The True, The Good, and the Beautiful In his lecture titled, “The True, The Good, and The Beautiful” Roger Scruton asks what those three things embrace and what they have to do with each other. Overall, the subject matter of that lecture is aesthetics: the philosophy of art and beauty. Scruton states that pleasure says, … Continue reading Should We Include a Moral Dimension? The Aesthetics and Anesthetics of Addiction
Author: Brian Coon
Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Chrissy Smith
Who are you? I’m Chrissy Smith. I’m a licensed clinical social worker, and I’m a mom, and a wife, and that about sums it up. I have a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Bradley University with a minor in Psychology. I have a Master’s in Social Work with a focus on Community Behavioral Health from … Continue reading Addiction Professionals in the Pandemic – Chrissy Smith
Coaching Tips for System Change and Recovery Orientation
We often expect those we serve to: be willing to make significant changes, sustain effort while making difficult changes that take time, and be willing to endure and benefit from practical lessons while making change. But what about changes our organizations can make? Could some peer support of the organizational change process be helpful? Could … Continue reading Coaching Tips for System Change and Recovery Orientation
Research Describes Everyone and Applies to No One
Two experiences I had that took place roughly 25 years into my clinical work combined to effectively dismantle my strict allegiance to the primacy of “empiricism” as it was taught to me, and rigorous use of “evidence-based practices” as I had been trained. I'll discuss those two experiences down below. But a few years before … Continue reading Research Describes Everyone and Applies to No One
Meditation on the Serenity Prayer
Action is in italics. What one lacks is held in circles. One asks for what one lacks.
The Change Process
Why consider the change process, and what is the application of the ideas I will present? Clinical addiction professionals are trained in sequential change (Stages of Change, 12 Steps, etc.) rather than continuously wholistic, organic and dynamic change processes.Should we always assume and work within a staged approach?Clinical addiction professionals are trained in symptom reduction … Continue reading The Change Process
“One-Kind-Fits-All” Denial, All the Time
Anil Seth is a neuroscientist whose main research interest is consciousness - a vast topic beyond the intent of this writing. I once attended a conference lecture Anil gave on consciousness during which Anil described a phenomenon I found very striking and I have never forgotten. To skip my verbal description of what Anil showed … Continue reading “One-Kind-Fits-All” Denial, All the Time
Is It Too Late to Ask, “What Is Empathy?”
Is the person that is speaking relatively known or relatively unknown to us? Do we hear their words, or do we hear them (their person)? As we listen, how do we determine if we hear or neglect their words? As we listen, how do we determine if we hear or neglect their person? As we … Continue reading Is It Too Late to Ask, “What Is Empathy?”
Older Model 2.0, Newer Model 3.0
When I entered full time clinical work back in 1988, I entered the primary SUD (vs primary MH) side of a relatively large community agency with dozens of units and specialty programs spread across the city, and a dedication to innovative services. One of those innovative programs was a 24/7/365 mobile crisis intervention program called … Continue reading Older Model 2.0, Newer Model 3.0
Addiction Counselors Should Become Familiar with “Recovery”
What are some things an addiction professional can do to become familiar with “Recovery”? Suggestions include: Attend open meetings (Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Smart Recovery, etc.)Read the Alcoholics Anonymous “Big Book” and the Narcotics Anonymous Basic TextListen to recovery Speakers on online media Read recovery memoirsSit in on a whole program length of a particular … Continue reading Addiction Counselors Should Become Familiar with “Recovery”
Recovery Review 