The Heart of Addiction: An Emerging Paradigm for Understanding Addiction

Description:Emerging research, especially brain research and human development research, is advancing co-occurring counseling to a place where clients will have a better opportunity to thrive. In the past, clinicians who work with clients with substance abuse issues focused primarily on cognitive and behavioral issues related to “addictive patterns of thinking”, recovery skills, relapse planning, and the twelve steps. Based upon my studies and experience, I have come to believe we must address the underlying issues of addiction, often attachment disorders. The work of Louis Cozolino, Philip Flores, Larry Crabb and many others stress the importance of healthy relationships as a significant key to a meaningful life. The moralistic model regarding addiction asks, “What is wrong with you?” A better question, one that will help us understand the heart of addiction is, “What happened to you?” This question invariably is answered by talking about deep wounds caused by unhealthy relationships. Vincent Felitti attributes adverse childhood experiences that have resulted in poor attachments and poor emotion regulation as a high-risk factor for addiction. Kathy Brous says, “alcoholics in particular may be born with a sense of separation (perhaps borne out of genetic impairment) which results in neurotransmitter deficits.” In a paper, "Amygdala Volume and Social Network Size in Humans," the authors report that amygdala volume correlates with reported social network size and complexity. (Bickart, et al., 2010) The larger the volume of the subject's amygdala, the larger and more complex was the subject's reported social network. This study, like Feinstein et al., also reinforces the hypothesis that the amygdala plays an important role in guiding our social interactions. The Developmental Assets model created by the Search Institute is a program for helping adolescents. When looking at the external and internal assets needed for success, the importance of healthy relationships is integrated throughout the model, an excellent model related to prevention. The concepts are applicable when working with adults whose development includes poor attachments. When considering what has been learned about the brain and “what works”, a new way of looking at addiction and recovery is needed. This presentation will help participants reframe addiction, make a paradigm shift in thinking, and gain a working model for helping those with co-occurring issues move toward holistic healing. marijuana cards.

CE Broker Tracking #20-680577

This event is sponsored by FMHCA, an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider. FMHCA NBCC Provider# 2058. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  FMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW – FMHCA CE Broker #: 50-748

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the epistemology of the brain as a social organ.

2. Analyze the ramifications of attachment disorders on addiction as an underlying factor.

3. Apply information learned to the field of counseling by reviewing a model the presenter has found

effective

About the Presenter: Jack Perkins, D.Min., LADC

Jack is the founder of Psuche Education, Counseling & Coaching Services. He is a certified life coach and sexual addiction counselor. He also served as a consultant for MONARCH, a residential facility for women. He also served as the Executive Director at Clay Crossing, a faith-based co-occurring residential facility for men, following retirement from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, where he served as the Admissions Director at Rose Rock Recovery Center, a 48-bed residential facility serving women with co-occurring issues—a trauma specific model utilizing the Sanctuary Model. In his doctoral dissertation/project he integrated spirituality, human development theories and psychotherapy. He has 30 plus years of professional experience from a broad range of experiences (i.e., workshop presenter, adjunct teaching, addiction and trauma specific counseling and training, administration, research, program development, institutional assessment and development, community service and leadership development, reentry/criminal justice, pastoral and chaplaincy, K-12 life coach for at risk students, etc.). He is currently compiling a book about his philosophy of counseling, including types of groups and presentations he utilizes in a residential setting for those struggling with co-occurring issues. Jack is also conducting a research project related to multigenerational trauma, to include the development of a strategy to address this issue. Jack has developed a program, The Together We Thrive program, for the Ft. Gibson School District (Oklahoma, USA), a K-12 program designed to identify at risk children and develop initiatives to assist them. He has 30 plus years of professional experience from a broad range of experiences.