Holistic Approaches to Recovery

Description:

This course addresses underlying factors that create and contribute to substance use disorder and compulsive behaviors. The training will describe specific theories behind conventional treatment vs. holistic approaches, and demonstrate how the two can work synergistically to provide the best possible outcomes. 



Emphasis will be placed on the impact of trauma, emotional pain, chronic stress, and the environment. Participants will also learn how social conditioning, maladaptive behavior, and learned helplessness play a role in continued substance use and chronic relapse. In addition, the course will address the behavioral aspects of addiction spurred by human suffering. 



Participants will be encouraged to share effective stress management tools and strategies that build psychological resilience with clients and their families. The course also addresses recovery from a whole-person perspective, and offers a variety of cost effective treatments. 



Objectives: 

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

• Explain the theories behind the bio-medical model and holistic and integrated models.
• Describe the process for how trauma and stress lead to learned helplessness.
• Explain the benefits of positive psychology, and ways to integrate its concepts in a clinical or coaching practice.
• Define holistic treatments, and their specific application in treating substance use disorder.
• Discuss case studies in which treatment centers are successfully integrating holistic approaches.
• Recommend appropriate evidence-based interventions that support mental health clients.
• Understand the psychological, neuro-biological and behavioral responses to stress and trauma and how these conditions contribute to substance use disorder.