Many practitioners still believe that a patient must reach sobriety prior to addressing trauma issues, however, when looking at the reality of the circular correlations between PTSD symptoms and substance abuse one might ask "Who would choose to give up something that eases chronic emotional and physical pain, and then engage in therapy that stimulates that pain, without recourse to relief via self-medication?" (Miller, 2002, p. 158). Therefore, Miller (2002) believes it to be ineffectual and a disservice to the patient to focus on substance abuse without addressing the impact of trauma symptoms (Weis, 2010). Unfortunately, there are still differing theoretical approaches in place, many of which still address substance use as the primary disorder
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Since substance abuse can mask PTSD symptoms, some practitioners support offering substance abuse treatment before or in conjunction with trauma-focused therapy (Ford and Russo, 2006; Brown, Read and Kahler., 2003; Hyer, McCranie and Peralme, …show more content…
The Trauma Adaptive Recovery Group Education and Therapy (TARGET) model is a manualized group, family, and one on one psychotherapy that engages clients in “a process of therapeutic self-reflection and change that addresses PTSD and SUD simultaneously” (Ford and Russo, 2006, p. 353). TARGET consists of three central components that focus on the patient’s better understanding of the co-occurring PTSD and SUD symptoms (Ford and Russo, 2006). The first is a cognitive component to help "clients relate to their own experience in a reframed version that emphasizes that these normal reactions to abnormal circumstances are healthy survival adaptations that have become highly reactive due to trauma" (Ford & Russo, 2006, p. 345). The second element teaches stress symptom management through an easy to remember FREEDOM skill set (Ford & Russo, 2006). The third component helps the client reengage with autobiographical memories via a creative arts model (Ford & Russo,
Since substance abuse can mask PTSD symptoms, some practitioners support offering substance abuse treatment before or in conjunction with trauma-focused therapy (Ford and Russo, 2006; Brown, Read and Kahler., 2003; Hyer, McCranie and Peralme, …show more content…
The Trauma Adaptive Recovery Group Education and Therapy (TARGET) model is a manualized group, family, and one on one psychotherapy that engages clients in “a process of therapeutic self-reflection and change that addresses PTSD and SUD simultaneously” (Ford and Russo, 2006, p. 353). TARGET consists of three central components that focus on the patient’s better understanding of the co-occurring PTSD and SUD symptoms (Ford and Russo, 2006). The first is a cognitive component to help "clients relate to their own experience in a reframed version that emphasizes that these normal reactions to abnormal circumstances are healthy survival adaptations that have become highly reactive due to trauma" (Ford & Russo, 2006, p. 345). The second element teaches stress symptom management through an easy to remember FREEDOM skill set (Ford & Russo, 2006). The third component helps the client reengage with autobiographical memories via a creative arts model (Ford & Russo,