The process that Michael uses when healing those who have abused alcohol and drugs for an extensive period of time is based on a technique called Non-Violent communication.  He focus’s on the client’s feeling at the time he is consuming drugs or alcohol and what need is being met by using drugs or alcohol.  His initial concern is to inquire about the social/emotional needs that were not met by the caretakers at a particular stage in a persons life and how those “lack” of needs influenced how s/he interacts in the world that was presented to them.  Once the individual gets an understanding and awareness of how the needs were met or not met by the caretaker or by a tragic event (i.e. Divorce, death or no employment) the individual can begin see how those events caused them to make life diminishing decisions (i.e. Drug use).  The individual now has an answer as to why and how they met their need(s) for emotional safety, tragically, through drug use.  Now the healing process can begin where there is no blame or shame for all parties involved, we call that empathy.  The individual does not have to live in fear of his/her past or allow the past to affect their present behavior because they are now “free and at peace” with their past.