Mindfulness Based Sobriety

Too often, clients with substance abuse and addiction problems achieve sobriety only to relapse shortly after. As a clinician in the addiction treatment field, you are undoubtedly familiar with this common scenario, and it can be a source of extreme frustration. To make matters worse, clients may see their relapse as evidence of personal failure and inadequacy, and as a result, they may resist more treatment. What if you could break this cycle and help clients maintain their progress? Mindfulness-Based Sobriety presents a breakthrough, integrative approach to addiction recovery to help you treat clients recovering from substance abuse and addiction using mindfulness-based therapy, motivational interviewing, and relapse prevention therapy. Research has indicated that mindfulness-based therapy is highly effective in treating emotion dysregulation, stress, depression, and grief—all emotions that lie at the root of addiction. Motivational interviewing is helpful in treating addiction because it helps clients learn to change the behaviors that cause addiction. And finally, relapse prevention therapy teaches individuals with addiction to anticipate and cope with potential relapse. This book combines all three of these highly effective treatments. This powerful manual was developed by Gateway Foundation clinicians in order to better fulfill the mission of reducing substance abuse and co-occurring mental health problems. The book provides two curricula: an outpatient treatment curriculum and a residential treatment curriculum. Both are user-friendly and can be implemented in an open group format, which means that you can say goodbye to the days of tailoring one-on-one treatment to fit a group setting. The integrative approach outlined in this book will help your clients conquer substance abuse by identifying their own values, strengthening their motivation, and tackling other mental health problems that may lie at the root of their addiction. Furthermore, the book’s strong emphasis on relapse prevention means that you can help clients stay on the path to sobriety.

"This wise book provides practical exercises that will help us to develop conscious awareness and inner understanding, and the ways and means to free us from unsatisfying habits, addictions, and unconscious behavior patterns. I recommend it highly." --Lama Surya Das, author of the bestselling Awakening the Buddha Within "Anyone interested in finding a kind, spiritual guide to recovery that focuses on flexibility rather than the 'one true way' will benefit from this enjoyable and helpful book." --Maia Szalavitz, coauthor with Joseph Volpicelli, M.D., of Recovery Options: The Complete Guide In Mindful Recovery, you'll discover a fresh and effective method for healing from addiction that can help you handle important challenges, from managing anxiety and resisting cravings to dealing with emotional and physical imbalance. Drawing on both ancient spiritual wisdom and the authors' extensive clinical psychological work with their patients over many years, Mindful Recovery shows you how to use the simple Buddhist practice of mindfulness to be aware of-- and enjoy-- life in the present moment without the need to enhance or avoid experience with addictive behaviors. Mindful Recovery guides you step by step through ten powerful "doorways" to mindful recovery, giving you specific strategies that can help you cultivate a sense of calm awareness and balance in your life. Filled with personal stories of recovery, practical exercises, instructions for meditation, and more, Mindful Recovery accompanies you on a journey of exploration and healing that will help you find the strength and the tools to change, leading you to a fresh new experience of everyday living.

"Mindfulness-Based Sobriety presents a breakthrough, integrative approach to addiction recovery for clinicians who treat clients recovering from substance abuse and addiction. The book combines relapse prevention therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and motivational interviewing to help clients conquer substance abuse by identifying their own values, strengthening their motivation, and tackling other mental health problems that may lie at the root of their addiction. The book also puts a strong emphasis on relapse prevention, so that clinicians can help clients stay on the path to sobriety"--

"Human existence can be beset by a variety of negative mental states such that life seems devoid of meaning, but it can also be liberated--a meaningful life reclaimed and savored through cultivation of a higher kind of mind. This quality, mindfulness, refers to both a set of contemplative practices and certain distinct psychological states and traits, and it can be cultivated through intentional effort and training. In Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement for Addiction, Stress, and Pain, Eric L. Garland presents an innovative program of intervention that can be put into practice by therapists working with people struggling with addiction and the conditions that underlie it. Unlike other substance abuse treatment modalities, which focus largely on relapse prevention, Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) concentrates on helping people to recover a sense of meaning and fulfillment in everyday life, embracing its pleasures and pain without avoiding challenges by turning to substance use. Along with chapters on the bipsychosocial model underlying MORE and the current state of research on mindfulness, this book includes a complete treatment manual laying out for clinicians, step by step, how to run MORE groups--including adaptations to address chronic pain and prescription opioid misuse-- and enhance the holistic recovery process for people striving to overcome addiction. With addiction a widespread and growing problem in our society, Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement could not be more timely or needed. It integrates the latest research on addiction, cognitive neuroscience, positive psychology, and mindfulness into a practice that has garnered empirical support and holds the promise of release and fulfillment for those who suffer from addiction."--Publisher's website.

