The book that revolutionized the psychotherapist's approach to treating alcoholism

When it was first published in 1985, Treating the Alcoholic challenged traditional psychotherapeutic approaches to alcoholism treatment. Since then, thousands of mental health professionals, using Dr. Stephanie Brown's treatment model, have found renewed faith in their ability to help alcoholic patients achieve lasting recovery.

The book begins by studying the experiences of people who have stopped drinking and provides firsthand descriptions of the inevitable emotional, physical, and psychological problems that follow. Dr. Brown then offers a model for treatment that replaces the notion of abstinence as a static state with a dynamic, process-oriented "continuum of recovery" principle. She translates the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous into psychological terms, taking particular care to explain the crucial notion of "loss of control." Perhaps the most surprising element of Dr. Brown's model is her emphasis on the triadic therapeutic relationship in which therapist, patient, and AA counselor work in partnership to ensure ongoing recovery.

Once considered a radical departure from the conventional wisdom, Treating the Alcoholic offers a now-proven approach that enables psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, alcoholism counselors, and other mental health professionals to understand the dynamics of alcoholism and make profound contributions to the recovery process.

Presenting the latest conclusions about the psychological processes leading to impaired self-control, this book challenges the current harm-prevention policy of "responsible gambling." The authors present the most recent and evolving research into gambling, demonstrating the psychological variables that govern the erosion or maintenance of self-control over gambling behavior. These studies provide an empirical basis for a model of impaired control of gambling. Impaired control, in its broadest sense, is considered to be the defining psychological construct of all the addictive behaviors and occupies a central position in conceptualizing the addictive aspects of gambling.

* Provides university graduate counseling programs in both substance use and mental health an intensive and extensive textbook to teach concepts of co-occurring disorders from a multi-cultural biopsychosocial perspective * Provides graduate students with the evidence of trauma being the precursor for co-occurring disorders and the need for whole-person integrative treatment * Provides education on the advancement of evidence-based treatment modalities that work with neurobiology, trauma responses, and effective multi-cultural approaches to treatment

Whether it s to caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol, many of us suffer from at least one addiction. Carlton K. Erickson presents a comprehensive overview of the various types of addictions covering both substance and nonsubstance addictions such as gambling, Internet use, and video games and their diagnosis and treatment. This book sheds light upon the biological and environmental factors that cause addiction, reviews the various types of substance and nonsubstance addictions, and offers clinicians and patients hope for recovery. Erickson examines alcohol, drugs that speed us up, drugs that slow us down, and how to recognize addictive behavior such as exercise and videogame addiction which may be less obvious. Other topics covered include alcohol and other drug pharmacology, neurophysiology of brain pathways, alcohol and drug interactions, adolescent drug use, drug use differences by gender and culture, and visual signs of drug use. Erickson presents various therapeutic methods for addressing addiction, including pharmacological interventions, individual or group therapy, twelve-step programs, and therapy involving family members. Finally, he reflects on the involvement of family and the risks and consequences of relapse. Written by one of the country s leading addiction specialists, this accessible, comprehensive book, is a go-to reference for your questions about addiction, and a friendly introduction to the diagnosis and treatment options."

The community reinforcement approach (CRA) to treating alcohol and other drug problems is designed to make changes in the client's daily environment, to reduce substance abuse, and to promote a healthier lifestyle. This is the first book to present research on the effectiveness of the CRA for a clinical readership. It includes the original study comparing CRA with traditional treatments of alcohol dependence, and summarizes other trials with alcohol, cocaine, and heroin users. The CRA program provides basic guidelines for clinicians, focusing on communication skills, problem solving and drink refusal strategies, and addresses the needs of the client as part of a social community. Combining practical advice on such matters with a scientific survey of CRA in use, this book offers a new treatment approach to all involved with the support and treatment of those with alcohol and drug problems.