Based on an understanding of the psychological vulnerabilities of addicts, the MDGT model addresses the modifications in psychodynamic technique that are necessary for addicts' needs. It focuses on four main areas of difficulty involving self-regulation; affect, self-esteem, relationship, and self-care problems. Both supportive and expressive, the approach helps group members identify, process, and modify the characterological traits that mask addict's vulnerabilities. With this approach, a well-led group can heighten self-esteem, improve self-care, combat feelings of isolation and shame, and...

Based on the author's 18 years of experience supervising group therapists, this quintessentially practical book is designed to help practitioners think through and formulate appropriate strategies in their clinical work. Utilizing many clinical examples, and providing explanations throughout for her interventions, Vannicelli pays special attention to the therapeutic stance -- where the clinician positions him or herself in relation to the patient, and why; and how various strategies and techniques maximize the patient's opportunity for therapeutic growth. A hallmark of Dr. Vannicelli's...

This book is the first complete guide to implementing the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA), an empirically based, highly effective cognitive-behavioral program for treating alcohol problems. An ideal program for any practitioner trying to reconcile the needs of their clients with mandates of HMOs and insurance providers, this approach has been deemed one of the most cost-effective treatments available by recent research. CRA acknowledges the powerful role of environmental contingencies in encouraging or discouraging drinking, and attempts to rearrange these contingencies so that a...

Updating and expanding the classic Psychological Theories of Drinking and Alcoholism, this fully revised second edition incorporates state-of-the-art presentations from leaders in the alcoholism field. Contributors review established and emerging approaches that guide research into the psychological processes influencing drinking and alcoholism. The volume's multidisciplinary approach also takes into account biological, pharmacological, and social factors, offering important insights into the development and escalation of drinking problems and the various approaches to treatment. Including...