Rethinking Addiction: The Integrative Harm Reduction Approach

The truth about illegal drugs is that most people use them for pleasure, connection, enhancing creativity, and coping with life’s many physical and emotional challenges. Of course, drugs have serious inherent risks. But given the prevalence of the “Just Say No” culture, do we really understand the best way to minimize those risks? For many therapists, the answer is no. In fact, therapists are often so uncomfortable dealing with drug use that they’ll immediately refer a client out, despite having established a solid therapeutic relationship. This session offers a psychobiosocial approach that demystifies problematic drug use, as well as an integrative harm reduction approach that provides a road map for helping therapists help their clients rethink their relationship with substances. You’ll explore:

• Seven therapeutic tasks for engaging and promoting positive change for clients who struggle with drug use and other risky and addictive behaviours
• Harm reduction principles that facilitate healing relational experiences
• Approaches to help drug-using clients overcome the shame and guilt that often derails therapy
• Mindfulness-based strategies for sitting with uncomfortable urges and feelings