Break the Chains: Women and Addiction

For decades, there\'s been a one-size-fits-all approach to treating women\'s addiction the same way we would treat men. But recent studies have shown that there are significant gender differences when it comes to addiction; psychologically, biological, and sociological. This week, we will pull the covers back on some long held misconceptions about women and addiction with our guests Twyla P. Wilson, LCSW , and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Linda Gingras.

Twyla Wilson

Twyla P. Wilson, LCSW is a psychotherapist in private practice. Drawing on the work of mentor Dr. Stephanie Covington, her practice emphasizes compassionate, holistic treatment of women with addictive disease. As a certified national trainer for Dr. Covington, Twyla trains professionals on gender-responsive, trauma-informed treatment for women. Prior to private practice, she was a faculty member at Duke University Medical Center in the Departments of Psychiatry and Social Work. At Duke, she started a women’s addiction treatment program. Twyla has a MSW from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a BS in Family Relations from the University of Minnesota.

Linda Gingras

Linda Gingras is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a board-certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC II). She has extensive experience working with chemically dependent and dually diagnosed populations in both inpatient and outpatient settings, and also assists clients who are coping with a variety of emotional health issues. As the Director of Addiction and Prevention Services at Jewish Family Service in Los Angeles, she is responsible for coordinating and/or providing substance abuse services including prevention, assessment, treatment, education, and referral for chemically dependent clients and their families, program development, in-service training of staff, educational programs in schools, and community outreach. She is a currently the president of the Women’s Association for Addiction Treatment, a professional organization for women in the addiction field.

The Women’s Association for Addiction Treatment