Getting Beyond Sobriety: Clinical Approaches to Long-Term Recovery

by Michael Craig Clemmens

In this ground-breaking book, Michael Clemmens offers a new model of treatment for long-term recovery which goes beyond the traditional "disease" paradigm. Working from the belief that a fuller life for the recovering addict is grounded on a foundation of abstinence, the author explores a "self-modulation" approach which leads to a change in the behavior from within the individual while developing and expanding connection with others.

194 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Natalie]

Clemmens presents a model for treating substance addictions based on Gestalt Therapy. He proposes how the contact cycle of someone addicted to a substance is different from a healthy contact cycle. In the presented model for recovery he suggests different phases, each with specific areas and topics to focus on.

Overall, I found the book very interesting. I appreciate the case examples throughout the book. I would recommend it to Gestalt therapists working in addiction treatment and also to other people with some background knowledge in Gestalt who are interested in the field of addiction treatment.