Understanding Addiction

Here’s a guest post by a therapist who has been using ACT for clients with addictions for many years. Jaime highlights core principles using examples from his practice. I follow with a longish comment on aspects of ACT that I find especially important.   …by Jaime Booth Jenkins BSW MAPP… “Between stimulus and response there […] (Read the rest.)

Last post I said I’d review schools of psychotherapy that promise to target addiction, and ACT and IFS were at the top of my list. I’ll get to these, but I thought I’d spread the net a bit wider. So I’m starting this series with a look at “psychodynamic” or psychoanalytic psychotherapy. I think the […] (Read the rest.)

In my psychotherapy (and chats, consultations, etc) with people in addiction, I combine skills I’ve picked up over 35 years studying clinical psychology, developmental psychology, psychoanalysis, and neuroscience. But it’s not enough. I need retooling. I’ve developed some good intuitions about how to do psychotherapy…mostly by doing it, putting theory into practice. And I can […] (Read the rest.)

…by April Smith… What’s HAMS? If you don’t know about it yet, this guest post says it all: HAMS stands for Harm Reduction, Abstinence and Moderation Support. I’ve recognized and admired this organization for years, and I’m delighted to have April tell you more about it. ………………………… I went to rehab at age 40 after […] (Read the rest.)

Happy New Year! I’m sure we’re all hoping that this year brings renewed optimism, through the creative, caring, and sensible use of all that’s available in this era of rapid change. In that spirit, I discuss my thoughts about “good drugs” and share my recent experience of DMT. My twin boys are now thirteen, so […] (Read the rest.)