. As you watch the 187 Models of Treatment for Addiction video, consider what treatment model you may use the most with clients presenting with addictio

Psychotherapy Individuals Clients with Addictive Disorders.

In our work as a Mental health specialist, we see individuals suffering from addictions even if they are not abusing any substance. An addiction is a tendency to use repetitively and, hence, without thought. This can involve a substance, a state, an experience, or a relationship. The addiction can be in the form of substance abuse, gambling, pornography, use of the internet, shopping, and perverse ways of relating. This either provides immediate relief or at least a distraction from something that feels unbearable. The individual set up a repetitive cycle that offers a retreat from the real feelings of others and, importantly, allows for the illusion of complete control. Most people come to psychotherapy because they are troubled by something and because they feel that their problems are having an adverse impact on those they love and care for. They are troubled by the fact that despite talent, they have become stuck in their lives. In contrast, a person with addiction is often brought by others. Most persons with addictive disorders are not able to think about changing anything, at least not in themselves (Verma & Vijayakrishnan, 2018).

The First Episode

At the start of the episode, Mr. Leavy is seen sitting at the kitchen table and looks ill. He states, “I’m not going to work today. I am sick.” Mrs. Leavy addresses the fact that Mr. Leavy drinks all night long by himself in a dark room watching TV. From the encounter, you can tell that Miss Leavy is worried about her husband’s drinking and states that their relationship is not the same due to his irritability and being hungover. She is also concerned about the negative influence that the drinking could be having on their children. “go to bed before the kids see you.” During this first encounter, Mr. Leavy becomes irritable and defensive when his wife tries to communicate with him about his drinking. “It’s called leave me the hell alone.” Mrs. Leavy admits to her husband that she does not know if she can continue a marriage if Mr. Leavy’s behaviors do not change. “You were not like this when we first met. I want that back.” To that, Mr. Leavy reveals that he is not the same person since going to “Iraq.” At the end of episode one, Mrs. Leavy is unable to convince her husband that he should seek assistance with his substance abuse and other mental health issues. One well-documented reason that individuals in the military do not seek treatment is to avoid the stigma associated with having a mental illness. Stigma is typically defined as a “mark” that distinguishes one from others and links them to undesirable characteristics (Brown et al., 2010).

Episode 2

The second episode starts with a therapist discussing the Leavy case with her supervisor. The therapist taking the case is excited about the opportunity, admitting that she does not work with younger veterans with substance and PTSD issues. She mentions a few different types of treatments that she thinks might be beneficial to the client, including art, therapy, yoga, and meditation. At this point, the supervisor rightfully interjects the therapist. At this time, he wants to make sure that the client will be at the center of the treatment planning. The supervisor wants to make sure that in treating the client best, evidence-based practice is being used, according to Gallegos et al. Findings suggest that complementary approaches to the treatment of PTSD that utilize meditation or yoga are warranted among veterans, with interventions yielding small to moderate effects on PTSD symptom reduction. Complementary health interventions increase patient choice and may be offered as a second-line treatment option for PTSD, but more research needs to be done to warrant these types of therapies as first-line treatment of PTSD. The gold standard initial treatment for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). This first line of treatment for PTSD is CBT, which can be considered before antidepressants are administered, CBT has been proven effective in decreasing the symptoms of veterans with PTSD with prolonged exposure (Wheeler, 2014). The goal of therapy is for the client’s symptoms to improve; therefore, taking a risk on non-evidenced practices can lead to possible failure and disconnect with the client.

Episode 3

In the first session, the therapists’ approach proved to be successful. The therapist opted for Exposure therapy, which is a form of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), to have Mr. Levy learn to cope with his traumatic experiences in Iraq. Research suggests that CBT therapy focuses on the importance of past emotions, identification of patterns of behav