Contextual Therapy: Brief Treatment of an Addict and Spouse

Abstract

The clinical and theoretical applications of contextual therapy for the treatment of drug abuse are presented. A case study illustrates intervention strategies, the therapy process, and a contextual-intergenerational view of drug addiction. Contextual concepts of intergenerational processes, loyalty, fairness, accountability, and trust are defined and applied. Four stages of brief contextual therapy are presented, and the process is examined using examples from transcribed transactions of the therapy sessions. It is suggested that contextual therapy offers conceptual and methodological tools for working with complex situations often involved in drug abuse cases.