Guides

Eleven guides for eleven different moments

From "I just quit" to "I've been at this twenty years and want to understand what's changed." Each one starts from something José Luis already covers on the podcast or in session.

First steps

The problem isn't the substance, it's how you feel

Why addiction serves an emotional function, and the three questions worth asking before you ask for help.

6 min read Read guide

First steps

The first 90 days without using

What to expect physically and emotionally week by week: what's normal, and what's a real warning sign.

7 min read Read guide

Active recovery

Relapses: understanding them without drowning in guilt

The difference between a slip and a relapse, and the concrete first step after one.

6 min read Read guide

Social life

Holidays, weddings and parties: a guide for hard dates

How to say no without over-explaining, and building your own traditions.

5 min read Read guide

Family

Supporting without rescuing: a guide for family members

What it means to support someone with an addiction without taking on the responsibility for their recovery.

7 min read Read guide

Active recovery

Long-term sobriety: what changes over the years

Reflections from more than two decades supporting recovery processes, on life after addiction.

6 min read Read guide

First steps

Shame and stigma: why it's so hard to ask for help

The real barrier is almost never the substance — it's the fear of being judged.

5 min read Read guide

Educational

Addictions without substances: gaming, phones and social media

The same signs of addiction, with no substance involved at all.

6 min read Read guide

First steps

What to expect from your first therapy session

Demystifying the most feared step: what gets discussed, how long it takes, what happens next.

5 min read Read guide

Family

Talking to a teenager about drugs

Why lecturing doesn't work, and which questions actually open up a real conversation.

6 min read Read guide

Active recovery

Rebuilding trust in a relationship after addiction

Sobriety doesn't automatically repair the relationship. How to rebuild trust, step by step.

6 min read Read guide