have gone to more than three dozen treatment centers before making it to the Ranch. By this time, these clients are so resistant to treatment and families have almost given up hope that their loved one will be clean and sober.  Many of the clients we see could lead a small group or teach a class about the 12-step program because they have heard it so many times.  Why is it that 30 to 90-day treatm ..read more

There are many things that set alcohol apart from other commonly abused substances, starting with the fact that alcohol is a perfectly legal drug. Unlike other drugs whose use could result in a lengthy prison stay, alcohol can be purchased just about anywhere, and buying it will not result in arrest or imprisonment. The legal status of alcohol has had a number of unintended consequences, starting with the widespread misconception that the use, and even overuse, of the drug, is no big deal. Find an Inpatient Treatment Program Now We are here to help you through every aspect of recovery. Call ou ..read more

Treatment resistance is a term that describes someone who does not respond to usual treatment programs.  Some people struggling with substance abuse or alcoholism have a difficult time staying sober by going to a 30-day addiction treatment center. You can say that they are resistant to the treatment.  Some people are in a revolving door of rehab centers. Some are chronic alcoholics or relapsers, or people who cannot stay sober no matter what they have tried.  This resistance to treatment causes many family members to struggle for a long time, and it causes a lot of suffering and ..read more

Whether you have been personally impacted by alcoholism and alcohol use disorder or not, you may have noticed that the misuse and overuse of this legal but highly dangerous drug tend to run in families.  Maybe you grew up in an alcoholic household and you are concerned about your own use of alcohol.  The fact that alcoholism does tend to run in families has been pretty well established, but the actual reasons are still a bit unclear.  Is alcoholism actually hereditary? Is there an alcoholism gene that scientists can discover and one day turn off? Is the environment at least part ..read more

Have you ever been around an alcoholic who isn’t drinking?  What is their demeanor? Are they nice? Are they grumpy? How do they react to you?  If you grew up in an alcoholic household, then you know that when mom or dad did not have something to drink they were not happy. Actually, they could be quite irritable.  Some people would even say that their significant other can sometimes be in a better mood when they are drinking. Being clean can be the equivalent of being a dry drunk or white-knuckling your sobriety.  Just because someone is clean does not mean that they have tr ..read more

Alcoholism is a devastating disease that destroys lives. It can be a very difficult process for those suffering from addiction and their families, but there are ways to recover and get your life back on track.  A psychic change is what’s needed in order to achieve recovery and live a sober lifestyle. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous states that “a complete psychic change” is needed for sobriety.  This means you have to completely adjust how you respond emotionally when facing difficulties, which will allow you to make better decisions about how you handle things going forward. Ca ..read more