I am trying to help someone that has a prescription addiction

I saw my client once and have another session with next week. My client has been on Vicadin, oxcotin, xanax, you name it. Really wants to quit. Has 2 kids 13 and 14 yrs. Has his own business, and tried quitting before and had success. Went through withdrawals when quitting for a year. He knows what he is going to go through when not taking pills any longer. My question is I am not experienced with this and really want to help him. Any suggestions?

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Permalink Reply by James Klingensmith on April 8, 2009 at 12:04pm

If your not experinced with it refer out, otherwise call your teacher and ask them to help you.

Before you do anything else ask him to join a 12 step program, call his dr. (with written permission) and let him know what is going on and how hypnosis can help with pain controll and addtions.

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Permalink Reply by Pattie Freeman CH.t, MST on April 15, 2009 at 11:48pm

Andrea,

Addiction for Drugs, alcohol and prescription drugs are all the same they are all addictions...
If the client feels comfortable with you then he/she should be honest enough where you can help them.
Suggest the 12 step program later on.. but also make sure they want to be there..make sure the prescriptions they are taking is from a doctor and you should find out if there is a medical problem or a reoccurring situation.

if you need some more advice email me at pattie@hypnosisbypattie.com I work with addictions...

Pattie

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Permalink Reply by John Sannicandro on April 16, 2009 at 4:25am

Your patient may need a formal detox. Do not treat a client like this unless you have had him medically cleared. You are out of your scope of practice if you treat without medical clearance. After he is properly detoxed you can make very valuable contributions to his recovery, Good Luck.

John
www.jslmhc.com

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Permalink Reply by Scott Sandland on April 16, 2009 at 11:43am

Immediate withdrawal from some prescription drugs can have very dangerous side effects. Your Client definitely needs to talk to a doctor before anything else can happen. You shouldn't do anything until you have communicated with that doctor.

Beyond that, there are definitely some things you can do with the right tools. Generating self efficacy, motivation, and understanding how addiction works are big first steps. Let's move on from the obvious warnings you have received and see if you have specific theory based questions that we can all answer for you. This may very well be a referral situation, but if we learn enough now the next one doesn't have to be.

-Scott

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan on April 16, 2009 at 3:14pm

Make sure you recommend 12 Step if you want them in a toxic social situation with people often court ordered to be there, modeling less than effective skills of self proclaimed addicts for life.

J

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Permalink Reply by Scott Sandland on April 16, 2009 at 5:11pm

Jonathan-

I work in and out of 12 step programs and I think your generalization is misleading. While there are plenty of programs that fall under you characterization, there are many that do not. The first thing to recognize is that the 12 steps are written in the past tense, which if you study NLP you will find to be a tremendous shift in your understanding of what they are saying.

The other important piece, if you study NLP, is to remember to always respect someone else's model of the world, especially when they differ from yours.

Let's not take tools and options away until we find out what the benefits of them are and what the needs of the individual may be. Some support systems are good, some sponsors have saved lives, and many meetings are very empowering. There are some that don't do the job well, just like some hypnotists, teachers, doctors, etc. 12 step is not always the right answer, of course not, but that doesn't make it a dragon to slay.

I could go on, but I think that's enough for this evening.

Respectfully,
Scott Sandland

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Permalink Reply by Pattie Freeman CH.t, MST on April 16, 2009 at 7:14pm

Scott is right getting him off of it should be through the dr. recommendation..get a referral from the Physcian and go from there..on the Dr. ok....everyone has good points..

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Permalink Reply by John Sannicandro on April 17, 2009 at 12:41am

Scott;
Thank you for so eloquently summing up my feelings and I am sure the feelings of many others on 12 Step Groups. We need to remember it is our clients treatment, not ours, and whatever works....works.

John
www.jslmhc.com

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan on April 17, 2009 at 10:16am

Hi Scott, and readers,

Generalization... true. The 12 Steps are an excellent path, no doubt. If it Works it Works, to be sure.

12 Step in its concept is often very different than the dynamic of group work, and there is much to be gained from an understanding of both. Not all facilitators have the sense you do from the work you've done. I would say very few...

Andrea says she wants to help, and I agree referring him out would be the best help an inexperienced person can give. Recovery, addiction, all nominalizations... fine distinctions make all the difference in forming outcomes. This world needs all the positive outcomes it can get!

Rhetorically: With all this, and your reference to "models of the world" in mind, what might I be talking about?

I'm all for using the right tool for the proper outcome... spoons, shovels or scalpels.

Noone asked if his scrip was from a Dr. or if they were street pills... does it matter?

I hear and respect what you all are saying, and know you are are working very closely with these issues. I also imagine as more people come to a proper understanding of living in balance, the issue to which I refer will dwindle.

Keep on Stepp'n, Steppers! More power to you!

With much respect in return,

J

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Permalink Reply by Pattie Freeman CH.t, MST on April 17, 2009 at 11:50am

John,

As with hypnosis and other 12 step programs it has to be the clients idea to come to you and telling them about the 12 step program is kinda telling them about something ahead of why they are coming to you...in short.just worry about the hypnosis session with your client and what he is asking for if he suggest other alternatives then you can be prepared with some info. but I would not worry before hand about it.

Your client came to you for help and answer so work on that and let him gain his trust with you so you can help him see positive changes in his life...hope this helps but, by reading the post I think we all feel the same way...good luck with our client!

Pattie