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Book Cover
Book
Author Levin, Jerome D. (Jerome David)

Title Treatment of alcoholism and other addictions : a self-psychology approach / Jerome D. Levin
Published Northvale, N.J. : J. Aronson, [1987]
©1987

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Location Call no. Vol. Availability
 MELB  616.861 LEV-T  AVAILABLE
Description xiv, 433 pages ; 23 cm
Contents 1. About self psychology: -- Psychological treatment of alcoholism and addiction -- Kohut and self psychology -- Addiction as a disturbance in the experience of the self -- Self psychology as a bridge between the counseling and psychoanalytic traditions -- Bill Wilson, AA, and narcissistic disturbance -- History of concepts of the self -- Carl Rogers and client-controlled counseling -- Kohut's theory of the self
2. About alcohol: -- What is alcohol? What does it do? -- Fermentation and the production of alcoholic beverages -- Ingestion and absorption of alcohol -- Alcohol's effect: what produces the high? -- Metabolism of alcohol -- Somatic illnesses associated with alcohol abuse
3. What is alcoholism?: -- The disease concept of alcoholism -- Classifications of alcoholism and alcoholics -- What do we know about alcoholism? -- Empirical psychological findings -- Anthropological evidence -- Longitudinal studies -- Specific populations -- Theories about alcoholism -- Jung and the founding of AA
4. Counseling the active alcoholic: -- Kirk: a success story -- Norman: a treatment failure -- Treating active addicts -- "God is in the quiet room": one patient's experience in a rehabilitation unit
5. Other addictions and their treatment: -- Dynamics of drug addiction -- Treating the active addict
6. A self-psychological theory of early sobriety: -- The experimental world of the newly sober alcoholic -- Pathological narcissism and the clinical alcoholic personality -- Pathological narcissism and the etiology of alcoholism -- Pathological narcissism and compulsivity -- Using the theory
7. Psychotherapy with the early-sobriety alcoholic: -- Building relationship -- The case of Larry R
8. Psychotherapy with the stably sober alcoholic: -- Internalization of sobriety -- Henry: a stifled young man -- Evelyn: a damaged woman who fought for health -- Setting goals -- Remediation of structural deficits in the self -- The narcissistic transferences -- Transmuting internalization -- Resolving intrapsychic conflicts -- Regressions and disappointments -- Changing roles: interpersonal conflict as a necessary correlate of healthy assertiveness -- Fear of success, fear of failure -- Terminations
Summary This comprehensive volume provides a solid understanding of the inner world of alcoholism, the dynamics of this disorder, and a range of therapeutic interventions to improve the effectiveness of psychotherapy in treating alcoholic patients. Levin's approach to the treatment of alcoholism serves as a model for the therapy of other addictions as well. He draws on material from across the sciences, along with the basic principles of psychoanalysis, focusing on the concepts of transference, countertransference, therapeutic alliance, resistance, and internalization and their application to the psychodynamic treatment of individuals involved in self-help programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous. The emphasis is basically on the self psychology developed by Heinz Kohut and his followers. This is a developmental view that considers alcoholism a disorder of self- a form of self-pathology, the essential characteristic being compulsiveness. The disorder is seen in terms of ego and self-deficits stemming from failure in internalization of the functions performed by the idealized self-object. A regression to, or a fixation at, pathological narcissism results. The addict attempts to self-medicate this deficit so as not to appear dependent on others. This accounts for the dependency conflicts that are so evident in alcoholics and other addicts. What must be internalized in not alcohol but the capacity to perform the functions of alcohol. This process of replacement is the thrust of the therapy. Alcoholism and substance abuse result in pervasive damage to the individual's physical, mental, and spiritual existence and have drastic consequences to their families and to society at large. This book is a major step toward meeting the critical need and demand for effective treatment. -- from Book Jacket
Analysis Alcoholism Psychotherapy
Notes Includes index
Bibliography Bibliography: pages 413-423
Notes Also issued online
Subject Alcoholism -- Treatment.
Psychotherapy.
Self psychology.
Self-perception.
Self.
Substance abuse -- Treatment.
Alcoholism -- therapy.
Ego.
Psychotherapy -- methods.
Self Concept.
Substance-Related Disorders -- therapy.
LC no. 87019563
ISBN 0876685211
0876689470 (hbk)