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Practicing Harm Reduction Psychotherapy: An Alternative Approach to Addictions
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.
262 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 1, 2020
I suppose because this book is 20 years old, the content is pretty mainstream in the addictions field now. I didn't find much useful in it that I hadn't already learned elsewhere in my education/practice.
March 29, 2020
The book gives a good account of the authors' praiseworthy efforts to bring Harm Reduction (a humane pragmatic approach) to San Francisco both as a public health measure and for individual and group psychotherapy. The discussion of psychotherapy interventions is somewhat hodgepodge, though they would prefer to call it an eclectic or integrated mix of various traditions. There is a fair bit of talk about their own psycho-dynamic orientation with references to transference and counter-transference. To their credit, they make various references also to Motivational Interviewing and William Miller; however, their account of actual MI is pretty basic and lacks depth.
Towards the end, they mention a few "common complaints" leveled against Harm Reduction by outsiders, which in my opinion too is where this approach is lacking. Two of these complaints are (in their own words): "that harm reductionists, in their efforts to reduce global harms like HIV transmission, are ignoring the individual's problems with addiction; that harm reduction is about diminished expectations of people we have given up on;".
Towards the end, they mention a few "common complaints" leveled against Harm Reduction by outsiders, which in my opinion too is where this approach is lacking. Two of these complaints are (in their own words): "that harm reductionists, in their efforts to reduce global harms like HIV transmission, are ignoring the individual's problems with addiction; that harm reduction is about diminished expectations of people we have given up on;".
December 4, 2013
I enjoyed reading this book very much; however some the authors ideas towards harm reduction went a little to far. But there is nothing as refreshing then being taken out of your comfort zone and being challenged. I recommend this book.
August 9, 2009
Very practical, human approach to learning how to treat addictions.
December 5, 2019
I don't know if I agree with some of their methods but it is a very different perspective on treatment of substance abuse
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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