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.
This week, you explore psychotherapeutic approaches to group therapy for addiction. You also develop diagnoses for clients receiving psychotherapy for addiction and consider legal and ethical implications of counseling these clients.
Learning Resources
Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
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.
Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.
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/
Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.
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
