Sarah Allen Benton – High-Functioning Alcoholics and Substance Users

Outline

Level of Functioning and Populations at Risk

• How stereotypes hide functioning alcoholics and drug users
• The profile of the high-functioning person in active addiction
• Challenges of diagnosing and working with high-functioning young adults
• Early recovery patterns – low functioning vs. high functioning

Break the Cycle of Shame and Addiction In High-Functioning Alcohol and Drug Users

• The myth of shame as a motivator for recovery
• The latest research on shame and addiction
• Compassion-based communication techniques to:
  • Bring shame into the light
  • Break down defensiveness
• The role of self-compassion in addiction treatment
• Recovery pride

Dual Diagnosis:
Integrated Strategies for Co-Occurring Disorders

• The impact of co-occurring disorders on addiction treatment outcomes
• DSM-5® and diagnosing high-functioning alcoholism and addiction
• Initial screening approaches
• Assessment tools to identify
  • High functioning alcoholics and substance users
  • Presence of co-occurring disorders
  • Readiness for change
  • Strengths that support recovery
• Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome vs. mental health symptoms

Move Clients Toward Post-Traumatic Growth With Interventions Informed by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Shattered Vase Exercise – plant the seeds of possibility
• Creating narratives
• Letter writing
• Positive remembering and repositioning
• Reframe the meaning

Clinical Tools Tailored to Functional People Experiencing an Alcohol or Drug Problem

• Crisis intervention – when and how
• How to establish rapport and trust
• Collaborative goal setting
• Establishing a behavioral plan
• Targeted treatment approaches for Dual Diagnosis clients
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Identify and challenge cognitive distortions about substance use
  • Create positive reframes
• Motivational Interviewing
  • Treatment strategies based on readiness for change
  • Motivational tools – keep clients in treatment
  • Harm reduction – meeting clients where they are at
• Narrative Therapy and case example
  • Personal stories of change and forming non-addiction identities
• Non-traditional addiction treatment
• Using family system leverage to motivate change
• Family agreements and contracts

Where 12-Step Programs Can Fall Short And How to Make them Work for Your Client

• 12-Step programs – benefits and limitations with high functioning clients
• Program models and language
• Supporting dual diagnosis treatment
• Effective strategies for integrating 12-Step models into treatment

Research, Research Limitations and Potential Treatment Risks

• Research and research limitations
• How private pay care keeps the high-functioning population under the radar
• When clients don’t identify as being alcoholic