While mindfulness meditation has been used in clinical settings as an adjunctive treatment for substance use disorders for some time, there has been limited empirical evidence to support this practice. Mindfulness-Related Treatments and Addiction Recovery bridges this gap by reporting the findings of studies in which mindfulness practice has been combined with other behavioural treatments and/or adapted to meet the needs of a variety of client populations in recovery. Therapies used as interventions in the described studies include Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP), and Mindfulness-Based Therapeutic Community (MBTC) treatment. The book offers a glimpse into the many ways in which mindfulness strategies have been applied to various facets of the recovery process including stress, craving, anxiety, and other relapse related factors. Preliminary evidence, while not conclusive, suggests that mindfulness-based therapies are effective, safe, satisfying to clients, and that an individual, at-home mindfulness practice can be potentially sustained over time, beyond the intervention duration. This book was originally published as a special issue of Substance Abuse.

This new edition includes a Foreword by Jon Kabat-Zinn, how to run an Eight Step Recovery meeting, and how to teach a Mindfulness Based Addiction Recovery programme, including teacher's notes and handouts.All of us can struggle with the tendency towards addiction, but for some it can destroy their lives. In our recovery from addiction, the Buddha's teachings offer an understanding of how the mind works, tools for helping a mind vulnerable to addiction and ways to overcome addictive behaviour, cultivating a calm mind without resentments.

A fresh resource to help those in recovery from addiction find their own spiritual path through the Buddhist practice of mindfulness. For those of us in recovery, Mindfulness and the 12 Steps offers a fresh approach to developing our own spiritual path through the Buddhist practice of mindfulness, or bringing one's awareness to focus on the present moment. We can revisit each of the Twelve Steps, exploring the interplay of ideas between mindfulness and Twelve Step traditions--from the idea of living "one day at a time" to the emphasis on prayer and meditation--and learn to incorporate mindfulness into our path toward lifelong sobriety.Through reflections, questions for inquiry, and stories from Buddhist teachers and others who practice mindfulness in recovery, Mindfulness and the 12 Steps will help us awaken new thinking and insights into what it means to live fully--body, mind, and spirit--in the here and now.

****Packed with Real-life Scenarios and Success Stories**** Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention for Lasting Recovery "Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Lasting Recovery:" is a comprehensive guide that provides practical and effective mindfulness techniques for addiction recovery. This book is tailored to help those who are seeking to overcome addiction and maintain lasting sobriety. Through the integration of mindfulness practices and relapse prevention strategies, readers can develop a deeper understanding of their triggers, emotions, and cravings, empowering them to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. Included in this book: Mindfulness techniques for addiction recovery MBRP and sobriety success stories Relapse prevention strategies using mindfulness Mindful living for substance abuse recovery Mindfulness and emotional regulation in addiction Meditation practices for relapse prevention Mindful communication in addiction recovery Cultivating self-compassion for relapse prevention Holistic mindfulness-based approach to sobriety Mindfulness exercises for overcoming addiction Utilizing MBRP and sobriety success stories, this book illustrates how individuals have successfully employed mindfulness in their recovery journeys. These inspiring stories demonstrate the transformative power of mindfulness and the lasting impact it can have on one's life. By incorporating relapse prevention strategies using mindfulness, readers will learn to navigate difficult situations and emotions, thereby reducing the likelihood of relapse. Mindful living for substance abuse recovery is at the core of this book, as it emphasizes the importance of cultivating awareness, acceptance, and non-judgment in everyday life. The book also delves into mindfulness and emotional regulation in addiction, teaching readers how to manage their emotions more effectively, leading to improved decision-making and impulse control. Meditation practices for relapse prevention, such as body scan, loving-kindness, and urge surfing meditations, are covered extensively, with detailed guidance on how to incorporate these practices into daily life. These meditations can help individuals develop a greater sense of self-awareness and self-compassion, which are essential components of a successful recovery journey. Mindful communication in addiction recovery is another crucial aspect explored in this book. By learning to communicate more effectively with others, individuals can foster healthier relationships and develop a stronger support network – an essential component of lasting sobriety. The holistic mindfulness-based approach to sobriety presented in this book recognizes the importance of addressing all aspects of well-being, including physical, mental, and emotional health. By embracing a holistic approach, readers can cultivate a more balanced and fulfilling life, free from the grasp of addiction. Mindfulness exercises for overcoming addiction are provided throughout the book, offering readers practical tools and techniques for cultivating mindfulness in their daily lives. These exercises can help individuals develop greater self-awareness, resilience, and emotional regulation, which are vital for lasting recovery. "Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Lasting Recovery:" offers a comprehensive and practical approach to addiction recovery, providing readers with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to overcome addiction and maintain lasting sobriety. By integrating mindfulness practices and relapse prevention strategies, this book empowers individuals to create a healthier, more fulfilling life, free from the grasp of addiction.