Archive for February, 2010
What does “harm reduction” mean in addiction therapy?
Harm reduction is basically a model that has just recently been brought to the field of addictions. Harm reduction is the standard orientation or philosophy of relating to clients or people with addictions. The goal is not necessarily abstinence. The goal with someone with an addiction and going through a harm-reduction approach is that they [...]
What skills do I need for a successful recovery from addiction?
The skill base for a successful recovery from behavioral addiction obviously depends on the skill base of the someone that came into the recovery room or came into the doctor’s office. Many people come into the recovery room and they really have very few life management skills; very few skills of how to cope with [...]
Will I ever be cured of my addiction?
Cure is a very funny word. Cure also comes out of the disease model. Cure sort of says “Well I was healthy prior and then I’ve gotten sick and now I’m going to return to health.” In many respects, there are no real cures to addiction. Unfortunately as an addiction evolves, especially a behavioral addiction, [...]
How can addicts become motivated to change?
Propelling yourself, motivating yourself, is not an easy thing to do. Let’s start talking about motivating ourselves to change by acknowledging something called ambivalence. Okay, you have an addiction, or you’ve decided you think you have an addiction, and you know it’s not good for you, you know you’re spending too much money or spending [...]
What is “recovery” from addiction?
First of all, the term “recovery” comes out of the 12-Step disease model notion. Recovery, of course, comes out of the medical model, where you’re in a healthy state, you catch a disease, and you recover from the disease. Now, that fits very nicely within the disease model of the 12-Step community. Within the cognitive-behavioral [...]
