What Should a Psychotherapist Know about Addictions?

Abstract

Addictions (mostly alcohol, drugs and gambling) and natural needs disorders (especially eating and relationship disorders) are such common physical, mental and social disorders that we often meet them in psychotherapy. But even more frequently we have to deal with numerous psychosocial distresses, the consequences of addictions. Since these disorders are hidden due to disturbed psychosocial defence mechanisms on individual, micro-social and macro-social level, a psychotherapist needs a special diagnostic knowledge to be effective in his work. The whole working process in the area of addiction differs in many ways from the work with other disorders. Psychotherapist has a great opportunity to work in all methodological areas of addictions: informative counselling, therapy, psychosocial rehabilitation, prevention of recidivation, research and also prevention. Of a crucial importance for development of a psychotherapy in Slovenia is competent, expert and efficient work in the field of addictions. It should be conducted in a mutual interaction, so that anyone can do what he knows best, and pass the rest of the work to those who are competent for it. This article gives an overview of the basic knowledge on addictions and other disorders, based on the authors’ anthropological definition, explaining an addiction as an artificial harmful need for intoxicating substances, intoxicating experiencing or behaviour. In the conclusion, the author analyses psychotherapist’s possibilities and his tasks within this field.