About the course

Addictions are complex and difficult to work with in therapy. We look at a range of approaches to understanding and working with addictions, applications of Field Theory, and explore an explicitly Gestalt model which is correlated with the Awareness Cycle.
Course includes: 205 minutes video presentation by Steve Vinay Gunther, 45 core readings, 29 related books, 130 item quiz, Completion certificate for 20 CPE points.

Course content

  • 205 minutes of video presentation by Steve Vinay Gunther
  • 44 core readings
  • 0 29 related books
  • 130 item quiz
  • Completion certificate for 20 CPE points
  • Subtitles in 30 languages

Course curriculum

    1. Alcohol withdrawal scale

    2. Bolstad, R. Tranforming recovery NLP and addiction. Transformations NLP Consultations and Training. httpstransformations.org.nztransforming-recovery-nlp-and-addiction

    3. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (1999). Brief family therapy. In Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 34. Substance and Mental Health Services Administration (US).

    4. Edwards, M. E., & Steinglass, P. (1995). Family therapy treatment outcomes for alcoholism. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21(4), 475509.

    5. Fisher, C. E. (2022). Its misleading to call addiction a disease. The New York Times. httpswww.nytimes.com20220115opinionaddiction-disease.

    6. Fisher, J. (2000). Addictions and trauma recovery. International Society for the Study of Dissociation.

    7. Gainsbury, S., & Blaszczynski, A. (2011). A systematic review of Internet-based therapy for the treatment of addictions. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(3), 490-498.

    8. Gersabeck, N. J. The basic nature of substance dependency.

    9. Groves, P. (2014). Buddhist approaches to addiction recovery. Religions, 5, 985-1000.

    10. Khazaei, F., Khazaei, O., & Ghanbari-H, B. (2017). Positive psychology interventions for internet addiction treatment. Computers in Human Behavior, 72, 304-311.

    11. Klostermann, K., & O'Farrell, T. J. (2021). Couple and family therapy in treatment of alcoholism and drub abuse.

    12. Lembke, A. (2012). Time to abandon the self-medication hypothesis in patients with psychiatric disorders. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 38(6), 524-529.

    13. Lembke, A. (2018). Why addiction should be considered a disease. The Judges Journal, 57(1), 4-8.

    14. Lembke, A. (2020). Curbside consultation Tapering long-term opiod therapy. American Family Physician, 101(1), 49-52.

    15. Mentha, H. (2001). How does the drug use fit in_ Psychotherapy in Australia, 7(2), 38-41.

    16. Miller, S. D., Mee-Lee, D., Plum, W., & Hubble, M. A. (2005). Making treatment count Client-directed, outcome-informed clinical work with problem drinkers. Psychotherapy in Australia, 11(4), 42-56.

    17. Mokhtari, M. R., Alavi, M., Pahlavanzadeh, S., Weimand, B. M., Visentin, D., & Cleary, M. (2020). Comparison of the effectiveness of a 12 step substance use recovery program on quality of life. Nursing and Health Sciences, 22(2), 390-397.

    18. Peele, S. (1997). Out of the habit trap Five stages to freedom. httpwww.peele.netlibtrap.html

    19. Reed, S. (2014). Just say no Eden Robinson and Gabor Mate on moral luck and addiction. Mosaic An interdisciplinary critical journal, 47(4), 151-156.

    20. Shaw, M., & Black, D. W. (2008). Internet addiction Definition, assessment, epidemiology and clinical management. CNS Drugs, 22(5), 353-365.

    21. Sheean, L. (2011). Addiction A disorder of choice. An interview with Gene Heyman. Psychotherapy in Australia, 17(4), 26-31.

    22. Steinglass, P. (1987). Chapter 11 Family therapy approaches to alcoholism. In Treating the alcoholic family. Basic Books.

    23. Stofle, G. S., & Harrington, S. (2008). Treating addictions on the internet Can it be done_ A dialogue. Journal of Social Work Practice and Addictions, 2(2), 85-92.

    24. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2012). Brief interventions and brief therapies for substance abuse. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

    25. Szasz, T. S. (1971). The ethics of addiction. The International Journal of Psychiatry, 51-61. copy

    26. Widyanto, L., & Griffiths, M. (2006). Internet addiction A critical review. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 4, 31-51.

