Addiction as an Attachment Disorder
This text excels in its discussion of how attachment theory informs the therapeutic alliance (what some would call 'professional use of self') and in explaining how and why therapy works. (PsycCRITIQUES)At last a book has been written which brings to light what most psychotherapists and addiction counselors intuitively understand: addictive processes and attachment problems are intricately intertwined. For the addicted individual, relationships with substances supercede human relationships. Flores spells out the myriad ways in which addiction and attachment are connected, including how the two overlap at the biological, psychological, and social levels. Evolving out of this theoretical understanding, the book describes effective treatment strategies which can include 12-step programs, individual and/or group therapy. Like the best of clinical texts, this one brings abstract theoretical concepts to the experiential and practice levels. In so doing, Flores provides the reader with two books in one. He develops a general model for an attachment-based psychotherapy. Specific to the addiction field, he convincingly shows how relational problems, whether the cause or consequence of addictive behaviors, are best treated by developing the capacity for healthy interpersonal relationships.(Marilyn Freimuth, PhD, faculty member at the Fielding Graduate Institute and private practitioner in New York City)It is indeed rare to find a thoughtful and scholarly blend of theoretical material and clinical wisdom in a single volume. Dr. Flores has integrated the critical elements of attachment and object relations theory, individual, group, and family interventions, relevant addiction research findings, and their therapeutic applications to the problem of substance abuse in a pragmatic and readibly accessible text. This unique book should be on the 'must read' list not only for mental health professionals but for anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of contemporary therapy for addictions. (Henry I. Spitz, MD, director, Group & Family Therapy Programs, Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons)