ARTICLES

Using science and kindness to help people change

Dr. Jeff Foote, Co-Founder and Clinical Director of the Center for Motivation and Change, and his inspiring colleagues conducted a life-changing training in New York.

The 1906 stone Manor House is the heart of CMC:Berkshires’ residential treatment center. Photo courtesy CMC:Berkshires

The 1906 stone Manor House is the heart of CMC:Berkshires’ residential treatment center. Photo courtesy CMC:Berkshires

Carrie Wilkens, Ph.D., Jeffrey Foote, Ph.D., and Ken Carpenter Ph.D. Words matter. Our society’s beliefs about substance use and compulsive behavior problems—and the potential for change—are built into the words we use to speak about these issues.

When it comes to addiction, we are seeing unprecedented statistics: Nearly 25 million Americans suffer from a substance use disorder.

Helping someone struggling with substance use can be a very difficult and emotional journey, made worse by lack of understanding, fear, and the impact of stigma and shame.

Addiction is typically characterized by individuals who develop a strong and seemingly uncontrollable dependence for alcohol or some other drug of choice.

One of the major clinical innovations in the modern treatment of addiction is the community reinforcement approach and family training (CRAFT) intervention developed by Robert J. Meyers, PhD.