- The type of treatment is less critical than the
individual's commitment to change. People can select how they want to pursue
change in line with their own values and preferences. They don't need to be
told how to change.
- Brief treatments can change longstanding habits.
It is not the duration of the treatment that allows people to change but
rather its ability to inspire continued efforts in that direction.
- Life skills can be the key to licking addiction.
All addictions may not be equal; the community-reinforcement approach, with
its emphasis on developing life skills, might be needed for those more
severely debilitated by drugs and alcohol.
- Repeated efforts are critical to changing. People
do not often get better instantly—it usually takes multiple efforts. Providing
follow-up care allows people to maintain focus on their change goals.
Eventually, they stand a good chance of achieving them.
- Improvement, without abstinence, counts. People
do not usually succeed all at once. But they can show significant improvements;
and all improvement should be accepted and rewarded. It is counterproductive
to kick people out of therapy for failing to abstain. The therapeutic approach
of recognizing improvement in the absence of abstinence is called harm
reduction.
By Stanton Peele
Publication: Psychology Today Magazine
Publication Date: May/Jun 2004
Last Reviewed: 24 Jul 2006
(Document ID: 3452)
SOURCE:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20040712-000002.html