    27. Wiers, R. W., & Verschure, P. (2021). Curing the broken brain model of addiction Neurorehabilitation from a systems perspective. Addictive Behaviors, 112, 1-10.

    28. Wurm, C. (2001). Is addiction a helpful concept_ An existential view. Psychotherapy in Australia, 7(2), 20-25.

    1. Brownell, P. (2011). Chapter four The nature of individual experience. In Gestalt therapy for addictive and self medicating behaviors (pp. 76-87). Springer Publishing Company.

    2. Brownell, P. (2011). Chapter six The sense of the situation. In Gestalt therapy for addictive and self medicating behaviors (pp. 121-146). Springer Publishing Company.

    3. Brownell, P. (2012). Gestalt therapy for addictive and self medicative behaviors. New York, NY Springer Publishing Company.

    4. Carlock, C. J., Glaus, K. O., & Shaw, C. A. (1992). Chapter 8 The alcoholic A Gestalt view. In E. C. Nevis (Ed.), Gestalt therapy Perspectives and applications (pp. 191-237). The Gestalt Institute of Cleveland Press.

    5. Clemmens, M. C, & Matzko, H. (2005). Chapter 15 Gestalt approaches to substance useabusedependency Theory and practice. In A. Woldt & S. Toman (Eds.), Gestalt therapy History, theory and practice (pp. 279-300). Sage Publications.

    6. Darvasi, D. (2019). From roundabout to seesaw Gestalt therapists working with partners of people who suffer with addiction. British Gestalt Journal, Vol. 28, No.1, 514

    7. Dominitz, V. A. (2017). Gestalt therapy applied A case study with an inpatient diagnosed with substance use and bipolar disorders. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 24, 36-47.

    8. Fairfield, M.A. (2004). Gestalt therapy a harm reduction approach. British Gestalt Journal, vol. 13, No 2, 100-110

    9. Friedman, H. R. (1999). A gestalt approach to sexual compulsivity. The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 6(1), 63-75.

    10. Leung, G. (2010). A Gestalt perspective on the phenomenal world of addiction. Gestalt Journal of Australia and New Zealand, 6(2), 20-38.

    11. Matzko, H. M. G. (1997). A Gestalt therapy treatment approach for addictions Multiphasic transformation process. Gestalt Review, 1(1), 34-56.

    12. Pintus, G. (2017). Addiction as persistent traumatic experience Neurobiological processes and good contact. Gestalt Review, 21(3), 221-232.

    13. Shub, N. (1996). Chapter 3 Gestalt therapy over time Integrating difficulty and diagnosis. In E. C. Nevis (Ed.), Gestalt therapy Perspectives and applications (pp. 79-112). Routledge.

    14. Shub, N. F. (1999). A Gestalt approach to the treatment of gambling. Gestalt Review, 3(3), 190-204.

    15. White, J. R. (1999). A Gestalt approach to working with the person-drug relationship. Gestalt Review, 3(2), 147-156.

    16. Wolfert, R. (1998). The broken doll A survivors journey into life. Gestalt Review, 2(3), 189-211.

    1. Video lecture on Working with Addictions - 205 minute

    1. 34. Working with Addictions • Assessment 129 • Concept Map

    2. 34. Working with Addictions • Assessment 130 • Reflection Form

    3. 34. Working with Addictions • Assessment 131 • Core Readings - Focus summaries / concept maps

About the presenter

Steve Vinay Gunther

Dr Steve Vinay Gunther

Steve Vinay Gunther has studied Gestalt therapy since 1985 and founded Gestalt institutes in Australia, South Korea, and China. Since 2000, he has been an international Gestalt trainer, teaching in Asia, Egypt, South Africa, Mexico, Colombia, and the USA.

In addition to Gestalt therapy, Steve is trained in family therapy, narrative therapy, somatic therapy, career coaching, and family constellations. He has practiced and studied meditation since 1973 and previously served as a professor of Spiritual Psychology at the Ryokan Institute in Los Angeles.

Steve pioneered relational psychology with his concept, The Unvirtues, and designed the Relational Parenting system. He is the father of five children and grandfather to four boys.

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