Addiction Assessment and 

Intervention Services

INTERVENTION

1. 
   The Intervention - The Caring Confrontation: What, Why and How

   I view addiction as an illness of the whole person. This illness traps the person inside a complex system of defenses e.g. denial, minimization, blame. These defenses blind the person from seeing reality and getting the help they need. Read more...

   1. Recovery for the Whole Family – Breaking the power of Enabling

   The intervention often helps the family move out of their denial to stop enabling the problem. Read more...

   2. How to conduct a Caring Confrontation (Intervention) in 9 Steps

   Read more... and if you need assistance or a more detailed plan, contact us.

   Please feel free to share this free download with friends and colleagues.

   Hope you enjoy the short article as food for thought.

   Peter Guess

   B.Soc.Sc.(SW)

   https://addictioncounsellorincapetown.webs.com/documents/How_To_Do_An_Intervention_FreeEbook_July2012.pdf
   View DocumentDownload (583 KB)
2. 
   Motivational Interviewing Manual

   Uses of Motivational Interviewing (MI)
   

   "MI is usually thought of as a brief therapy (1 – 4 sessions) that can be effective on its own. It can also be used to prepare clients for treatment as usual. MI has also been shown to improve the effectiveness of other treatments. You may use MI as one or two sessions before the client begins the usual treatment program. When used before treatment as usual, abstinence rates can be doubled as compared to the regular treatment program without MI.

   You may also want to consider using the spirit (essence) and skills of MI while using other therapeutic approaches. You may decide that using the MI approach fits with your usual counseling approach and blend the two. MI has been blended with Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), so that sessions begin with MI and then switch to CBT while the principles of MI are maintained. In terms of age groups, MI was developed for use with adults and is starting to be used with adolescents but has not been studied in children."

   This is a manual mainly for addiction counsellors, social workers, psychologists and other health practitioners in the field of addiction.
   

   https://addictioncounsellorincapetown.webs.com/documents/Motivational_Interviewing_Manual_USA.pdf
   View DocumentDownload (1 MB)
3. 
   The Family Contract (or Employer Contract)

   I use this tool, as a worksheet and template, in discussion with the family, employer and other "significant others", affected by the addict's behaviour both past, current and future. This tool is based on the Intervention approach developed by Vernon Johnson in the 60's (The Johnson Institute in the USA), my recent study of the book "It's Not Ok To Be A Cannibal." by Andrew T. Wainwright and Robert Poznanovich and my personal experience in treatment and intervention work. This tool has three different applications:

    

   1. Before treatment

   The oldest purpose of the Family Contract was as part of a family intervention (planning) process, to facilitate the addict to either admit to the need for help and enter treatment or, if in denial, to set out certain time-lines, expectations and ultimatums.

   2. During treatment

   During the treatment process I contract very clearly with the addict and his/her family, with specific reference to what happens if:

   a) the addict terminates treatment (e.g. refusing hospital treatment, runs away);

   b) the treatment facility terminates treatment (e.g. due to non-compliance);

   c) the addict relapses (e.g. how many warnings given, based on what behaviour - drugging, fraternising);

   d) the addict is discharged having completed treatment (e.g. relapse, court order, further treatment, banned from home if meets certain conditions). The contract also helps the family members consider what recovery and boundaries they need.

   3. After treatment.

   What expectations the family and others have of the addict and vice versa. And the commitments the addict will make to recovery, as part of a relapse prevention plan and recovery plan. In the event of a relapse or poor progress and if there is no prior contract, this tool helps the family re-assess the situation and decide on action with or without the presence of the addict.

   https://addictioncounsellorincapetown.webs.com/documents/The%20Family%20Recovery%20Contract.pdf
   View DocumentDownload (47 KB)

RECOVERY & TREATMENT

1. 
   The ABC of Recovery - A Guide for People in Recovery, Counsellors and Sponsors

   I have come to believe very strongly in the power and effectiveness of integrating conventional scientific treatment with the Twelve Step programme, that is now used World Wide for recovery from addictions, emotional illnesses (e.g. unresolved anger, anxiety), chronic mental illness (e.g. depression, bipolar mood disorder), relationship dysfunctions related to or caused by addictions (e.g. co-dependence) and many other conditions.

   To keep things simple in my own mind, as a counsellor and a person in recovery, I have grouped the Twelve Steps and the key phases of recovery, under the 3 letters: A, B and C. A for Admit; B for Believe and C for Change. The article provides more details.
   

   Please share this free article with friends and colleagues.

   https://addictioncounsellorincapetown.webs.com/documents/THE%20ABC%20OF%20RECOVERY%20-%204.2.2012.pdf
   View DocumentDownload (278 KB)
2. 
   Recovery Coaching - A Specialisation within Life Coaching

   The short report looks at the following:

   • The need for a Recovery Coach
   • Relapse Prevention
   • The role of the Recovery Coach
   • The Recovery Coach and "The ABC of Recovery"
   https://addictioncounsellorincapetown.webs.com/documents/Recovery%20Coaching%20-%20A%20Specialisation%20within%20Life%20Coaching%202013.pdf
   View DocumentDownload (120 KB)