CRAFT recovery

[jellibeans]

I want to ask if anyone had experience with a CRAFT base counselor/coach? My DD19 has been struggling with addiction for some years now. This often complicates things further and I am trying to find support. Please let me know if you have had any experiences with this.

Our objective is to better understand the struggles our child faces and to learn the skills to improve our relationship and provide a supportive environment and also improve on our own emotional responses, attitudes and effectiveness as a family leaders

[Lollypop]

Hi there Jellibeans

I live in the UK and we would call them Art Therapist.  I'm sorry I don't have personal experience but I have a friend that is currently taking a Masters to train as one so I know a little about the in depth knowledge and training that's needed.  My friend has also had to attend Art Therapy herself and found it a very moving and therapeutic experience.

I found my way to art to help relieve my own stress levels.  What I've done is replace one obsession (BPD son) with another more positive one (making with my hands and head).  It's been a life changer for me as I've taken it further and am now taking a fine art degree.  Making art has helped me immensely and helped me socially being in a group. 

Personally speaking, now that I'm more aware of what's available out there, I would definitely consider Art Therapy 1:1 for anybody who is dealing with trauma.

I'm not sure if this is helpful or not but wish you luck.

Is your DD19 arty and crafty?
Perhaps musical?

L

[jellibeans]

Hey lypop

CRAFT therapy has nothing to do with art. CRAFT stands for something that I can't just think of today. I am having a skype session today and will let you know how it goes. It might be something you could use sinse your son is battling addiction.

[Lollypop]

Thanks jellybean

I don't feel silly at all   

Let me know as I'm interested

L

[jellibeans]

Hey Lollypop

I had my first skype session today and I am hopeful it is going to help. Can't hurt right? Most of the meeting was getting to know each other and telling of my dd19 history etc. We did start a work sheet to analyze our situation as it stands. I am interested in where this will all go and I will keep you posted. CRAFT is different from the 12 steps and intervention approach and has had a lot of success in getting people into treatment. I just keep looking for answers and for guidance. I have pasted some info below... .

Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) teaches family and friends effective strategies for helping their loved one to change and for feeling better themselves. CRAFT works to affect the loved one’s behavior by changing the way the family interacts with him or her. It is designed to accomplish three goals:

1. When a loved one is abusing substances and refusing to get help, CRAFT helps families move their loved one toward treatment.

2. CRAFT helps reduce the loved one’s alcohol and drug use, whether or not the loved one has engaged in treatment yet.

3. CRAFT improves the lives of the concerned family and friends.

Drs. Robert J. Meyers and Jane Ellen Smith of the University of New Mexico developed the CRAFT program to teach families how to impact their loved one while avoiding both detachment and confrontation, the respective strategies of Al-Anon (a 12-Step based approach) and traditional (Johnson Institute-style) interventions in which the substance user is confronted by family members and friends during a surprise meeting. While all three approaches have been found to improve family members’ well-being, CRAFT has proven to be significantly more effective in engaging loved ones in treatment and decreasing their substance use, in comparison to the Johnson Institute Intervention or Al-Anon/Nar-Anon facilitation therapy.

CRAFT is a skills-based program that impacts families in multiple areas of their lives, including self-care, pleasurable activities, problem solving, and goal setting. At the same time, CRAFT addresses their loved one’s resistance to change. CRAFT teaches families behavioral and motivational strategies for interacting with their loved one. Participants learn, for example, the power of positive reinforcement for positive behavior (and of withdrawing it for unwanted behavior), and how to use positive communication skills to improve interactions and maximize their influence.

Specifically, CRAFT teaches several skills, including:

Understanding a loved one’s triggers to use substances
Positive communication strategies
Positive reinforcement strategies – rewarding non-using behavior
Problem-solving
Self-care
Domestic violence precautions
Getting a loved one to accept help

Many of these skills are valuable for the family even if their loved one does not enter treatment or has already begun the treatment process. Additionally, the skills remain essential over the long run for families in navigating and maintaining a positive trajectory for all family members. CRAFT is not a quick fix, but rather an approach that can benefit both the substance user and the family in the short and long terms with a holistic plan of action and a more optimistic view.

I am not sure I got to change background color... .sorry