Learning the Language of Addiction Counseling

by Geri Miller

A comprehensive, up-to-date, and user-friendly resource

Learning the Language of Addiction Counseling, Second Edition offers an illuminating view of the clinical, theoretical, and research work that comprises the addiction counseling field. Presenting a pragmatic counseling framework rather than trying to reconcile differing theories, this helpful text gives readers the knowledge and guidance needed to choose appropriate techniques and best practices for treating addicted individuals.

Throughout the text, case studies and interactive exercises assist readers in applying knowledge gained, whether in a self-teaching or a classroom setting. Addiction counseling expert and teacher Geri Miller presents a wide variety of topics designed to increase skills and understanding--from cutting-edge research to the latest in the self-help/grassroots therapy movement.

Fully revised and expanded, this Second Edition
* Theories of counseling related to addiction treatment

* Assessment and diagnosis of addiction using interviews, behavioral observations, andphysiological and psychometric instruments

* Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of dual disorders

* The treatment process for addictions, including crisis intervention and individual, group, and family therapy

* Relapse prevention

* Treatment-related issues such as rape and sexual abuse, sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, and eating disorders

* Self-help groups

* Current and evolving therapy approaches and techniques, including positive psychology, resilience, the stages-of- change model, motivational interviewing, and brief therapy

* Special treatment issues such as those related to gender, ethnicity, disability, adolescence, the elderly, and the homeless

* Personal and professional development of the counselor, including ethical issues, court testimony, working in difficult situations, self-care, and other issues in working with addicts

* Preparing for certification and licensure as an addiction professional



The most comprehensive, up-to-date, and user-friendly resource available, Learning the Language of Addiction Counseling, Second Edition offers a powerful learning tool for both students and professionals.

Genres: Counselling, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Addiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published November 23, 1998

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up. It was a textbook after all

[Ahri · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book left too many gaps for me, I always had to go in search of outside sources to fully comprehend the concepts.

[Susa Schwalbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, comprehensive textbook on addiction counseling. A keeper.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information, well-thought chapters, and structure, but one of the driest texts I've read in a long time. Most chapters could have easily been halfed based on repetition alone.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps there are some issues that will show up in the application of the ideas here, but the book is a comprehensive resource that is well organized and has resources at the end of each chapter.

[AmyRose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the majority of this book for class. Good intro to the addictions field, with helpful resources listed at the end of each chapter.

[Michael Chan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An alright introduction into the realm of addiction counselling with a decent amount of information. However, the reading itself is extremely dry with excessive amounts of repetition.
Despite the topic being addiction counselling, nearly no medical information (besides correlations and prevalence statistics which are quite useless clinically) was given for the various common drugs encountered in the field and their effects on our brain systems. Drug-on-drug synergistic actions were not discussed either. In short, this book will not teach you about the drugs you're supposed to be weaning your patients from... which appears to be quite the oversight given its importance.
It does has some good case studies to think through however.
Overall, it's alright... but I'm certain there are better books out there on this topic..

[Fishface · Rating 2 out of 5]

The information in here is good enough, but nothing to write home about. The book is woefully in need of a thorough text- and copy-edit. Nobody involved in producing this volume appears to have known the difference between an adjective and an adverb, and I would expect better if I had bought this new! They also use "like" when they mean "as." Here's a quote: "...in a attitude survey they were doing." Here's another: "One type of schemata is person schemata, where the impressionsof a group of people are overly rigid..." Sheesh. The first half of the book is NOT about 'the language of addiction counseling," but goes instead into the language of domestic violence, sexual assault and mental illness.