Blog
Learn more about the complex fields of addiction and recovery. The new NEOVIVA Library provides in-depth information and advice for affected persons, interested people and health professionals. We feature articles and news on addiction research and policy, regularly updated with new insights and perspectives. The library will grow with time; if you subscribe to updates, we will be happy to inform you when new articles are published.
Maybe I Could Be Someone I Never Imagined
Meet Recovery Counsellor Tomaso: What Lived Experience Brings to Addiction Treatment Meet Tomaso, and you quickly notice how easy he is to talk to. Conversations feel natural, and before long, you find yourself completely at ease. He is able to laugh at himself. There...
Meet Loreto: a safe space when it matters most
Spend a few minutes with Loreto, a Recovery Counsellor at NEOVIVA, and you quickly understand why one client described her as “a safe space”. You simply feel at ease in her presence. For Loreto, there is no greater compliment. People often arrive in treatment feeling...
What recovery can restore after addiction
Meet Sam Perry, Recovery Counsellor at NEOVIVA Addiction can gradually disconnect people from who they once were. Recovery is an opportunity to reconnect with yourself, others and life. Recovery Counsellor Sam Perry’s story shows what that can look like. Some people...
Beyond words: how an artist helps people stay present in recovery
Meet Recovery Counsellor Neus Cortes Neus Cortes is comfortable not knowing exactly what will happen next. When she creates art, she rarely begins with a fixed idea of where it will end. She lets the work develop, sometimes surprising herself with what appears. “It...
Seeing people, not labels: why understanding the person matters in addiction treatment
Meet Parandis, Psychotherapist in Training at NEOVIVA, whose curiosity about people, culture and relationships shapes her approach to addiction and recovery. Parandis is one of those people whose enthusiasm and warmth stand out straight away. She is open and quick to...
Why You Can’t Talk Your Way Out of Addiction
Still functioning but struggling? Learn why addiction is more than a matter of willpower and how your nervous system is involved. You may have convinced yourself there is not a real problem. You are still functioning, still working, and still showing up. From the...
Where being yourself is enough: Sandra Steiner’s equine-assisted therapy at NEOVIVA
Meeting Sandra Steiner, NEOVIVA’s equine specialist, you are immediately struck by her calm presence. She’s not one to seek the spotlight, preferring to let her horses take centre stage. Yet, the moment the conversation turns to equine therapy, her expertise and...
Reconnecting body and mind: Finding balance in recovery with Gabriella
Gabriella Rigoni believes the body tells its own story. “If only we learn to listen,” she says. When she talks about helping people “come home to their bodies,” there’s a calm conviction in her voice. It’s not a slogan or a borrowed phrase but the essence of her work....
The stigma of addiction and how it prevents people from seeking help
Addiction wears many faces: alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, and countless other compulsions impact health, unravel relationships, and erode a sense of self. Even as neuroscience reveals addiction as a brain disease, it continues to be one of the most misunderstood and...
Restoring the authentic self: The clinical approach of Dr. med. Andrea Dzaja
At NEOVIVA, recovery begins with safety, clarity, and trust. The first phase of treatment, stabilisation and withdrawal, requires careful medical oversight and a deep understanding of each client’s physical health status and psychological needs. Dr. med. Andrea Dzaja,...