Choice
Theory with Addicted Populations - A Diverse Approach for the Treatment of
Addictions provides techniques, directives, ideas, and explanations on
working with addicted persons, whether their drug of choice is alcohol, street
drugs, or prescriptions.
The foreword to this book is written by Dr William Glasser. This book
is for both professionals in the field of substance abuse as well as
those who may live with or love an addicted individual. It contains
techniques, directives, ideas, and explanations for those who may be
addicted to prescription meds, street drugs or alcohol. Also included
are several exercises that Mike has developed over the years in working
with groups that he has combined along with the work of Dr. William
Glasser, M. D., the creator of Reality Therapy and most recently, Choice
Theory. Not all of the information is user-friendly for the
non-professional because a close friend or family member will never be
able to establish a clinical relationship with the addict. The
non-professional will always be recognized by the addict as Mom, Dad,
Friend, Wife, Husband, etc which will inhibit the addict from taking
them as someone who might understand and be able to help them. However,
there are many other things in the book that the non-professional will
be able to utilize that will make their personal life better by knowing
what they can control and what they can’t control with their loved one.
Mike applies Choice Theory, the new Reality Therapy, by allowing the
client to create their own personal treatment plan and not one that is
necessarily designed by the therapist or agency. This allows for the
client to feel s/he has control and choices rather than being coerced or
forced to do something they don’t want to do because someone else said
they had to do it. People eventually learn that the drug or alcohol
that they are consuming is effective for ridding themselves of unwanted
emotions. Quite bluntly, they are unhappy. They are unhappy because of
unsatisfying relationships with the important people in their life.
After several weeks or months, they become biochemically addicted to the
substance. They are now functioning on a daily basis with drug
affected thoughts, emotions, and behaviors while causing harm to their
internal organs. What they want mostly, satisfying relationships, are
being destroyed by their behavior as well as the behavior of those whom
they want in their life. While their drug of choice numbs their
unwanted emotions, it also numbs their wanted emotions. The lack of
these unwanted emotions fools them into thinking they are happy . . . a
major misdiagnosis or identification. They are only feeling pleasure
which they confuse for being happiness. This book is essential for
understanding not only the wanted happiness of the addict, but the
happiness of those who are involved with the addict as well.
Understanding what motivates us is the key to satisfying our basic needs
that create and maintain our happiness.
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