The therapist then asks the clients to tell their own stories about mind reading while identifying the hurt feelings, confusion and conflict that can result when individuals in a relationship don't make their needs known to one another. Discussion of the damaging role of drugs and alcohol is also an important part of such sessions. Currently, Leukefeld and Cynthia Brown, research associate with the UK Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, are analyzing data from the study to see how well the pilot program worked. The study team is looking not only at the participants' level of addiction before and after the rural therapy, but also their opinions about the effectiveness of the treatment. Anecdotally, however, Leukefeld and Brown think the treatment is working.
Preliminary results indicate changes in drug and alcohol use among participants.
A manual will be published to train health-care providers across the commonwealth, including in urban areas, in the storytelling technique. This approach is creative and it's fun. Leukefeld and his research team plan to apply for additional funding through the National Institute on Drug Abuse to conduct a clinical trial on the treatment.