by Andrew John Tucker, LCSWResearched by Corina Evi Tucker y de la Huertawww.addictiontherapynyc.com In my practice, gambling conversations are no longer rare. They are steady, urgent, and often wrapped in shame. That’s why the APA Monitor on Psychology article “How Gambling Affects the Brain,” written by Kirsten Weir, matters so much right now. The article […]
by Andrew John Tucker, LCSW, CASAC-G Researched by Corina Evi Tucker y de la Huerta www.addictiontherapynyc.com This piece lands close to home for me. In my own practice, calls about gambling are coming in almost weekly now. What used to be occasional inquiries have become a steady part of my caseload. I am also being […]
by Andrew John Tucker, LCSWwww.addictiontherapynyc.com When you consider “injury” instead of “brokenness,” a few powerful shifts happen: Research into trauma’s healing mechanisms supports this. A recent special issue of the journal Life named “Healing after Trauma-New Knowledge and Procedures” argues that trauma impacts physical, cognitive and psychological systems, and healing requires repair…..not simply a return […]
Written by Andrew John Tucker, LCSWwww.addictiontherapynyc.com When you first start treatment, everything feels urgent: survival mode, white-knuckle days, the adrenaline of “I’ve got to fix this.” Therapy is a lifeline, and it’s powerful. But when the crisis passes, that sharp edge dulls. The danger isn’t gone, it’s just quieter. This is the moment that decides […]
by Andrew John Tucker, LCSW, CASAC Picture this: You’re standing outside a coffee shop, palms sweating, heart racing. Six months ago, you would have had a drink or two before this simple meetup with an old friend. Now, in recovery, that familiar crutch is gone, and you’re facing something that feels impossibly hard, being yourself, […]
by Andrew John Tucker, LCSW, CASAC Picture this: you’re sitting in your apartment, staring at your phone after another argument with your partner, and someone asks you how you’re feeling. “Bad,” you say. Or maybe “upset.” If you’re really digging deep, perhaps “angry.” But here’s the thing: when we limit ourselves to these basic emotional […]
by Andrew John Tucker, LCSW, CASAC Some people grow up in households where humility was more than a value, it was a family identity. Their parents may have been highly accomplished in business, academics, politics, or service, but they wore their success lightly. They might have deflected compliments, emphasized community over ego, and quietly modeled […]
Written by Andrew John Tucker, LCSWResearched by Corina Evi Tucker y de la Huertawww.addictiontherapynyc.com Summer can be full of light — and full of landmines. Sunsets, cookouts, vacations… and cravings. As many of my clients know firsthand, being in recovery doesn’t mean avoiding all triggers — it means building a plan to meet them when […]
Written by Andrew John Tucker, LCSWwww.addictiontherapynyc.com We’ve all felt it—that pull to “make things right” by making someone pay. But in The Price of Revenge, a riveting Hidden Brain episode, Shankar Vedantam shares what neuroscience reveals: revenge lights up the brain’s reward circuitry—the same part activated by substances like alcohol, cocaine, and opioids. That’s not […]
Written and Researched by Andrew John Tucker, LCSWwww.addictiontherapynyc.com My kids will tell you – I’m sensitive. I cry at sentimental cards or acts of genuine acknowledgement or kindness, I sometimes take things personally, and I feel deeply for those around me. So as toxic masculinity is increasingly addressed, I’ll ask the question: What does it […]