Wholeview Blog Posts

Insights and perspective from our addiction recovery experts

Wholeview Blog: Expert Insights on Addiction Recovery, Mental Health, and Wellness

Welcome to the Wholeview Blog—your trusted resource for expert guidance on addiction recovery, mental health, and wellness. Our team of clinical specialists, led by Dr. Sarah Church, shares the latest research, actionable strategies, and personal perspectives to support individuals and families on their path to healing.

Why Trust the Wholeview Blog?

  • Evidence-Based Content: Each article is grounded in the latest scientific findings and written by experienced professionals in the fields of addiction treatment, psychology, and psychiatry.

  • Personalized Care Insights: Learn how innovative approaches like pharmacogenetic testing can accelerate finding the right mental health medication, reduce trial-and-error, and improve your treatment outcomes.

  • Women’s Health Focus: Discover the unique risks women face with alcohol use—including the “telescoping” effect and heightened risks of organ damage, cognitive decline, and pregnancy complications—plus prevention tips tailored for women.

  • Comprehensive Addiction Support: Explore our in-depth guides on substance use disorders (SUD), alcohol use disorder (AUD), opioid addiction, behavioral addictions, and cannabis use disorder (CUD)1.

  • Holistic Well-Being: Unlock the benefits of mindfulness, meditation, and therapy to transform your brain, boost resilience, and support lasting recovery.

  • Accessible, Actionable Advice: Find practical tools and strategies to help you or your loved one take the next steps toward recovery and mental well-being.

Explore Our Most Popular Topics

  • Alcohol Use Disorder: causes, symptoms, and evidence-based treatment options.

  • Opioids and prescription painkillers: facts, risks, and safe recovery approaches.

  • Behavioral and cannabis addictions: understanding compulsion and the brain’s reward system.

  • Personalized psychiatric treatment: the value of pharmacogenetic testing.

  • Meditation and mental health: science-backed benefits for stress and recovery.

  • The critical role of dopamine in addiction and habit formation.

Stay Informed—Start Your Journey

Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or supporting a loved one, the Wholeview Blog empowers you with the knowledge, support, and inspiration needed for change. New articles are published regularly—bookmark this page and check back for fresh insights.

Ready to take the next step? Explore our latest posts, or reach out to the Wholeview team for personalized guidance and support.

Wholeview Wellness—Expert-driven, compassionate care for addiction and mental health in New York City.

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How Alcohol Affects Women Differently Than Men
Women face unique and heightened risks when it comes to alcohol use. Research shows that women often progress more rapidly from their first drink to developing alcohol-related problems—a phenomenon known as “telescoping.” Even when drinking less or for a shorter period than men, women tend to experience more severe health consequences, including cognitive decline, organ damage, and increased risk of liver disease, heart problems, and certain cancers. Alcohol also poses serious risks during pregnancy, making awareness and tailored prevention strategies especially important for women’s health. Read More
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How are Pharmacogenetic Tests Incorporated into Care at Wholeview?
At Wholeview, our medical providers use pharmacogenetic testing to help personalize medication plans for patients with mental health conditions. This process begins with a simple cheek swab collected at home, which is then analyzed in a lab to identify genetic variations that affect how patients metabolize and respond to medications. The resulting report categorizes medications into groups based on their likely effectiveness and risk of side effects. Pharmacogenetic testing can speed up the process of finding the right psychiatric medication, which is especially valuable for patients with both substance use and mental health disorders. By reducing the trial-and-error period, patients may experience quicker symptom stabilization and improved adherence to treatment. However, genetic testing is used as a supplementary tool alongside thorough clinical evaluations and is not a standalone solution. At Wholeview, we integrate this testing into a broader care approach, including therapy and behavioral interventions, and ensure patients are fully informed about its benefits and limitations before proceeding. Read More
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How Meditation Transforms the Brain and Enhances Well-Being
By Dr. Sarah Church, Founder and Executive Director of Wholeview Wellness As a clinical psychologist with over two decades of experience in mental health and addiction treatment, I’ve witnessed how profoundly meditation can transform lives. Beyond its calming effects, meditation can reshape the brain, offering both psychological and physiological benefits. Read More
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Opioid Addiction – Signs, Withdrawal, & Recovery
What Are Opioids? Opioids are a class of drugs that relieve pain but also carry a high risk of addiction. They include prescription painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone, as well as illegal drugs like heroin and synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines them this… Read More
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Alcohol Addiction – Causes, Effects, and Treatment Options
What Is Alcohol Addiction? Alcohol addiction, sometimes called alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a chronic, relapsing brain disease that causes people to consume alcohol despite its negative consequences. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol addiction includes: Compulsive drinking Dependence Withdrawal symptoms when alcohol use… Read More
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The Role of Dopamine in Addiction
Dopamine, often called the “feel-good” chemical, plays a central role in the brain’s reward system. It regulates pleasure, motivation, and habit formation. Drugs and alcohol artificially stimulate dopamine release and create an intense sense of reward, leading to compulsive use. Understanding dopamine’s role in addiction helps us see why recovering… Read More
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