An exploration of Focusing-oriented Therapy for Addictions

Tidmarsh, Alan (2013) An exploration of Focusing-oriented Therapy for Addictions. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

This study aims to provide the first systematic explication of focusing-oriented
therapy for clients with addiction. It begins with basic principles from the
Philosophy of the Implicit – experience, interaction, focaling and carrying forward -
outlining their significance in psychopathology and therapy. General focusingoriented
therapy is examined in terms of five client tasks and four therapist
responses. A focusing-oriented view of addiction is then developed in terms of
phenomena that, socially and personally, deal with unacceptable experience
through ‘process-skipping, ‘flailing’ and the use of a ‘carapace.’ Three core tasks
of focusing-oriented therapy for recovery are proposed. These help a client stand
aside from the addictive carapace, carry forward underlying existential dilemmas
and discover a new way of being-in-the-world. Five further recovery ‘avenues’ are
identified using experiential aspects of mainstream treatments for addiction and
experiential recovery tasks are suggested for them. These understandings of
addiction and focusing-oriented therapy for recovery are illustrated in two
substantial case studies of therapy in a mainstream drug and alcohol treatment
agency. Proposals are made suggesting a greater significance for experiential
therapy in addiction treatment.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Education and Lifelong Learning
Depositing User:	Users 2259 not found.
Date Deposited:	11 Mar 2014 12:21
Last Modified:	11 Mar 2014 12:21
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/48047
DOI:

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