Recovery Coaching » addiction treatment

This volume provides a comprehensive review of the essentials of the Therapeutic Community (TC) theory and its practical “whole person” approach to the treatment of substance abuse disorders and related problems. Part 1 outlines the perspective of the traditional views of the substance abuse disorder, the substance abuser, and the basic components of this approach. Part II explains the organizational structure of the TC, its work components, and the role of residents and staff. The chapters in Part III describe the essential activities of TC life that relate most directly to the recovery process and the goals of rehabilitation. The final part outlines how individuals change in the TC behaviorally, cognitively, and emotionally. It is an invaluable resource for all addictions professionals and students.

There’s no free lunch!

admin — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 08:20:46 +0000

“There’s no free lunch” endorses the values of earning rewards and of becoming self-reliant, to take ownership. It emphasises that nothing is given without cost, that those in the community should not expect something for nothing. The lesson here is that all provision without return of effort, only enables an individual to remain dependent and exploitative. In the self-help community, the daily meals, education, clothing and medical care are provided as long as the resident plays his part in the community and the recovery process.

There’s no free lunch! is a post from: Recovery Coaching

Why is Honesty the Best Policy?

admin — Sat, 30 May 2009 05:02:36 +0000

People in recovery need to understand the concept of honesty. Developing an understanding of the importance of honesty is the key to recovery.

In the Therapeutic Community, honesty is probably the most important concept. Without honesty your recovery is nothing, it is built on sand, with no firm foundation. When the storms of life come, and they will, your house of lies will crumble and fall.

It is impossible to achieve long-term change without being honest to yourself. A lie may solve a present problem, but it has no future.

What is honesty? Thomas Jefferson said, “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” Honesty is, according to the dictionary, to be free of deceit; to be sincere; truthful, trustworthy; wholehearted; worthy.

Honesty is personal integrity. Spencer Johnson said “Integrity is telling myself the truth, and honesty is telling the truth to other people.”

Honesty may be a simple policy but it is not easy! There are positive and negative effects to being honest. It is often the negative effects of being honest that prevent us from stepping out in this noble quest. Here are some of the negative effects of being honest;

rejection

isolation

hostility

jealousy

animosity and

hurt feelings.

This is not a list to relish. So what would prompt us to be honest when there are, possibly, dangerous side effects? The long term benefits that being honest can bring are sufficient incentive to adopt this concept as a lifestyle. Here are some of the positive effects of being honest:-

Respect

Sincerity

Openess

Trust

Faith

Peace of mind

Self belief

Responsibility

Acceptance

Insight

Adopting a policy of honesty is a courageous step. You need to overcome your fears and anxieties. Why is honesty so important in recovery?

Honesty is the main ingredient of recovery, as without it there is no progression, self-development or personal understanding. It needs to be applied to each and everything we do, whether confronting people about their behaviour, or confronting ourselves about our weaknesses and limitations. Being honest allows us to be accountable and responsible for our actions, which in turn enables us to set the agenda for our lives.

Honesty is vital in Relapse Prevention, as without it you will not receive the valuable, true support and guidance necessary to avoid relapse: You would be honest with a doctor about an acute condition or illness because you want the right diagnosis. The same applies to your recovery.

To promote and develop change in any situation there is a need to be honest. However, it is also important to be aware how other people might receive your insights. We may need to work on our tactfulness, or the issues that rise in us so that our approach is non-judgemental and constructive. Honesty is about raising the standard, not about getting the upper hand. Honesty requires a degree of humility.

We may face situations where being honest will test our resolve. We may not want to tell someone the truth, or face up to our own truths. It may often appear easier to avoid the situation entirely. However problems will not be solved unless they are faced, and by developing tactful communication skills, we can overcome the difficulties. A word at the right time, may help someone move forward in their recovery, and so, may help them to avoid relapse or worse.

Here are the key points:-

Honesty develops peace of mind

Honesty develops trust and encourages strong relationships

Honesty is the first step to the right way of living

Honesty is the only way to recover

It was the great bard, William Shakespeare, who wrote, “Honesty is the best policy. If I lose mine honour, I lose myself.”

Why is Honesty the Best Policy? is a post from: Recovery Coaching

Cycle of Change – Relapse

admin — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:59:52 +0000

Relapse is not a stage of the cycle of change as such. But it is an important aspect of it. Relapse is returning to the old behaviour and abandoning the new changes. It sometimes leads a recovering person to revert to an earlier stage of change. But frequently, a relapse means going back to square one, back in pre-contemplation, especially for a recovering drug addict or alcoholic. Smokers may get away more lightly where a relapse may take them back to Contemplation or Preparation.

Cycle of Change – Relapse is a post from: Recovery Coaching

Cycle of Change – 5. Maintenance

admin — Wed, 27 May 2009 10:00:35 +0000

The goal of the maintenance stage is to maintain the new status quo. There are not so many changes to be made as in previous stages. People at this stage tend to remind themselves of how much progress they have made.

Maintenance is the stage in which people maintain a drug free lifestyle. They may be back in work, relationships reconciled, and even helping others. They are less tempted to relapse and growing in the confidence that they can continue their change. They are able to anticipate the situations in which relapse could occur and prepare coping strategies in advance.

People in the Maintenance stage constantly reformulate the rules of their lives and acquire new skills to deal with life and avoid relapse. They remain aware that what they are striving for is personally worthwhile and meaningful so that they can stay on track.

Cycle of Change – 5. Maintenance is a post from: Recovery Coaching

Cycle of Change – 4. Action

admin — Sun, 24 May 2009 08:57:05 +0000

Action is the stage where people have made particular changes in their life-styles within the past six months. They believe they have the ability to change their behaviour and are doing things to make a change. This is the stage where they are more likely to seek the support of others.

