INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP INTERVENTIONS As an illustration it is assumed that most treatment facilities would like to use evidence based practices so they can ensure their clients will be successful throughout the treatment process. The question is what form of treatment is truly best for the client. Current research has suggestions as far as individual therapy but there is little research on the effectiveness of the varying group therapies for substance use disorder. The literature discusses the numerous variables that are difficult to control when it comes to researching this topic. Morgan-Lopez and Fals-Stewart (2006) expresses that there are many clear barriers that have made the study of substance abuse group therapy very difficult (p. 266). …show more content…
These include: group therapy in a mixed group, group therapy within a gender specific group, group therapy along with individual therapy and lastly individual therapy on its own. Miller et al. (2010) states there are a large array of therapies that have been tried to treat addiction some of which include, cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, confrontational, gestalt, group process, and motivational interviewing (p. …show more content…
This form of therapy is very person centered and focuses on the strengths and competencies of the individual rather than their failures and flaws. Throughout the literature McCollum, Trepper, and Smock (2003) express the significant impact solution focused therapy has made on the treatment of addiction within the past 20 years. Solution focused therapy can be used in both an individual and group setting. McCollum et al. (2003) gives examples as to how group therapy can help individuals solve their own issues while listening to the experiences and successes of their peers. This is known as vicarious learning and is believed to be a curative factor that is essential to group therapy. An underlying assumption of solution focused group therapy is that the group is always experiencing change. These changes may go unnoticed if the members of the group are only focusing on their problems. Another benefit of solution focused therapy is that it is cost effective and can be completed in a timely matter due to the brief duration versus traditional forms of
Depending on their conditions, many people resort to substances to help them cope. These substances are widely abused and are unhealthy. The British Journal of Social Work surveyed three different rehabilitation centers. They came to the conclusion that “There is a very large international body of research on substance use and abuse, ranging from problem etiology to treatment (Valtonen 59)”. This suggests that because of what people are dealing with, they often resort to substance abuse. However, there are many better ways to cope. People use substances to try and figure out their diagnoses. During the surveys of the rehabilitation centers, they found out some other coping mechanisms. Some of these coping mechanisms are sleeping, eating, smoking, and drinking. These mechanisms are not a healthy way to deal with the situation at hand. This study shows that people who avoid substances to cope and instead talk to a therapist have better outcomes. This is also true with people who go to focus groups and verbally discuss their problems rather than resorting to
McGovern, M. P., PhD, & Carroll, K. M., PhD. (2003). Evidence- base Practices for Substance Use Disorders. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. Retrieved from http://www.dartmouth.edu/~dcare/pdfs/fp/McGovernMark-Evidence-BasedPractices.pdf
The different therapies throughout treatment allow for a variety of ways to break the addiction and focus on other aspects of life. One of the treatments featured a health class in which Gwen learned about liver cirrhosis and was able to see what would happen to her body if her addictions continued. This class allowed the participants to get a view on what the drugs and alcohol or other addictions really did to the body and why stopping is crucial. Another type of therapy is group therapy. This type of therapy consists of everyone sitting in a circle, admitting their wrong-doings and using “feeling words” to describe emotions that may be occurring. This type of therapy shows that treatment programs rely on the personal experience of everyone in order to help others. The teamwork and interconnectedness between participants made each individual feel like there was someone on their side. Some other therapies involved in the treatment program included character feeling done with the horses, emotional expression when Gwen blew off her anger, different therapeutic tools such as the signs around the neck and connected therapy with family members or children. The variety of therapies portrayed throughout the film allow treatment programs to be open to anyone that learns and changes differently from
Doctors Peter Johnson and John Chappel believe that AA is not considered self-help and by contributing to the 12-step process as doctors the program experience will be enhanced. Self-help programs are considered to be a form of therapy used to better oneself without scientific research supporting the success rate and usually attended without a physician’s input. The support shown for programs like AA is attributed to the abundant success rate they found when a doctor takes some minimal preparation for the patient. These preparations include such tasks as locating the closest meeting and the type of meeting the patient would prefer. The person who is suffering normally takes on these tasks; if discouraged at this point faith in the program may be ceased. They state in the article, ”AA is more important over the long term than professional treatment.” (Johnson, Chappel.1994) The article shows effective guidelines for professionals in the treatment of addiction. We know that AA predates the American Medical Associations’ ruling that alcohol addiction (along with other addictions) is a disease. We know from experience, either personal or second-hand, that addiction can not be cured without intervention of some kind – with the help of a professional and others’ suffering it can. Is that enough of a scientific approach to rely on a group-help program? – Dr. Jarlais does not think so.
Predictors of Treatment Outcome in a Drug Court Program. American Journal Of Drug & Alcohol Abuse, 31(4), 641-656.
There are thousands of people in the United States that are addicted to cocaine and are left untreated. Many of them are at risk of severe health problems. I am conducting this research paper to compare and contrast the differences between the effectiveness of drug courts and cognitive behavioral therapy for cocaine addicts. We know that all people respond differently to therapy than others do, but it is good to be able to find the effectiveness and success rate of cognitive-behavioral therapy, and drug courts overall. But before we jump into the effectiveness of CBT, we need to know what the goal of CBT is and what the process is for CBT. Not only do we need to know the effectiveness and success rates of these two, but we also need to know the differences. We need to know the different paths that they take and how those different paths translate into success. Last but not least, we need to know what the best overall option is for clients. Every client is going to be different, but looking at drug courts and cognitive-behavioral therapy as a whole, figuring out the most successful treatment is the most important question to answer. Drug courts or cognitive-behavioral therapy is going to benefit the individual regardless; any sort of help is better than no help at all. We know that people react differently from these two treatments, but finding the overall best treatment is what we are looking to figure out.
