Synopses & Reviews
Review
"What can you do for people with a substance-abusing loved one who refuses to get help? Quite a lot, as it turns out, and these are among the most desperate, motivated, and rewarding clients you will ever treat. Drs. Smith and Meyers describe the CRAFT method that they have shown to be highly effective not only in reducing family members' distress, but also in getting their loved one into treatment. Their clearly written and well-organized narrative provides step-by-step guidelines for delivering this evidence-based approach. Through their decades of careful research and practice, Smith and Meyers have given the field a learnable and reliably effective clinical tool."--William R. Miller, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico
"This book is 'must' reading for all current and future practitioners in the field of substance abuse, and should be a required text in master's-level substance abuse courses in clinical psychology, social work, and other helping professions. In addition to reviewing the strong research base for their empirically supported treatment approach, the authors provide detailed instructions for clinical implementation. Everyone who values evidence-based practice--from students to experienced practitioners--will treasure this book."--Allen Rubin, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin
"This book is the first detailed description of CRAFT, written for therapists and students who are interested in learning this very effective, empirically verified approach for helping the family members and significant others of substance abusers. Drs. Smith and Meyers are the preeminent experts on this approach, having developed it and conducted much of the research evaluating it. Written in a style that is accessible to therapists and students with varying theoretical perspectives, this volume is an excellent text for graduate courses and continuing education workshops in clinical and counseling psychology, pastoral care, family therapy, and substance abuse."--Kimberly C. Kirby, PhD, Treatment Research Institute and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
"An outstanding resource for psychologists, social workers, and counselors. This book shows how to help family members encourage a loved one to get help for a substance abuse problem. Years of research show that the approach described in this book works. CRAFT is more effective than our traditional methods for dealing with this difficult clinical challenge. I highly recommend it."--Timothy OFarrell, PhD, Families and Addiction Program, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
"Finally, there is a research-based, comprehensive, respectful, and effective approach to empowering concerned significant others to take charge of their lives and manage their side of the relationship with a substance abuser. Smith and Meyers have done a wonderful job. Their sophisticated yet practical approach is described in a very user-friendly manner, including specific clinical strategies and extensive sample dialogues. I wish I had had this book years ago to give my staff in the alcoholism treatment clinic, and I also recommend it to counselors and therapists in more general settings. An invaluable contribution!"--Carlo C. DiClemente, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Review
"This book presents....an empirically based, nonconfrontational therapy program designed for the concerned significant other (CSO) who wants to motivate a partner or family member to seek help. I found the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) approach, presented by authors Smith and Meyers, to be progressive in its basic premise, practical, and generally applicable to counselors working in a variety of settings....For those clinicians who may not be confident in their knowledge of drinking or using behavior, the text provides vivid examples and a step-by-step process for getting started, guiding the CSO, identifying short- and long-term consequences for both the IP and the CSO, and ultimately how to help get the substance abuser into treatment."--The Family Journal
Review
"This is an overview and comprehensive step-by-step guide to the implementation of the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) program for people with alcohol and drug problems....The book utilises numerous case examples, provides helpful suggestions on how best to broach difficult subjects, and ways to teach well-tested motivational, behavioral, and cognitive interventions that would be useful to a range of health and social care professionals....This program must be recommended for its emphasis on empowering family members, used to experiencing high levels of helplessness, as well as the strong evidence for the effectiveness of this program in motivating substance abusers to engage in treatment....Effective in providing a clear and detailed guide to initiating and delivering this program for practitioners in a range of clinical settings."--The Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling, and Psychotherapy
Synopsis
Filling a crucial need, this book presents Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT), a time- and cost-effective therapy program oriented to individuals who want to motivate a loved one to seek help. The authors' nonconfrontational approach teaches concerned significant others (CSOs) how to change their own behavior in order to reward sobriety, discourage substance use, and ultimately to help get the substance abuser into treatment. The CSO also gains valuable skills for problem solving and self-care. Step-by-step instructions for implementing CRAFT are accompanied by helpful case examples and reproducibles.
Synopsis
Filling a crucial need, this book presents Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT), a time- and cost-effective therapy program oriented to individuals who want to motivate a loved one to seek help. The authors' nonconfrontational approach teaches concerned significant others (CSOs) how to change their own behavior in order to reward sobriety, discourage substance use, and ultimately to help get the substance abuser into treatment. The CSO also gains valuable skills for problem solving and self-care. Step-by-step instructions for implementing CRAFT are accompanied by helpful case examples and reproducibles.
About the Author
Jane Ellen Smith, PhD, is a Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where she is also the Director of Clinical Training. She received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Specializing in both alcoholism and eating disorders, Dr. Smith has written numerous articles and chapters on these topics. She is the coauthor of Clinical Guide to Alcohol Treatment: The Community Reinforcement Approach, also with Robert J. Meyers. She has received federal grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to test the Community Reinforcement Approach with homeless individuals. Dr. Smith is the recipient of the University of New Mexicos highest teaching award: the Presidential Teaching Fellowship.
Robert J. Meyers, PhD, is the Director of Robert J. Meyers, PhD, and Associates, and an Adjunct Research Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of New Mexico, where his primary affiliation is with the Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions. Dr. Meyers is the recipient of the 2002 Dan Anderson Research Award from the Hazelden Foundation, and the 2003 Young Investigator Award from the Research Society on Alcoholism. He has published dozens of scientific articles and several books, including Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading and Threatening. Dr. Meyers has been in the addictions field since 1976. He was recently featured prominently for his work in O, The Oprah Magazine and in the HBO documentary series, Addiction.
Table of Contents
1. Description of Community Reinforcement and Family Training
2. Building and Sustaining Motivation of Concerned Significant Others
3. Functional Analysis of a Problem Behavior
4. Domestic Violence Precautions
5. Improving Communication Skills of Concerned Significant Others
6. Positive Reinforcement of Clean and Sober Behavior
7. The Use of Negative Consequences
8. Helping Concerned Significant Others Enrich Their Own Lives
9. Inviting the Identified Patient to Enter Treatment
10. Empirical Support for CRAFT