Substance Use Therapy

04/30/2024

New Course Available, 5.5 CEUs!

https://therapywisdom.com/integrating-harm-reduction-into-the-clinical-setting/?orid=143486&opid=67

I was so fortunate to collaborate with the Academy of Therapy Wisdom to make this course available.

The course covers key facets of working with addiction through a harm reduction lens, all with the intention of maintaining connection with our clients.

5 modules cover the following topics:
1. WHAT IS ADDICTION?
Understanding the historical impact of the war on drugs helps highlight the depth of the stigma faced in addiction. A review of the prevailing models of addiction helps you conceptualize addiction in a more realistic way, as well as see how various models and beliefs have contributed to both internal and external stigmas surrounding addiction.
2.DEEPENING OUR VIEW OF ADDICTION
Introduce addiction as a human problem rather than a drug problem. Understanding the research behind drug, set, and setting and how drug use may be considered adaptive from a biopsychosocial perspective.
3. INTEGRATING HARM REDUCTION INTO THE CLINICAL SETTING
Intro to harm reduction and the foundations of applying it in the clinical setting. Learn the therapeutic stance in harm reduction and non-binary approaches to change so you can implement a range of tools to serve clients wherever they are on the continuum of use.
4. DEEPENING HARM REDUCTION THERAPY
Helpful modalities and tools to bolster your work in addiction, as well as tools to assist clients in sustaining change.
5. MAINTAINING CONNECTION
In order to meaningfully be able to work with addiction, this module shares common traps to avoid so you can ensure you are using best practices. You’ll learn how to work with dual diagnosis, how to understand the nuance in substance use, and to work meaningfully to reduce stigmas. Additionally, key concepts like compassion fatigue, burnout, and helplessness are addressed.

11/15/2023

Your wellbeing and safety are more important than abstinence.

11/14/2023

There are no addicts. There are only humans struggling with addiction.

11/08/2023

When we feel shame, we feel unworthy of connection. All that serves to increase the desire to use.
No one chooses addiction, but the desire to minimize pain is common in all humanity.

10/24/2023

As Gabor Mate says, "the question is not why the addiction, but why the pain."

10/18/2023

Let's create space for the gray areas--the nuance, the context, and the individual.

10/12/2023

The idea that people should be encouraged to get worse before they can begin to get better is dangerous and misleading.
While some people do make changes after hitting their version of 'bottom', for others, the further they fall simply causes more hurt, trauma, and isolation.
People can be supported wherever they are on the continuum of use.
Everyone deserves compassion.

10/11/2023

For anyone who has ever struggled with depression and anxiety, or has ever considered su***de, I highly recommend this book.

Matt Haig shares his own experiences in a way that humanizes mental health struggles. His words are relatable, and though he is talking about deeply serious topics, he has found a way to bring humor into his reflections of his experience.

***deprevention

09/26/2023

The only way any of us make changes is that we feel empowered to do it. We need to empower clients, not teach them they are powerless.

08/08/2023

People don't drink for no reason, and they don't drink just because they are "alcoholics."

People tend to have deep and meaningful reasons for the things they do.

Just because the outcome can be chaotic, doesn't mean the choice isn't logical to the person.

If you live in Texas & need support, visit us at www.substanceusetherapy.com

08/04/2023

08/02/2023

In addition to working with substance use, Dan specializes in supporting the LGBTQ+ population, ADHD, and EMDR.

Interested in working with Dan? I don't blame you, he's awesome.

Visit: https://www.substanceusetherapy.com/about-dan

07/31/2023

For anyone who has felt the disease model of addiction is limiting or insufficient, I highly recommend this book.

Dr. Lewis does a brilliant job of explaining how brain changes are not necessarily pathological, thus normalizing addiction and helping to destigmatize the people who struggle.

07/28/2023

Change of any kind is hard. Never underestimate the importance of having grace, patience, and compassion for yourself. Oh, and try to have a laugh if you can.