Overview
Contents: Becoming a Chemical Dependency Counselor
• Legal and Ethical Issues in Chemical Dependency Counseling
• The Counseling Process
• Characterizing Clients and Assessing Their Needs
• Group Counseling in the Treatment of Chemical Dependency
• Family Counseling: Seeing the Family as the Client
• Dealing with Diversity Aftercare and Relapse Prevention
• How To Survive in a Chemical Dependency Agency
• Some Questions and Answers
The book contains black-and-white illustrations.
Synopsis
This is a reprint of a 2001 textbook about which Book News wrote: For an introductory course within a program of psychology, family therapy, or social work. The Lawson's (both psychology and family therapy) join P. Clayton Rivers (psychology, U. of Nebraska- Lincoln) to explain new ways of thinking about and addressing problems related to treating and preventing chemical dependence. In addition to other changes from the 1998 second edition, they have added new chapters, on counseling the reluctant to recover and harm reduction. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Emily S. Bennett
This is an updated book on the theory and practice of chemical dependency counseling in the face of a changing political climate and healthcare reform. The book's purpose is to provide an understandable, practical text on the clinical, legal and ethical issues unique to the field of chemical dependency counseling. An extensive overview of different addiction treatment modalities within the theoretical context of mental health, disease, and 12-step models of addiction are used to aid the professional in making effective and efficient treatment decisions based on the individual's unique needs. An important topic, the book well meets its overall objective. Intended for students or other mental health professionals who want to work with the chemically dependent, the book will be a useful aid in the development and implementation of effective therapeutic strategies for the diverse needs of the addicted individual. The authors are very solid and credible in this area. The book includes sample assessment guidelines and clinical examples that greatly contribute to the summarization and clarification of principles and therapeutic strategies. The references are extensive and up-to-date. The stated objectives at the beginning of each chapter and discussion questions following are especially useful in guiding one's reading. This is a very useful, updated text for the student or mental health professional interested in working with the chemically dependent client. The authors provide an extensive overview of the theoretical, legal, and ethical issues unique to the field of chemical dependency counseling. Special attention is given to how healthcare reform has effected treatment issues. Thebook represents a valuable addition to the understanding of the unique clinical needs of the chemically dependent and provides a useful framework within which to make effective treatment decisions.
Editorials
Emily S. Bennett
This is an updated book on the theory and practice of chemical dependency counseling in the face of a changing political climate and healthcare reform. The book's purpose is to provide an understandable, practical text on the clinical, legal and ethical issues unique to the field of chemical dependency counseling. An extensive overview of different addiction treatment modalities within the theoretical context of mental health, disease, and 12-step models of addiction are used to aid the professional in making effective and efficient treatment decisions based on the individual's unique needs. An important topic, the book well meets its overall objective. Intended for students or other mental health professionals who want to work with the chemically dependent, the book will be a useful aid in the development and implementation of effective therapeutic strategies for the diverse needs of the addicted individual. The authors are very solid and credible in this area. The book includes sample assessment guidelines and clinical examples that greatly contribute to the summarization and clarification of principles and therapeutic strategies. The references are extensive and up-to-date. The stated objectives at the beginning of each chapter and discussion questions following are especially useful in guiding one's reading. This is a very useful, updated text for the student or mental health professional interested in working with the chemically dependent client. The authors provide an extensive overview of the theoretical, legal, and ethical issues unique to the field of chemical dependency counseling. Special attention is given to how healthcare reform has effected treatment issues. Thebook represents a valuable addition to the understanding of the unique clinical needs of the chemically dependent and provides a useful framework within which to make effective treatment decisions.Booknews
A textbook for an introductory course within a program of psychology, family therapy, or social work. The Lawson's (both psychology and family therapy) join P. Clayton Rivers (psychology, U. of Nebraska- Lincoln) to explain new ways of thinking about and addressing problems related to treating and preventing chemical dependence. In addition to other changes from the 1998 second edition, they have added new chapters, on counseling the reluctant to recover and harm reduction. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)From The Critics
Reviewer: Pierre R. Nunez, PhD(Cermak Health Services)Description: This is an introductory book for students and trainees in substance abuse certification programs, registered nursing training, masters level counseling, and EAP professional training. It includes general descriptions of modalities of counseling available for substance abuse clients, diagnostic issues, and ethical and legal aspects of substance abuse intervention. The focus is almost exclusively on alcohol rather than other drug use. This third edition of a book originally published in 1986 adds two new chapters on substance abuse counseling of reluctant clients and harm reduction, a treatment approach popular in Europe that is gaining recognition in the U.S. and Canada.
Purpose: "The purpose is to introduce students and trainees to the field of substance abuse counseling through an overview of the field. Much of the discussion focuses on the training and development of the professional counselor, a focus particularly useful to the novice counselor. This is a worthy goal, although it must be noted that the title is somewhat misleading — a more appropriate title might be Essentials of Alcohol Abuse Counseling. With this more narrowed focus, the authors meet the objective quite well. "
Audience: The book is directed toward the trainee, student, or novice counselor at the undergraduate, substance abuse certification training, or masters in counseling program levels. Advanced masters students or those with advanced professional experience or training are likely to find this book less useful. In light of the author's four other books on related substance abuse topics, and the two previous editions of this book, he can be considered a highly credible authority in this field.
Features: Issues of professional training for substance abuse counselors, ethical concerns, and therapeutic modalities are covered. Of particular interest is the author's focus on family context issues in substance abuse and treatment, the prominent role of self-help programming, and new developments in the field, such as harm reduction. In addition, the book offers a useful appendix of Web sites which offer up-to-date information on current treatment research, descriptions of current drugs of abuse, and self-help resources.
Assessment: This is a useful introductory work for those with little or no previous training or professional experience in the field of substance abuse counseling. This new edition is updated with the inclusion of the harm reduction perspective and work with involuntary clients. The addition of information on Web sites related to substance abuse is also helpful. The lack of information on substance abuse treatment aside from alcoholism is a serious limitation to the book's overall utility.
3 Stars from Doody