030. Addiction, Substance Abuse, and Compulsive Behavior: Assessment, Treatment, and Effective Tools for Recovery

Summary 

Addiction and other compulsive behaviors have devastating effects on individuals, families, communities, and cultures. Biological, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of persons are involved in the progression into addiction and help direct the recovery journey out of addiction and into abundant living. This intensive presents current evidence-based approaches to: understanding addiction; the involvement of bio-psycho-socio-spiritual factors; competent diagnosis, assessment, and treatment options; and effective strategies for establishing sustained recovery. Substance and behavioral/process addictions, as well as other compulsive behaviors, are considered to address current developments, debates, and trends. Our world has been impacted by addiction in ways that have significantly intensified during the opioid epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic. This intensive is one effort to help us “Rise Together” as psychologists, licensed mental health service providers, and recovery ministry leaders to bring hope and healing to a hurting world impacted by addiction. 

Learning Objectives 

Participants will: 

1. Summarize current epidemiological information about addiction and other compulsive behaviors 
2. Utilize aspects of current models of addiction and recovery that include bio-psycho-socio-spiritual dimensions 
3. Evaluate principles and measures related to diagnosis, screening, assessment, and treatment of addictive and co-occurring mental disorders in an integrated approach for psychologists and licensed mental health professionals 
4. Identify the influences of psychological and spiritual dimensions on neuroplasticity, addiction, and other compulsive behaviors 
5. Develop a clear overview of the scope of the problem of pornography, infidelity, and compulsive sexual behavior in the Christian community 
6. Discuss how family of origin, trauma, attachment, addiction, and sin, from a Christian client’s perspective, impact the brain, body, and soul of a person, and gain a clearer picture of how sexual acting out is a futile attempt to medicate traumatic wounds 
7. Develop a clinical and biblical treatment plan with Christian clients for psychologists, licensed mental health professionals, and ministry leaders to safely, effectively, and successfully help those struggling with pornography, infidelity, and sex addiction 
8. Describe how to assess different eating disorders to inform treatment direction 
9. Evaluate alternative treatment methods for compulsive overeating, addictive eating, and bulimia 
10. Demonstrate skills in applying tools to help clients transform unhealthy eating and food obsession patterns