Mindfulness & Acceptance of Addictive Behaviors
Instructor: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LMHC
Executive Director: AllCEUs Counselor Education
Host: Counselor Toolbox Podcast
CEUs are available for this presentation at AllCEUs https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/1001/c/
Objectives
~ Define and review the concepts of contextual cognitive behavioral therapy
~ Explore the impact of context on people’s phenomenological reality
~ Explore how addiction and mental health issues can be influenced by context
~ Explore how acceptance, awareness, mindfulness and psychological flexibility can be used transdiagnostically.
Why Contextual
~ Addiction and mental health issues are often intergenerational
~ Addiction and Mental Health issues are strongly correlated with:
~ Each other
~ Adverse childhood experiences (history of and children with)
~ Impaired occupational and social functioning
~ Health problems
Contextual Approaches
~ Encourage mindfulness in the present moment
~ Accept each person’s “truth” is constructed from their schema and the resulting interpretation of the current moment
~ The goal is to consider the context and function of the past and present issue and empower the person to make a conscious choice toward their valued goals
~ Remember that the prefix RE means to do again
~ REpeat
~ REdo
~ REgress
~ RElapse
~ REaction
Childhood Context and Development
~ The family context can be a preventative or risk factor for the development of issues
~ Children develop schema about themselves, others and the world through these early interactions
~ In later life people continue to develop schema influenced by their past learning.
Caregiver Requirements for Secure Attachment and Healthy Development
~ Consistent Age-Appropriate Responsiveness
~ Trust
~ Autonomy
~ Industry
~ Identity
~ Empathy
~ Compassion
~ Effective Communication Skills
~ Unconditional Love
Think About It
~ What is it like for a child growing up in a house in which one or both parents has:
~ An addiction
~ A mental health issue
Common Addicted Characteristics
~ Difficulty dealing with life on life’s terms
~ Difficulty dealing with distress (poor coping)
~ Impulsivity / lack of patience and distress tolerance
~ Neglectfulness
~ Hostility
~ Defensiveness
~ Blaming
~ Manipulation
~ Withdrawal
~ From others/disconnected
~ No pleasure in other activities
~ Justification/minimization/denial
~ Low self-esteem
~ Guilt and shame
Common Characteristics in People with Mental Health Issues
~ Difficulty dealing with life on life’s terms
~ Difficulty dealing with distress (poor coping)
~ Impulsivity / lack of patience and distress tolerance
~ Neglectfulness
~ Hostility
~ Irritability
~ Withdrawal
~ From others/disconnected
~ Apathy
~ Low self-esteem
~ Guilt and shame
~ Fatigue
~ Sense of hopelessness or helplessness
The End Product
~ People’s REactions to things are based on prior learning + present moment.
~ Bridges
~ Stress
~ Depression
~ Self-esteem
Core Concepts in Contextual CBT
Mindfulness
~ Improves people’s ability to be present in the present
~ Shift from automatically reacting to thoughts and feelings based on schema to being aware of ALL experiences in the present to provide more flexibility
Encouraging Acceptance of Internal Experiences
~ Accepting thoughts, feelings, sensations without having to act on them
~ Radical Acceptance
~ Unhooking
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