Elizabeth Heckel
Clinical Addiction Professionals’ Attitudes toward Harm Reduction Psychotherapy
Chair: Robert Keisner, Ph.D.
Abstract
This study explores clinical addiction professionals’ attitudes toward and experiences with harm reduction psychotherapy (HRP). Harm reduction is an emergent paradigm that has the potential to improve mental health treatment for substance users. The essence of the model is the recognition that treatment begins with the client's needs and goals, and that any and all changes that reduce harms associated with substance are valuable; abstinence is not a prerequisite for treatment (Tatarsky, 2003). In recent years, harm reduction has been applied to public health, substance use treatment, and most recently, to psychotherapy (Tatarsky & Kellogg, 2010). This study utilizes a qualitative design and the Auerbach and Silverstein method of data analysis (2003) to generate grounded theory regarding clinical professionals’ thoughts, feelings, and experiences with harm reduction psychotherapy. This study aims to contribute a more nuanced and comprehensive definition of HRP grounded in clinicians’ experiences and building on extant theory. Moreover, the results have the potential to inform future research.