BSHS/456
Psychotherapeutic Approach
University of Phoenix
BSHS/456
Psychotherapeutic Approach for Treating Addiction
Using a Psychotherapeutic approach to treat an addiction can be one of many choices, for
this read we are going to use the Integrated treatment approach. The assumption is that treating a
person with a substance abuse will be all they have to deal with. For the most part this is not the
case, treating a client with substance abuse means there is probably an underlying issue of
mental health that also needs to be dealt with as well Capuzzi & Stauffer (2016).
The strategy of the integrated treatment approach is to help the client to learn how to
stay sober and reduce the use of substances and managed their mental health at the same time
Kelly (2021). “The integrated care treatment model is considered by the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration a best practice when treating individuals with co-
occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. Patients are more likely to stay engaged
and participate in treatment when care is integrated and comprehensive” (Kelly 2021 Pg.2).
The integrated treatment approach deals with those that have cooccurring disorders not
only with each individual disorder but with both substance abuse and mental health at the same
time. The integrated treatment approach is specifically for those with co-occurring disorders and
the focus is completely on dealing with both issues at the same time. The challenge is to
properly diagnose both of the disorders and the severity of each disorder. The two reasons I feel
this approach will be most successful is because the integrated treatment plans are specifically
designed for the needs of each of the patients’ disorders, and the treatment plan has had many
positive outcomes Kelly (2021).
, Underlying Assumptions of this Approach
When it comes to co-occurring disorders the assumption is that you should treat the
mental disorder and then treat the substance disorder simutaneously. Another assumption is that
a person only deals with either a mental disorder or a substance abuse disorder never both, at the
same time. In the case of integrated treatment approach, it recommended that patients need to be
treated for both the mental disorder as well as the substance abuse at the same time. This helps
the patient to manage their symptoms from their mental disorder without using drugs or drinking
alcohol and possibly making the symptoms worse Kelly (2021). Getting a person diagnosed with
both a substance abuse disorder and a mental health disorder is the first step to recovery by using
an integrated treatment approach. The effectiveness of using integrated treatment approach was
documented back in the 1980’s and it was shown that 56 percent of those who were diagnosed
with a mental health disorder also have no doubt been diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder
as well SAMSHA (2009).
Some Strategies Used in the Approach
“Integrated treatment specialists are, trained to treat both substance use disorders and serious
mental illnesses. Co-occurring disorders are treated in a stage-wise fashion with different
services provided at different stages. Motivational interventions are used to treat consumers in
all stages, but especially in the persuasion stage. Multiple formats for services are available,
including individual, group, self-.help, and family.”
Integrated treatment approach
Using an Integrated treatment approach helps the client to feel like he is not being denied
the treatment he is needed. The integrated treatment approach focus is to treat both symptoms at the same
time meaning that the counselor who is helping him/her is trained in both mental health and substance
abuse disorder. Having someone that knows how to treat both symptoms of the disorder makes it easier to
want to comply with what is needed to get better by the client.
Psychotherapeutic Approach
University of Phoenix
BSHS/456
Psychotherapeutic Approach for Treating Addiction
Using a Psychotherapeutic approach to treat an addiction can be one of many choices, for
this read we are going to use the Integrated treatment approach. The assumption is that treating a
person with a substance abuse will be all they have to deal with. For the most part this is not the
case, treating a client with substance abuse means there is probably an underlying issue of
mental health that also needs to be dealt with as well Capuzzi & Stauffer (2016).
The strategy of the integrated treatment approach is to help the client to learn how to
stay sober and reduce the use of substances and managed their mental health at the same time
Kelly (2021). “The integrated care treatment model is considered by the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration a best practice when treating individuals with co-
occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. Patients are more likely to stay engaged
and participate in treatment when care is integrated and comprehensive” (Kelly 2021 Pg.2).
The integrated treatment approach deals with those that have cooccurring disorders not
only with each individual disorder but with both substance abuse and mental health at the same
time. The integrated treatment approach is specifically for those with co-occurring disorders and
the focus is completely on dealing with both issues at the same time. The challenge is to
properly diagnose both of the disorders and the severity of each disorder. The two reasons I feel
this approach will be most successful is because the integrated treatment plans are specifically
designed for the needs of each of the patients’ disorders, and the treatment plan has had many
positive outcomes Kelly (2021).
, Underlying Assumptions of this Approach
When it comes to co-occurring disorders the assumption is that you should treat the
mental disorder and then treat the substance disorder simutaneously. Another assumption is that
a person only deals with either a mental disorder or a substance abuse disorder never both, at the
same time. In the case of integrated treatment approach, it recommended that patients need to be
treated for both the mental disorder as well as the substance abuse at the same time. This helps
the patient to manage their symptoms from their mental disorder without using drugs or drinking
alcohol and possibly making the symptoms worse Kelly (2021). Getting a person diagnosed with
both a substance abuse disorder and a mental health disorder is the first step to recovery by using
an integrated treatment approach. The effectiveness of using integrated treatment approach was
documented back in the 1980’s and it was shown that 56 percent of those who were diagnosed
with a mental health disorder also have no doubt been diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder
as well SAMSHA (2009).
Some Strategies Used in the Approach
“Integrated treatment specialists are, trained to treat both substance use disorders and serious
mental illnesses. Co-occurring disorders are treated in a stage-wise fashion with different
services provided at different stages. Motivational interventions are used to treat consumers in
all stages, but especially in the persuasion stage. Multiple formats for services are available,
including individual, group, self-.help, and family.”
Integrated treatment approach
Using an Integrated treatment approach helps the client to feel like he is not being denied
the treatment he is needed. The integrated treatment approach focus is to treat both symptoms at the same
time meaning that the counselor who is helping him/her is trained in both mental health and substance
abuse disorder. Having someone that knows how to treat both symptoms of the disorder makes it easier to
want to comply with what is needed to get better by the client.
