About Addiction and Recovery

I would describe addiction as "any compulsive behavior which has a serious ongoing negative impact on your life, and which needs to be addressed and either tamed or eliminated." Addictions can be to many things—alcohol, marijuana (pot or THC), cigarettes, methamphetamine, powder cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, food, over-the-counter medications, gambling, the internet, computer games, shopping, exercise, and probably more.

Models of addiction have changed through the years:

• The old moral model, where a person with such issues was considered to be a sinner. Treatment would consist of punishment, ranging from social disapproval to jail.
  
  
• The disease model, first presented by E. M. Jellinek in 1960, still embraced by the medical profession and 12-step programs, where addiction is considered a primary disease with a biological cause and is not secondary to any other condition. Addiction is considered incurable—the person will always be an addict—but remission (abstinence) is possible. The disease model of treatment has helped many people, and is certainly a huge improvement over the moral model.
  
  
• The psychological model, where addiction is seen as a symptom of underlying issues. There may be a biological component, but many people with a genetic predilection towards addiction do not develop such behavior. This model works from the theory that destructive coping behaviors, such as addiction, have been learned as a survival mechanism, a way of dealing with life. It must be noted that, while insight on the underlying issues is valuable, it does not miraculously cure the problem.
  

While my basic approach is towards the psychological model, with an emphasis on learning new skills and new responses (cognitive behavioral work) to stressful situations, I also acknowledge the importance of the biological/genetic component. This vulnerability, in conjunction with stresses, does increase the likelihood of addiction. I view addiction as a problem to be dealt with, not as the entire person. However, the impact is on the entire person, and I take a holistic view of this. It is often necessary to involve a doctor or other healthcare person. Nutrition and exercise are important.

Causes of Addiction

In many cases, but not all, buried emotional needs cause a generalized anxiety, (a word which does not begin to address the intensity of the feeling). The anxiety stems from a sense of disconnection, a sense of not belonging anywhere.

Addictions provide a way to numb the feeling, to escape. This external “fix” is only temporary, as the real recovery will only come with work on the buried emotional needs. (Twelve-step programs call this the Fifth Step.) External fixes can take many forms—drugs, food, work, shopping, computer games—anything that will take away the feelings and protect the user from the frightening idea of facing down the fears. The user keeps chasing the carrot on the stick—that this time, the deep internal anxieties will stay gone.

What Therapy Does

What is so ironic is that the work of facing down the fears is usually much less painful than the repercussions of the addictive behavior.

This is what addictions therapy is all about. Gentle, non-judgmental, supportive research to understand why we behave as we do; how to overcome the blocks; and how to become the strong, confident, giving human beings that we were all meant to be. To feel that we belong in this world is a huge gift.

"My work with Sarah helped me to break through the barriers that were getting in the way of recovery and that kept my alcohol addiction going. It took time, and it sure wasn't easy. There were times when I just wanted to walk away and forget it all, but now, I am glad that I stuck with it. I am now four years clean and I have a new life."

How Therapy Helps

A research study found that not only did Cognitive Behavioral Therapy significantly improve drinking outcomes, but also that these gains were maintained at 12 months (Miller & Welbourne 2002).

The outcome of counselling can be measured by improvement in quality of life. Measured outcomes from one alcohol service (Alcohol Concern 2001) showed the following:

Improved Physical Health: 74% of clients
Improved Psychological Health: 76% of clients
Improved Legal Situation: 65% of clients
Improved Social Situation: 54% of clients
Progress Towards Drinking Goal: 65% of clients

I invite you to visit me to discuss your issues. My office is in downtown Vancouver, BC.

Phone me at 836.6840 or e-mail me

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