Shame, Guilt, and Alcoholism: Treatment Issues in Clinical Practice

by Potter-Efron; Ron

• ISBN13: 9780866568555
• ISBN10: 0866568557
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1989-03-16
• Publisher: Routledge Menta

Summary

Increase your understanding of the link between alcoholism and shame and guilt with this tremendously important book that adds to our understanding of the total recovery process. This practical volume authoritatively defines the often elusive terms of shame and guilt and provides constructive suggestions to therapists for treating alcoholic clients and affected family members who are suffering from excessive quantities of shame and guilt. Shame, Guilt, and Alcoholism thoroughly explains to therapists the significant differences between shame and guilt as displayed by clients'experiences of failure, primary responses and feelings, precipitating events and involvement of self, and origins and central fears. Author Potter-Efron includes creative approaches to the general treatment of shame and guilt, explores the positive functions of shame and guilt, describes the conscious and subconscious defense mechanisms against shame and guilt, and highlights the very crucial family behaviors that initiate and encourage shame and guilt. Shame, Guilt, and Alcoholism adds immeasurably to our understanding of the total recovery process.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xi
Overview: Shame, Guilt, and Alcoholism	p. 1
Introduction and Definitions	p. 1
Four Basic Distinctions Between Shame and Guilt	p. 3
Models of Shame and Addiction	p. 7
Introduction	p. 7
The Disease Model of Addiction	p. 9
Self Psychology	p. 10
Affect Theory	p. 14
Family Systems Model	p. 18
Functional Theory	p. 24
Shame, Vulnerability, and the Four Spheres of Self	p. 27
Introduction	p. 27
The Presentation Self	p. 29
The Defensive Self	p. 32
The Comparative (Evaluative) Self	p. 33
Shame Waves, Cycles, and Spirals	p. 38
The Core Self	p. 44
Defenses Against Shame	p. 47
Introduction	p. 47
Withdrawal	p. 49
Denial	p. 52
Dissociation	p. 54
Projection	p. 56
Perfectionism	p. 58
Arrogance	p. 60
Shamelessness and Exhibitionism	p. 62
Rage	p. 65
Addiction As a Secondary Defense Against Shame	p. 66
Guidelines for the Treatment of Shame	p. 69
Introduction	p. 69
Treatment Guidelines	p. 70
The Treatment of Shame with Alcoholic Clients	p. 111
Introduction	p. 111
The Linkages Between Shame, Alcoholism, and Addiction	p. 112
Guidelines for the Treatment of Shame Issues with Alcoholic or Addicted Clients	p. 116
Adaptive and Maladaptive Guilt As Related to Addiction	p. 139
Adaptive Guilt and Addiction	p. 139
Maladaptive Guilt and Addiction	p. 140
Defenses Against Guilt	p. 143
Guilt and Addiction	p. 145
The Guilt-Alcoholism Cycle	p. 146
The Treatment of Guilt--General Considerations	p. 149
Introduction	p. 149
Suggested Sequence for the Treatment of Guilt	p. 150
Guidelines for the Treatment of Guilt	p. 154
The Treatment of Guilt with Alcoholic or Addicted Clients	p. 167
Introduction	p. 167
The Role of Adaptive Guilt in Recovery	p. 168
Guidelines for the Treatment of Guilt Issues with Alcoholic or Addicted Clients	p. 170
Common Shame and Guilt Themes in Families Affected by Alcoholism or Addiction	p. 185
Introduction	p. 185
Transferred Shame or Guilt	p. 185
Helping Recovering Persons Face Their Shame and Guilt	p. 187
Alcoholics Anonymous, Shame, and Guilt	p. 199
Introduction	p. 199
Alcoholics Anonymous and Shame	p. 199
The Recovering Alcoholic As a Responsibile Member of the Community	p. 203
Creative Approaches to Shame and Guilt: Helping the Adult Child of an Alcoholic	p. 205
Introduction	p. 206
Definitions of Guilt and Shame	p. 207
Approaches to Be Used	p. 208
Creative Methods for Dealing with Shame	p. 210
Guilt in Adult Children of Alcoholics	p. 217
Creative Methods for Dealing with Guilt	p. 218
Conclusion	p. 221
References	p. 223
Index	p. 231
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