MANAGING THE TALKING ROUTE TO RECOVERY

Key studies on managing and supervising psychosocial treatments for problem drinking. Starts with an essay from two leading researchers into these treatments, “bravely questioning what it’s all been for” when routine implementation has proved elusive. Highlights the study which found “leaders ... have a cascading impact on their staff in ways other than through mandate”, then addresses two key issues:
- Workshop training has limited effects - so is ‘coaching’ the right model for producing good counsellors and therapists?
- Find out then reveal to the...

IS REFLECTIVE LISTENING ALL THAT’S NEEDED?

Just two alcohol treatment studies have tested Carl Rogers’ classic account of the “necessary and sufficient conditions” for effective therapy. Each stripped out motivational interviewing’s directive elements, leaving only ‘Rogerian’ empathic and reflective listening. Did the clients do just as well? If the iconoclastic Rogers who “doubted every authority including his own” had lived to find out, he might have felt his doubts only partly justified.

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THE TALKER IN TALKING THERAPIES

Key studies on the impact of the practitioner in psychosocial therapies for alcohol dependence. Structured around Carl Rogers’ classic account of the “necessary and sufficient conditions” for effective therapy. Highlights the seminal alcohol study that validated empathy, understanding and warmth, and explores three key issues:
- Is Rogerian ‘sounding board’ listening really all that’s needed?
- Does being genuine entail contravening other Rogerian mandates?
- If therapists are influential, why don’t more studies register their effects?

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THE COMMON CORE OF EFFECTIVE THERAPIES

Starting point in last week’s exploration of psychosocial therapies was 2018’s “impressively wise overview” of research on ‘common factors’ they share from a task force with the authority of the American Psychological Association. It was the third such project, the first of which in 1999 represented a turning point in a movement which dates back at least to 1936 and Saul Rosenzweig’s brief seminal paper, elaborated 25 years later by Jerome Frank into one of the most influential books on psychosocial therapy. Explore with us these landmarks and how they...

THE TALKING ROUTE TO RECOVERY

Every treatment involves human interaction, but this cell is about therapies in which interaction is the intended active ingredient – ‘psychosocial’ therapies, the mainstay of alcohol dependence treatment. Starts with the American Psychological Association’s (APA) “impressively wise overview” of the features shared by effective therapies and highlights the £1.5 million UK trial of a new therapy; why were the researchers’ expectations confounded? Then asks whether therapy can make things worse, argues that guidance has been misled into advocating packaged...

The Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA) is supporting the Commission on Alcohol Harm: An Inquiry into the Effects of Alcohol on Society.

The Commission was established to examine the current evidence on alcohol harm, recent trends in alcohol harm and the changes needed to reduce the harm caused by alcohol. 

The Commission examined the need for a new comprehensive alcohol strategy for England, which takes account of the strategies in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and considers UK-wide priorities in areas where policy is not devolved. 

The publication is structured around the...

TREATMENT SYSTEMS TRANSCEND INDIVIDUAL SERVICES

Online course on alcohol treatment research moves out to the level of whole treatment systems, highlighting the simple US innovation which routed detoxification recyclers into longer term remission, freeing up expensive resources. See if your vision of a ‘good’ service corresponds with that of an expert group. One criterion might be responding appropriately to mental illness; explore with us whether Britain is making progress on organising care at the substantial overlap between problem drinking and mental illness.

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