Conquer Addiction & Celebrate Authentic Freedom

By Bob Cox

When Janina Guarino was lying in a hospital bed during the summer of 1988 with third degree burns all over her body, she couldn’t imagine how things could possibly get any worse. But much to her surprise, they did when her doctor informed her that her chance of survival was just 3%. That same week, her husband announced that he was filing for divorce and leaving her for the woman he had been having an affair with!

During this low point, Janina had plenty of time to reflect on all the choices in her life that led her to the brink of despair. She realized that her addiction to drugs and alcohol had an extremely negative impact on her life and that if she was going to survive this latest fiasco and turn her life around, she had to be willing to take a leap of faith by making new and better decisions.

She began the process by finding the wisdom and courage to forgive her husband and wish him well. Next, she resolved to break free from her destructive addictions and create a new set of coping skills. After defying the odds and surviving her traumatic ordeal, she found a wise and compassionate psychotherapist who helped her create new strategies for personal and professional success.

During this time, she started going to church and met some people there who enjoyed a wide variety of activities that did not revolve around alcohol or drugs. “I realized that there was more to life and all the things that I really loved doing could be done without any alcohol or drugs. So I started doing those things, like motorcycle riding and going to rodeos. If my kids had dreams, I would encourage and help them with whatever they needed to do. I even worked three jobs at times to make sure that they wouldn't lack anything”, explained Janina.

I sat down with Janina to learn more about her amazing life story as well as the business she created three years ago called Better Decisions Counseling Services in Sacramento.

Q: What inspired you to start your own counseling service?

A: Drug and alcohol addiction has destroyed the lives of so many of my family and friends. I wanted to be the beginning of a healthier generation for years to come and live out my dream by helping people break free from addiction. I definitely know what people go through when they're struggling with addiction. Once I overcame my addiction, I wanted to help other people. I lost both my brothers due to addiction, so I want to give back because I’m really grateful that I'm alive today.

Q: What was your life like while you were trapped in addiction?

A: Almost every activity revolved around drugs and alcohol. I was in several near fatal auto and motorcycle accidents due to alcohol and drug addiction. The driver of the motorcycle I was on during that last accident died shortly after that from a heroin overdose.

Q: How did you summon the strength to forgive your husband?

A: I’m not exactly sure, but somehow I was free from any resentment. I was able to let go and allow him to go and be happy with his new life.

Q: Did you have a strong support system to jumpstart your recovery?

A: No, there was really nobody there to help me in the beginning that would sit and listen to me, so yeah I really struggled, especially as a single parent.

Q: Did your background help you with the creation and growth of Better Decisions Counseling Services?

A: Yes, I worked for the state of California for 25 years as a compliance specialist during the day and worked nights counseling kids in group homes. As a compliance specialist, I worked with local counseling organizations like Better Decisions.

Q: Do you have a thorough understanding of all the rules and regulations that are required by the government to make sure that you're providing the very best care?

A: Yes and we try to make sure that we're doing everything that we can. We pride ourselves on having a higher level of expectations, beyond what’s regulated.

Q: If someone you love is struggling with addiction and they want help, what advice would you give them?

A: Call us immediately. We give each client a free consultation and will meet them wherever they're at. From there, we’ll figure out exactly what they need by performing a thorough and detailed assessment.

Q: Do you have a specific method of rehabilitation for everyone who is suffering from addiction?

A: No, every person is unique, so our counseling is customized for each individual. Our program isn't a cookie cutter plan. We offer drug and alcohol counseling for the entire family. When a member of the family is addicted to drugs or alcohol, the entire family is impacted. With a healthier family to come back to, it's going to increase the likelihood of recovery.

Q: What is your rate of success for recovery?

A: Our success rates are very high. Last year, 86% of our clients were sober after 12 months. Once a person has stabilized, there are a whole set of different needs, including assistance finding employment, building credit, enhancing personal appearance and so on. We offer help with these things as well.

Q: How important is it for people in recovery to replace old bad habits (drugs and alcohol) with new good habits?

A: It’s crucially important! We work closely with our clients to help them recall their interests and hobbies before the addiction took over their life.

Q: Do you offer any other services, including those mandated by the courts?

A: Yes, we offer courses in anger management, DUI’s, Department of Transportation education and even drug testing, just to name a few. We also conduct motivational seminars for the employees of several companies in the area.

Q: Are you able to help people in lower income brackets?

A: Yes, we are also now accepting most major insurance plans and that has opened the door to a lot more people in need of our services. We also work on a sliding scale, so even those who have Medical and are on a waiting list trying to get into a program, they can now afford to get the counseling service they need. We also conduct group meetings here every Tuesday night and these meetings are free. This is an ideal setting for someone that knows they have a drug or alcohol problem and they want to ease into finding a solution.

Editor’s notes: For more information about Better Decisions Counseling Services, visit their website at www.betterdecisionsinc.org, stop by their office at 10366 Rockingham Drive in Sacramento or call (916) 368-0700.