Practicing Harm Reduction Psychotherapy, Second Edition An Alternative Approach to Addictions

This acclaimed clinical guide has helped thousands of clinicians put the proven principles of harm reduction into practice with therapy clients who have substance use problems. Written by pioneers in the field, the book shows how to do effective therapeutic work with people still using alcohol or other drugs. It provides clear guidelines for conducting comprehensive assessments, making collaborative treatment decisions, and implementing interventions that combine motivational, cognitive-behavioral, and psychodynamic strategies. The focus is reducing drug-related harm while also addressing co-occurring psychological and emotional difficulties. Detailed clinical illustrations are featured throughout. New to this edition: reflects over a decade of research advances and the tremendous growth of harm reduction clinical practice and training section on applications, with chapters on community-based settings, harm reduction groups, and working with families and friends chapters on biological and psychodynamic aspects of treatment expanded discussions of trauma, cultural sensitivity, and ethics supplemental resources and training materials at the authors' website: www.harmreductiontherapy.org.

Patt Denning, PhD, one of the primary developers of harm reduction psychotherapy, is Director of Clinical Services and Training at the Harm Reduction Therapy Center (HRTC) in San Francisco, which she founded with Jeannie Little in 2000. HRTC provides a full range of mental health services to dually diagnosed individuals and trains hundreds of professionals each year. Dr. Denning has worked in community mental health and private practice since 1975, specializing in differential diagnosis, psychopharmacology, psychotherapy with seriously disturbed patients, HIV, and substance use disorders. She is a Diplomate Fellow in psychopharmacology and a certified addiction specialist through the American Psychological Association's College of Professional Psychology. Jeannie Little, LCSW, is Executive Director of HRTC. Since 1994, Ms. Little has developed harm reduction treatment services for multidiagnosed clients, beginning at Healthcare for Homeless Veterans and then in private practice and at HRTC. A certified group psychotherapist, she specializes in group treatment of substance use disorders and dual diagnosis. Ms. Little is a trainer in the areas of dual diagnosis, group treatment, and professional development of staff who work in a variety of social service and housing settings. She is coauthor, with Patt Denning and Adina Glickman, of a book for the general public, Over the Influence: The Harm Reduction Guide for Managing Drugs and Alcohol.

I. Setting the Stage 1. Why Practice Harm Reduction Psychotherapy? 2. What Is Harm Reduction Psychotherapy and Who Is It For? II. Harm Reduction Psychotherapy as an Integrated Treatment 3. Assessment as Treatment 4. Developing a Treatment Plan 5. The Fundamentals of Harm Reduction Psychotherapy 6. The Psychodynamic Matrix of Harm Reduction Psychotherapy 7. Motivational and Cognitive-Behavioral Contributions to Harm Reduction Psychotherapy 8. The Role of Biology in Harm Reduction Psychotherapy III. Applications 9. Harm Reduction Psychotherapy in Community-Based Settings 10. Harm Reduction Psychotherapy in Groups 11. The Power of Connection: Working with Families and Friends of Drug Users 12. What Does It Take to Practice Harm Reduction Psychotherapy? Appendix A. Differential Diagnosis Appendix B. Harm Reduction Supervision, Edith Springer Appendix C. Additional Resources Appendix D. Recommended Readings