Therapeutic Techniques

June 4, 2013: GET ON A WINNING STREAK
Comments: 0 | Categories: Therapeutic Techniques
Compulsive gamblers who want to stop losing and reclaim their lives, jobs and relationships must start by ‘unpacking’ their thinking. Mark Dempster shares his threefold approach with clients, from casinos to money markets. Print-friendly version: Download AddictionToday142 - Gambling Many...

June 4, 2013: BULLYING IN THE WORKPLACE
Comments: 0 | Categories: Therapeutic Techniques , Workplace
Are you fearful in work? Do you think you are being bullied but cannot define to yourself or others exactly why you feel that way? Don’t risk your recovery – diagnose your dilemma now, advocates Deirdre Boyd. “It never occurred...

May 22, 2013: WOMEN’S ISSUES IN RECOVERY: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES WITH MEN
Comments: 0 | Categories: Science , Therapeutic Techniques
What we were taught about gender-specific addiction treatment might no longer be valid, according to emerging research. Professor Jo Neale views the latest waves to impact practice. Print-friendly version: Download AddictionToday142-Women's issues in recovery Women who need to recover from...

May 21, 2013: DETOX FROM HIGH-DOSE METHADONE
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The founders of Novus Medical Detox share their protocol to minimise withdrawal symptoms and maximise success, regardless of the dosage Print-friendly version: Download AddictionToday142 - Detox from methadone For decades, methadone has been used to “treat” addiction to opiates of...

April 29, 2013: TRAVELLING THE JOURNEY OF RECOVERY – AND HOW TO RECORD IT
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It has been argued that the relationship between frontline drug/alcohol workers and their clients has been turned by Payment By Results into one of gathering data. A multimedia-based approach can bring humanity back to the process. Print-friendly version: Download AddictionToday142...

March 4, 2013: MINDFULNESS AND ADDICTION: SENDING OUT AN S.O.S
Comments: 1 | Categories: Research , Therapeutic Techniques
Research exploring the effectiveness of mindfulness as a treatment for addictive gambling shows very promising demonstrable outcomes, as do clinical case studies, report Edo Shonin, William Van Gordon and Mark D Griffiths of the International Gaming Research Unit at Nottingham...

March 4, 2013: IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE ADDICTED TO COMMITTING CRIME?
Comments: 0 | Categories: Research , Therapeutic Techniques
Detective-turned-addiction counsellor (and the model for Helen Mirren’s detective chief inspector character in Prime Suspect) Jacqueline Malton studied the phenomenon while at London South Bank University, and lists 11 possible addictive elements in criminal offending. Print-friendly version: Download Addictiontoday141-Addicted to...

March 3, 2013: ARE YOU FACED WITH A SERIAL BULLY?
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People in recovery finally learn how to deal reasonably with others... but they risk relapse when faced with a type of person who is cunning, baffling and powerful. Deirdre Boyd offers solutions to help you and your clients. “Those who...

January 21, 2013: THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP: BUZZ PHRASE OR ESSENCE OF SUCCESS?
Comments: 1 | Categories: Therapeutic Techniques
What is the effect of the relationship between client and therapist on changing outcomes now measured by most services? Divine Charura and Paul Nicholson explore what a therapeutic relationship is – and why it is a vital element in effective...

January 21, 2013: AFTERCARE: A FUNDAMENTAL TENET IN ATTAINING LONG-TERM RECOVERY
Comments: 0 | Categories: Research , Therapeutic Techniques
There must be a shift in the mentality towards treatment and aftercare, if long-term recovery is the desired outcome, urges Claire Calland, who queries “why is aftercare being forgotten?” and cites research on its effectiveness. “Those who did not participate...

November 6, 2012: EMOTIONAL MIRRORS: EQUINE THERAPY
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What is the gift of horses? What role can a horse play in the recovery process for addicts, trauma survivors, or people dealing with grief and loss issues? Liz Dampsey MA RSMT explains how these ‘prey animals’ mirror patients who...

November 5, 2012: USE ACUPRESSURE TO HELP CONQUER CRAVING
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Many years ago, Addiction Today printed simple steps from Leeds Drug Project on how it taught clients to use acupressure, tapping on acupuncture points, to reduce cravings. It was so successful that not only have clients taught it to friends...

November 4, 2012: SURVIVE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
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RELAPSE PREVENTION: HELP PEOPLE IN EARLY RECOVERY Christmas and new year, plus the few weeks immediately after when people can feel complacent, are the riskiest times of the year for relapse back to alcohol/drugs. Preparations must start in November to...

November 4, 2012: SURVIVE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
Comments: 2 | Categories: Therapeutic Techniques
RELAPSE PREVENTION: HELP PEOPLE IN EARLY RECOVERY Christmas and new year, plus the few weeks immediately after when people can feel complacent, are the riskiest times of the year for relapse back to alcohol/drugs. Preparations must start in November to...

November 4, 2012: SURVIVE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
Comments: 0 | Categories: Therapeutic Techniques
RELAPSE PREVENTION: HELP PEOPLE IN EARLY RECOVERY Christmas and new year, plus the few weeks immediately after when people can feel complacent, are the riskiest times of the year for relapse back to alcohol/drugs. Preparations must start in November to...

