Feminism and Addiction

Contains current theoretical, social and clinical issues enmeshed in the debates between men's experiences and women's experiences of addiction. Addictions treatment methods developed primarily from research with men are examined and questioned in the light of women's needs.

Feminism is a beneficial force in addictions therapy as they have the same goals--mending imbalances of power. A variety of important topics related to addictions treatment are addressed in this timely volume, accompanied by concrete clinical solutions for therapists and counselors to use in their own practice. Feminism and Addiction demonstrates the positive impact feminism can have on addictions treatment. Addictions treatment methods that have been developed primarily based on research with men are examined and questioned to determine what changes need to be made to meet the needs of women. The applicability of twelve-step treatment programs, for example, is investigated as to whether its required adoption of belief in powerlessness is concurrent with feminism’s battle with female subjugation. This thought-provoking volume contains the most current theoretical, social, and clinical issues enmeshed in the debates between men’s experiences and women’s experiences of addiction.

Critical issues addressed include advice for how to deal with issues of codependency; how to treat clients faced with physical or sexual abuse in addition to addiction; how to integrate cultural differences into treatment; and how to face the particular difficulties of gay and lesbian clients in addictions treatment. This valuable book will help you apply constructivist approaches to build therapy methods which are collaborative, internal, and organic, thus more appropriate to treating women’s experience with addiction. Feminism and Addiction helps family therapists who work with women and their families strike a unique balance between the principles of feminism and family therapy’s goal of repairing and healing relationships between men and women.