Practicing Harm Reduction Psychotherapy: An Alternative Approach to Addictions - Hardcover

Denning, Patt; Little, Jeannie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 157230555X ISBN 13: 9781572305557

Publisher: The Guilford Press, 2000

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author

Patt Denning, PhD, is Director of Clinical Services and Training at the Harm Reduction Therapy Center, San Francisco. Widely recognized as an expert on drug treatment and dual diagnosis, she is one of the main developers of harm reduction psychotherapy. She is coauthor (with Jeannie Little and Adina Glickman) of [i]Over the Influence: The Harm Reduction Guide for Managing Drugs and Alcohol[/i].

From the Back Cover

"This book is recommended reading for all therapists, social workers, counselors, and students training for these professions. For too long, practitioners have worked out of extremist, 'all or nothing' models whose strategies have proven to be unsuccessful with most clients who come to us with problems and also happen to use drugs or alcohol. Based in research data and clinical experience, Denning's model truly reflects client-driven therapeutic practices and interventions. The book broadens the clinician's understanding of the role of drug use in the person's life and the effects of chronic drug use on the person's capacity for self realization. Liberally peppered with case vignettes, it provides a full 'tool kit' of strategies and interventions to help clients maximize their health, happiness, and contentment with their lives." Edith Springer, ACSW, Senior Trainer, Harm Reduction Training Institute (a joint project of the Harm Reduction Coalition and the Lindesmith Center/Open Society Institute), New York City

"An excellent and long overdue work. While interest in harm reduction has burgeoned over the past decade, relevant professional resources have barely kept up with the pace. This book is highly integrative and inclusive, inspired by the disciplines of public health, cognitive-behavioral therapy, personality theory, traditional addiction treatment, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, and more. Denning makes extensive use of case examples, and these examples reveal that she is a seasoned, well-informed clinician. Along with clinical success stories, she courageously presents the 'failures' that led her to the practice of harm reduction psychotherapy. Clinicians will recognize their own patients (and clinical struggles), and they will learn harm reduction strategies that make sense. I recommend this book to anyone interested in addiction treatment." Bruce S. Liese, PhD, ABPP, Professor of Family Medicine and Psychiatry, University of Kansas Medical Center

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Contents
I. Overview of Harm Reduction Psychotherapy
1. What Is Harm Reduction?
Introduction: First, Do No Harm
The Principles of Harm Reduction Psychotherapy
The Moral Question: Is it Ok to Get High?
Epidemiology: Who Are These People?
The Nature of Success Redefined
2. The Development of Harm Reduction Psychotherapy
The Basic Models and Viewpoints on Addiction
Discussion of the Principles of Harm Reduction Psychotherapy
Case Illustration
Discussion of the Model
II. Harm Reduction Psychotherapy in Action
3. The Treatment Program: Assessment as Treatment
Introduction to the Multidisciplinary Assessment Profile
Motivational Interviewing
The Multidisciplinary Assessment Profile
Conclusions
4. Treatment Design: How to Think about a Case
The Foundations of Treatment Treatment Matching
Essential Concepts in Treatment
The Contributions of Neurobiology
5. Clinical Cases Using Harm Reduction Psychotherapy
The Case of Joan (Continued)
Speed and Sex: The Case of Dan
Self-Esteem, Motivation, and Crack: The Case of Angie
Lost in America: The Case of Zeke
Between Two Worlds: The Case of Bhati
Conclusions
6. Dual- and Multidiagnosis Patients
Comorbidity
Differential Diagnosis by Type of Drug
Differential Diagnosis by Psychiatric Disorder
A Hierarchy of Needs with Dual-Diagnosis Patients
Medication Strategies for Dual-Diagnosis Patients
Multidiagnosis Patients: The Case of Steve
Summary and Conclusions
III. Integrating the New with the Old
7. Harm Reduction Psychotherapy: Applications and Adjustments
The AIDS Housing Project
Grand Rounds Clinical Case Conference
The Difficulties of Combining Models and Techniques
The Cost of Treatment and the Need for Self-Help Groups
Ethical Considerations and Informed Consent
Appendices
Appendix A: Overview of Psychoactive Drugs:
Alcohol
Depressants (Opioids)
Depressants (Nonopioids)
Stimulants
Anxiolytics
Cannabinoids
Highlighters/Scramblers (Psychedelics and Amphetamine Pychedelics)
Inhalants and Deliriants (Solvents, Anesthetics, Vasodilators)
Appendix B References for Specific Drug Effects
Appendix C History of Drugs and Attitudes toward Them:
Alcohol in the United States
Other Drugs
Appendix D Self-Help Reading List
Appendix E Alternative Self-Help and Professional Resources
Appendix F Specific Treatment Modalities/Techniques:
Cognitive-Behavioral
Psychodynamic Psychotherapies
Self-Help Models

Edition details

• Publisher: The Guilford Press
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 157230555X
• ISBN 13: 9781572305557
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 246