November 4, 2012: SURVIVE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
Comments: 0 | Categories: Therapeutic Techniques
RELAPSE PREVENTION: HELP PEOPLE IN EARLY RECOVERY Christmas and new year, plus the few weeks immediately after when people can feel complacent, are the riskiest times of the year for relapse back to alcohol/drugs. Preparations must start in November to...

November 4, 2012: SURVIVE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
Comments: 2 | Categories: Therapeutic Techniques
RELAPSE PREVENTION: HELP PEOPLE IN EARLY RECOVERY Christmas and new year, plus the few weeks immediately after when people can feel complacent, are the riskiest times of the year for relapse back to alcohol/drugs. Preparations must start in November to...

November 4, 2012: SURVIVE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
Comments: 0 | Categories: Therapeutic Techniques
RELAPSE PREVENTION: HELP PEOPLE IN EARLY RECOVERY Christmas and new year, plus the few weeks immediately after when people can feel complacent, are the riskiest times of the year for relapse back to alcohol/drugs. Preparations must start in November to...

November 4, 2012: SURVIVE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
Comments: 0 | Categories: Therapeutic Techniques
RELAPSE PREVENTION: HELP PEOPLE IN EARLY RECOVERY Christmas and new year, plus the few weeks immediately after when people can feel complacent, are the riskiest times of the year for relapse back to alcohol/drugs. Preparations must start in November to...

October 3, 2012: INTERVENTIONS: ADDICTION, FAMILY AND ROAD TO INTEGRITY
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“Family intervention is an act of love and a rare opportunity to save a life,” state experts Jeff and Debra Jay. “Most families are ill prepared to negotiate with addiction – but intervention moves us toward productive behaviour.” They share...

September 16, 2012: RECOVERY COACHING:
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AN INTRODUCTION Although recovery coaching seems to be emerging only recently, it has been developing round the world since the millennium. It can expand the skill sets offered by provider organisations and individual practitioners, explains Anthony Eldridge-Rogers who gives an...

September 9, 2012: 12-STEP FACILITATION REHABILITATION:
Comments: 1 | Categories: Research , Therapeutic Techniques
SOME EVIDENCE OF EFFICACY Philip Todd summarises statistics on alcohol dependence as a public-health problem and shares some research on the efficacy and cost effectiveness of 12-step facilitation treatment in treating patients with severe alcohol problems. Print-friendly version, including graphs:...

September 2, 2012: THE SEXUAL ADDICTION DIAGNOSIS:
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CLINICAL CONCERN OR PATHOLOGISING DIVERSITY? Why create a hypersexual disorder diagnosis? In the finale of his two-part article, Robert Weiss explains how accurate diagnoses can turn round lives and thus the need for formal guidance in diagnostic manuals. Print-friendly version:...

July 18, 2012: A PRESCRIBED ADDICTION
Comments: 2 | Categories: Therapeutic Techniques
Baylissa Frederick went to her GP seeking merely help with a twitchy eye – but was prescribed drugs which would worsen her life for years. She tells her story and shares some simple solutions which she researched and practises. Print-friendly...

July 17, 2012: GROUP SUPERVISION: SUPPORTING STAFF
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ON COMPLEX ISSUES IN ADDICTION WORK One of the biggest resources and strengths of working in the field of addiction recovery is highly dedicated, motivated and skilled staff. These staff must be valued and supported through good management structures and...

July 16, 2012: DEVELOP A THERAPEUTIC ALLIANCE
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– IN 10 MINUTES OR LESS In traditional psychotherapy, a therapeutic relationship can take weeks or months to develop – but you can start building this within 10 minutes of a client’s first call for help. Dr David Mee Lee...

July 11, 2012: THE SEXUAL ADDICTION DIAGNOSIS:
Comments: 1 | Categories: Therapeutic Techniques
CLINICAL CONCERN OR PATHOLOGISING DIVERSITY? Sexual addiction, or hypersexual disorder, looks set to be formally recognised in the 2013 Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of psychiatric disorders. Robert Weiss gives an introduction in July issue of Addiction Today journal – to...

May 3, 2012: AIS: WORKING TOWARDS A ‘GOLD STANDARD’ FOR FAMILY INTERVENTIONS
Comments: 0 | Categories: Standards , Therapeutic Techniques , Training
Families of people being destroyed by addiction can call on specialist ‘interventionists’ to persuade the addict into rehab – now some of the world’s best are sharing their expertise and ethics, and encouraging more to join them. Rebecca Flood describes...

April 27, 2012: REHABILITATING DRUG POLICY: CIVITAS REPORT
Comments: 0 | Categories: Policies, legislation , Therapeutic Techniques
WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER TO REDUCE OFFENDING BY DRUG ADDICTS? The Civitas think tank has published its report on Rehabilitating Drug Policy. It includes sections on challenges and opportunities, methods and approaches. The interventions section covers pharmacological interventions, detox,...

April 25, 2012: HOW CAN MUSIC ACTIVELY ASSIST IN TREATING ADDICTION AND TRAUMA?
Comments: 1 | Categories: Therapeutic Techniques
John Levine links music to brain waves – and therapist Richard Scanlan reports how this has helped his patients’ process of recovery. Print-friendly version, from May Addiction Today journal: Download AddictionToday136 - Alphamusic, therapy "While at the UKESAD conference last...