Harm Reduction Psychotherapy

This ground-breaking volume provides readers with both an overview of harm reduction therapy and a series of ten case studies, treated by different therapists, that vividly illustrate this treatment approach with a wide variety of clients. Harm reduction is a framework for helping drug and alcohol users who cannot or will not stop completely—the majority of users—reduce the harmful consequences of use. Harm reduction accepts that abstinence may be the best outcome for many but relaxes the emphasis on abstinence as the only acceptable goal and criterion of success. Instead, smaller incremental changes in the direction of reduced harmfulness of drug use are accepted. This book will show how these simple changes in emphasis and expectation have dramatic implications for improving the effectiveness of psychotherapy in many ways. From the Foreword by Alan Marlatt, Ph.D.: “This ground-breaking volume provides readers with both an overview of harm reduction therapy and a series of ten case studies, treated by different therapists, that vividly illustrate this treatment approach with a wide variety of clients. In his introduction, Andrew Tatarsky describes harm reduction as a new paradigm for treating drug and alcohol problems. Some would say that harm reduction embraces a paradigm shift in addiction treatment, as it has moved the field beyond the traditional abstinence-only focus typically associated with the disease model and the ideology of the twelve-step approach. Others may conclude that the move toward harm reduction represents an integration of what Dr. Tatarsky describes as the “basic principles of good clinical practice” into the treatment of addictive behaviors. “Changing addiction behavior is often a complex and complicated process for both client and therapist. What seems to work best is the development of a strong therapeutic alliance, the right fit between the client and treatment provider. The role of the harm reduction therapist is closer to that of a guide, someone who can provide support an

"Just say no" just doesn't work for everyone. If you've tried to quit and failed, simply want to cut down, or wish to work toward sobriety gradually, join the many thousands of readers who have turned to this empathic, science-based resource--now thoroughly revised. A powerful alternative to abstinence-only treatments, harm reduction helps you set and meet your own goals for gaining control over alcohol and drugs. Step by step, the expert authors guide you to determine: *Which aspects of your habits may be harmful. *How to protect your safety and make informed choices. *What changes you would like to make. *How to put your intentions into action. *When it's time to seek help--and where to turn. Updated to reflect a decade's worth of research, the fully revised second edition is even more practical. It features additional vivid stories and concrete examples, engaging graphics, new worksheets (which you can download and print for repeated use), "Self-Reflection" boxes, and more. Mental health professionals, see also the authors' Practicing Harm Reduction Psychotherapy, Second Edition.

Twelve-step programs that insist on abstinence are beneficial to many--but what about the millions of Americans who try to quit and fail, just want to cut down, or wish to work toward sobriety gradually? This groundbreaking book presents the Harm Reduction approach, a powerful alternative to traditional treatment that helps users set and meet their own goals for gaining control over drinking and drugs. The expert, empathic authors guide readers to figure out which aspects of their own habits may be harmful, what they would like to change, and how to put their intentions into action while also dealing with problems that stand in the way, such as depression, stress, and relationship conflicts. Based on solid science and 40+ years of combined clinical experience, the book is packed with self-discovery tools, fact sheets, and personal accounts. It puts the reader in the driver's seat with a new and empowering roadmap for change. Winner--American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award

Every day, huge numbers of people use drugs or alcohol for recreation, medication, celebration, stress management, social lubrication, or escape. The abuse of psychoactive chemicals touches individual lives in countless ways, and clients frequently hint in therapy sessions at problems related to substance misuse. But historically, substance abuse treatment has been regarded as a separate specialty, for which students and trainees often prepare along tracks different from those leading to licensing or certification as psychotherapists. Few non-specialists feel completely competent and willing to grapple closely with the issues these clients present, in spite of the fact that such problems are quite frequent among client populations. In this book, Cynthia Glidden-Tracey lays out an integrated, holistic, and effective approach to clients' inevitably intertwined problems, which encourages all practitioners to develop skills for detecting, assessing, and addressing substance use whenever concerns about it emerge in the course of therapy. She describes the frequent co-occurrence of substance misuse and other mental health problems, reviews therapy models and current professional questions, and empowers practitioners with the latest scientific knowledge about the causes and effective treatment of addictions. Throughout, her points are grounded in rich clinical examples.

Demonstrating that traditional approaches to addictions fall short for many substance abusers with psychological problems, this book shows how effective therapeutic work can be conducted with clients still using alcohol or other drugs. For the first time, the goals and methods of harm reduction are incorporated into a comprehensive psychotherapeutic approach--one that can be initiated without waiting for, or insisting on, abstinence. Clinicians learn concrete strategies for assessing the client's personality, behaviors, and resources; enhancing motivation for change; making collaborative treatment decisions; and implementing a range of different interventions.

This book is a guide for psychologists working with substance users in different healthcare settings, from private clinical practice to larger health institutions and community services. It presents a comprehensive overview of the different aspects involved with substance use disorders from a psychological perspective, from prevention to recovery. The volume offers an integrative view about neurobiological, behavioral and psychosocial aspects related to becoming a substance user; shows how psychological assessment tools can be used to diagnose substance use disorders; describes how different kinds of psychotherapy can be applied in the treatment of substance use disorders; and presents a range of evidence-based clinical and social interventions designed for both prevention and treatment of substance use disorders. Apart from covering the whole range of services related to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders, the volume also shows how these issues can be approached from different theoretical perspectives within psychology, such as: Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology Neuropsychology Existential Psychology Phenomenology Psychoanalysis Analytical Psychology Community and Social Psychology Psychology of Substance Abuse: Psychotherapy, Clinical Management and Social Intervention will be a useful resource for psychologists and other health professionals working with substance users, as well as to undergraduate and graduate students looking for a comprehensive introduction to the psychology of substance abuse.

This book has been replaced by Treating Alcohol and Drug Problems in Psychotherapy Practice, Second Edition, ISBN 978-1-4625-5086-9.