Group Therapy for Addiction

Consider the following scenario:

The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner is working for a community health clinic that offers state mandated “intensive outpatient rehabilitation” services for individuals who face incarceration for driving while under the influence. Mr. Smith, a 24-year-old male patient, shows up for his initial intake appointment and says, “Look, this sounds like it’s going to be an AA meeting. Can’t I just go there? I only had a couple of drinks. I don’t know why the judge was such a jerk.”

Clients with addictive disorders may present for therapy for various reasons. Some, like Mr. Smith, attend because it is court mandated. Some attend because family or friends have pushed them to do so, while others may attend because life has become unmanageable. Regardless of clients’ reasons for presenting for therapy, to reach these clients and effectively treat them, you must be able to break down barriers, establish relationships, and help them see the benefits of this therapeutic approach.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO REVIEW THE ATTACHED 7 VIDEO TRANSCRIPTS BEFORE DOING THE ASSIGNMENT, and to include a title page, introduction, summary, and references

                                                              The Assignment

In a 2- to 3-page paper, address the following:

· Identify the psychotherapeutic approach that the group facilitator is using and

explain why she might be using this approach.

· Determine whether or not you would use the same psychotherapeutic approach

if you were the counselor facilitating this group and justify your decision.

· Identify an alternative approach to group therapy for addiction and explain why

it is an appropriate option.

· Support your position with evidence-based literature.

                                                                    Learning Resources

Required Readings

Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice. New York, NY: Springer.

• Chapter      16, “Psychotherapeutic Approaches for Addictions and Related Disorders”      (pp. 565–596)

Yalom, I. D., & Leszcz, M. (2005). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (5th ed.). New York, NY: Basic Books.

• Chapter 13, “Problem Group Members” (pp. 391–427)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Gamble, J., & O’ Lawrence, H. (2016). An overview of the efficacy of the 12-step group therapy for substance abuse treatment. Journal of Health & Human Services Administration, 39(1), 142–160. Retrieved from http://jhhsa.spaef.org/

Kim, J. W., Choi, Y. S., Shin, K. C., Kim, O. H., Lee, D. Y., Jung, M. H., … Choi, I. (2012). The effectiveness of continuing group psychotherapy for outpatients with alcohol dependence: 77-month outcomes. Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 36(4), 686–692. doi:10.1111/j.1530-0277.2011. 01643.x

Psychotherapy for Addictive Disorders

“A long-standing debate has roiled over whether addicts have a choice over their behaviors. The disease creates distortions in thinking, feelings, and perceptions, which drive people to behave in ways that are not understandable to others around them. Simply put, addiction is not a choice. Addictive behaviors are a manifestation of the disease, not a cause.”

–Dr. Raju Hajela, former president of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine

A common misconception is that addiction is a choice, and addicts are often labeled as individuals who lack morals, willpower, or responsibility. However, addiction is a clinical disorder that must be treated with the support of a health care professional. Although many people who are exposed to potentially addictive substances and behaviors continue life unaltered by their experiences, some people are fueled by these experiences and spiral out of control. In your role as the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, you must be prepared to not only work with these individuals who struggle with addiction, but also help them and their families overcome the social stigmas associated with addictive behavior.

This week, as you explore psychotherapy for addiction, you assess clients presenting with addictive disorders. You also examine therapies for treating these clients and consider potential outcomes. Finally, you develop diagnoses for clients receiving psychotherapy and consider legal and ethical implications of counseling these clients.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

· Develop diagnoses for clients receiving psychotherapy*

· Evaluate the efficacy of motivational interviewing techniques for clients*

· Analyze legal and ethical implications of counseling clients with psychiatric

disorders*

Select a client whom you observed or counseled this week. Then, address the

following in your Practicum Journal:

·  Describe the client (without violating HIPAA regulations) and identify any

pertinent history or medical information, including prescribed medications.

· Using the DSM-5, explain and justify your diagnosis for this client.

·  Explain whether motivational interviewing would be effective with this client.

Include expected outcomes based on this therapeutic approach. Support your

approach with evidence-based literature.

·  Explain any legal and/or ethical implications related to counseling this client.

·  Support your approach with evidence-based literature.

· NOTE: PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED Practicum Journal Template AND JOURNAL SAMPLE (TIME LOG & JOURNAL ENTRIES) FOR WRITING THIS ASSIGNMENT…..ALSO FOR THE TIME LOG AND JOURNAL ENTRIES, JUST MAKE UP A REASONABLE INFORMATION AND CLIENT INFORMATION IN MENTAL HEALTH NURSING.

Required Readings

Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

• Chapter 7, “Motivational Interviewing” (pp. 299–312)
• Chapter      16, “Psychotherapeutic Approaches for Addictions and Related Disorders”      (pp. 565–596)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Albrecht, U., Kirschner, N. E., & Grusser, S. M. (2007). Diagnostic instruments for behavioral addiction: An overview. German Medical Science Psycho-Social-Medicine, 4, 1–11. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2736529/

Fisher, M. A. (2016). The ethical ABCs of conditional confidentiality. In Confidentiality limits in psychotherapy: Ethics checklists for mental health professionals (pp. 13–25). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/14860-002