Action is measurable, it is not just about a change in behaviour (which is often seen as the action). But Action is only one of five stages.
Not all changes to behaviour count as action in this model. For example a smoker may have cut down, or switched to a low tar cigarette. But he must raise his game, at this stage, only total abstinence counts. There can be no half measures with alcohol or drugs.
In the Action stage he may be saying, “Getting in to this rehab has saved my life”. The Action stage is also the stage where complacency can set in, when it is vital to maintain focus, because here is the greatest risk of relapse.

Cycle of Change – 4. Action is a post from: Recovery Coaching

Cycle of Change – 3. Preparation or Determination

admin — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:55:20 +0000

Preparation is the stage where people intend to take action in the next month. They would have taken small steps towards quitting in the past year. They have a plan of action, they have checked out what strategies or resources are available to them, consulting a counsellor, buying a self-help book or relying on a self-change approach.

They are motivated to change, they will say “I have a problem, something must change. What can I do, how can I change?
Those who try to skip this stage and go straight to the Action stage, often fall flat on their faces. They know at this stage that they need a major lifestyle change. They are ready for Action.

Cycle of Change – 3. Preparation or Determination is a post from: Recovery Coaching

Cycle of Change – 2. Contemplation

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 07:50:05 +0000

Contemplation is the stage in which people intend to change in the next six months. They are aware of the benefits of change but are also aware of the costs . This balance between the costs and benefits of changing can keep people stuck in this stage for long periods of time.

They will say things like “I may take drugs, but my friends take more. I’m not an addict, I can quit when I want to.” They may waiver between contemplation and pre-contemplation.

This stage may take a couple of weeks or it could take a lifetime. There is much procrastination. But it can be a time of anticipation, anxiety, action and excitement. The people at this stage are not ready for a recovery programme.

Cycle of Change – 2. Contemplation is a post from: Recovery Coaching

The Cycle of Change – Introduction

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:45:41 +0000

Why is change so difficult? Maybe we believe it has already cost us a lot to get this far so why risk everything. We are also creatures of habit. We form our habits, then our habits form us.

Change also makes us feel insecure. We feel that maybe we don’t have what it takes to succeed. But change is here to stay! We could argue that when we stop changing, we stop growing.

In 1982 James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente developed a useful model describing how people change. The model was based on self-help change, but research has shown it to underpin all types of change related to behaviours such as addictions, eating disorders and it could probably be applied to changing your job or moving house as well.

The Cycle of Change (Transtheoretical Theory of Change, is its clinical name), unifies a whole range of theories about how people change. It assists us in understanding where our clients may be in the cycle and how to engage and work with them depending on the stage they are in. In a self-help community it is important for clients to understand where they are.

The Cycle of Change is not like a carousel, where you get on, then go around, and get off when it stops. There are entry and exit points; change can take a number of attempts.

Some people can move rapidly through the cycle. Those recovering from drug addiction may take up to two years to maintain a drug free lifestyle.

The Cycle of Change – Introduction is a post from: Recovery Coaching

Act As If

admin — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:30:35 +0000

“Act as if” is a basic concept for those who travel through the Therapeutic Community. This concept at first glance seems to run counter to the perceived wisdom of changing the way we think before we can change the way we act. But it requires at least an element of thinking that we can change the way we act before we embark on this course.

“Act as if” requires us to behave in a way that we would rather be, than the way we have been. We have all at some time put on an act of confidence when we feel like hiding in a hole. We may have attended a job interview where we feel inside that we may be out of our depth, or had to stand up in public and speak to a group of people when the butterflies start. But we take a deep breath and enter in to the part of acting confidently and we begin to adapt to the part.

Despite feelings to the contrary, we often “act as if” in our families and communities. It means keeping a right attitude and adopting shared values. It avoids stereotyping and discrimination and includes being self motivated and adopting an optimistic outlook about our future. George de Leon, whose work founded the Therapeutic Community model, suggests, “In the Therapeutic Community view, acting as if is not just an exercise in conformity but a powerful mechanism for making a more complete psychological change. Feelings, insights, and altered self-perceptions often follow rather than precede behaviour change”.

So, this means that trying a new role often leads us to embrace a new way of thinking. As we act on our desire to become, we reinforce the behaviours necessary for the new role. Act as if you already are, and you will become. The new role will start to fit and the need for acting as if will no longer be necessary. You become the person you want to be.

If you want to become a writer, start writing. If you want to be an actor, start acting (isn’t that what we are doing when we act as if?). If you want to change your self centred lifestyle, start helping others, become a volunteer. Want to be addiction free? Start acting as if you are already there.

Acting as if does not have room for the negative. There is no “I Can’t”, or “I am not good enough”. What do you want to become? You already know it. That still small voice inside will guide you. You will pick up the skills as you go along. This is ‘on the job’ training.

Positive feelings lead to positive actions. “Acting as if” is focusing on what is beneficial to us as well as others. So the order is ‘act as if, think as if, feel as if, believe as if’.

A variant of acting as if is the phrase, “do it right, then you will understand why you have been doing it wrong”. This helps to overcome scepticism. In particular, it speaks to those individuals who resist acting as if, often seeking intellectual understanding before they try to change. This instruction directs us to go ahead and change the behaviour even before we understand why the change is good for us. It helps to bypass the question “What if?” and goes straight to the heart of the matter. More generally, by living right, we come to understand why we have been living wrong.

Act As If is a post from: Recovery Coaching