While sharing and caring provide the basis for support groups, there's one benefit from group therapy that patients can't overlook. Simply put, it's the building of trust in others to help when help is needed. While caught in the cycle of addiction, trust is not easily given. In fact, many people dealing with addiction are paranoid. The lost of trust in the people around them promotes a lonely existence. There's great benefit in knowing patients can find relief by discovering they can trust someone other than counselors and family.
A lot of times several approaches are combined to treat substance abuse and dependence (Comer, 2010, p. 317). Therefore, if the sociocultural approach proved not to be sufficient on its own, I would add a psychodynamic therapy which can help clients become aware of and correct the underlying needs and conflicts that led to the disorder in the first place (Comer, 2010, p. 310). I think this will help my treatment plan be more inclusive because it will address environmental influences as well as underlying individual issues.
The Solution Focused Therapy approach concentrates on working with the individual to determine a problem and then determine solutions to the problem (Content Guide 3, n.d.). Essential aspects of Solution Based Therapy include: introducing new perspectives, grasping the adolescents point of view, identifying one’s strengths, and holding the adolescent accountable by having them explain their exceptions and feelings (Content Guide 3, n.d.). The various techniques utilized in Solution Based Therapy consist of: clearly defining the problem and stating measurable solutions, asking open-ended questions, exploring actions that “make a difference”, addressing the importance of change, giving feedback, complimenting, giving the adolescent “homework” exercises, and lastly tactfully using supportive and respectful language towards the individual (Content Guide 3, n.d.). The strengths of Solution Based Therapy include working with the adolescent to recognize smaller problems that lead up to their overall problem of substance abuse (Content Guide 3, n.d.). This is because many adolescents do not think nor view their substance use as an actual issue (Content Guide 3, n.d.). Limitations/ weakness of Solution Based Therapy include an individual being reluctant to define any problems that they think are contributing to their substance abuse, therefore potential solutions can not be identified, and this is the
Those who suffer from an addiction can become so caught up in the moment in trying to keep up their habit that they forget how it is affecting those around them. Drugs put a lot of stress on everyone in the family. One may lose their job, suffer from financial problems, steal, or even be abusive to others within the family. Those who have an addiction often perceive themselves as to not having a problem and it is not out of control, so they do not seek out treatment (NIH: National Institute on Drug Abuse, n.d., para. 2). It is at that time that those who care for the individual will have an intervention to try and help the addict. An intervention is a carefully planned process that may be done by family and friends, in consultation with a doctor or professional such as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, or directed by an intervention professional (Mayo Clinic, 2016, para. 5). Addiction is a disease that is hard for someone to overcome; by implementing an intervention there is hope for a better life.
There are many options when it comes to recovery, for example it provides addicts a way to get moral support and sober-living help from others that are suffering from the same neuro-disease. One of the most important of recovery is support groups and meetings, which are set up nationwide. Two of the most popular groups are Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). These groups branch out and offer different types of support .Discussion meetings; a group leader choses a topic about recovery that the group will discuss. Another type of group is a speaker meetings; an addict that has been through recovery will share tips and experiences with the group. AA and NA groups are based off the 12-Step Program. The 12-Steps are a set up through a spiritual aspect. To pass a step one must complete the task given I the step. The first step is, 1 - We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable. The task in this step is to show addicts that using the substance are wearing on their life. The 12-Steps also help addicts reconnect with family that they might have hurt in the process of the addiction. The eighth step states, Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Last is, having...
One very well-known organization that performs group therapy is Alcoholics Anonymous, AA. In the article “What Is A.A.?” the AA staff says they help everyone, no matter their age, race, political views, or location, and they want to help people stay sober or help alcohol abusers become sober. However, AA has many problems in the way it helps abusers. First of all, when someone in the AA program fails, they will say, “Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves.
Though not much research has been done to find out the effectiveness on NA meetings for persons with addictions, there are some studies done to show outcomes of this form of treatment. Many addicts try to put themselves in rehab or some form of treatment to help them with their recovery. According to the article “Attendance at Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, frequency of attendance and substance use outcomes after residential treatment for drug dependence: a 5-year follow-up study” by Michael Gossop, Duncan Stewart, John Marsden, they state “…the relatively high rate of relapse which often occurs after leaving treatment gives rise to concern” (Gossop, Stewart, & Marsden ,2008). This means after rehab there is no form of treatment helping them with their sobriety. “Studies that looked specifically at NA have found an association between group attendance and improved drug-using outcomes and length of time in NA has been found to be related to abstinence from illicit drugs” (Gossop, Stewart, & Marsden ,2008). Another study on youth, ages ranging from 30 and under, from the article “Can 12-step group participation strengthen and extend the benefits of adolescent addiction treatment? A prospective analysis” by John Kelly, Sarah Dow, Julie Yeterian, and Christopher Kahler, explains “…high post-treatment rates
Doctors can also tell if one of their patients has had treatment or is in the process of having treatment. Doctors or families are the ones to refer their patient or family member to a treatment center (“Treatment and Drugs”). There are different types of therapy for a patient suffering from prescription drug abuse. Treatment is usually a 12-step program, but there are other programs included. The type of therapy used is “Group Therapy” where they talk about their recovery with a group of people.
Please explain some of the ethical considerations needed to develop, manage, and conclude a group. (25 points)