Metaphysics, Made Practical
Metaphysics explores what’s beyond the physical—where beliefs, meaning, and inner causes shape behavior. When you change what’s underneath, real-world change becomes possible.
A question to consider: Would you truly give your all to change if you believed you were beyond hope?
Beyond the surface.
Chris Prentiss helped shape a core part of the Passages philosophy: the belief that addiction can end by addressing what’s driving it underneath the surface.
Chris Prentiss was a co-founder of Passages Addiction Treatment Centers and the author of more than a dozen books, including The Alcoholism & Addiction Cure. His work helped shape a core part of the Passages philosophy: the belief that addiction can end by addressing what’s driving it underneath the surface.
In The Alcoholism & Addiction Cure, Chris explains the concept of metaphysics in a simple way: “Meta” means “beyond,” and “physics” relates to the physical world—so metaphysics explores what is beyond what we can physically see, touch, taste, smell, and hear. In his view, metaphysics helps us understand deeper reasons behind behavior, healing, and change.
Applied to recovery, this principle highlights the power of beliefs. The beliefs you hold influence your actions, your emotions, and even what you believe is possible for your future. If a person is repeatedly told that real healing is impossible—that they are “doomed” to struggle forever—those messages can become self-defeating, undermining progress before it even begins.
Chris posed an important question:
This mindset is part of what makes Passages different. Rather than labeling people as permanently broken, Passages is grounded in the belief that healing is possible—and that with the right tools, support, and insight, a person can resolve the underlying causes that fuel dependency.
To explore more of Chris Prentiss’s thinking on metaphysics and recovery, read The Alcoholism & Addiction Cure.
