A model for individualizing interventions for alcohol abuse/dependence using basic personality dimensions.

Abstract

A model for individualizing interventions for persons with problems of alcohol abuse/dependence is presented. The Personal Styles model of personality, which is grounded in basic, enduring personality characteristics, is used as the basis for individualizing interventions.Four distinctly different types of personality are identified and their adaptive, maladaptive, and alcoholrelated behaviors are discussed. Differential treatment strategies are proposed and described for each type.

An ego/object relations approach to treating childhood sexual abuse survivors.

“…A variety of sexual abuse resolution therapies (e.g., Bass & Davis, 1988; Blume, 1990; Briere & Runtz, 1987; Courtois, 1988; Forward & Buck, 1988; Gil, 1988; Miller, 1985) were developed during the 1980s in response to a raised consciousness regarding the tragic prevalence of childhood sexual abuse and its traumatic consequences (Brown & Finkelhor, 1986; Daro, 1988; Deighton & McPeek, 1985; Freyd, 1991; Glinas, 1983; Reiker & Carmen, 1986). Like substance abuse treatments (e.g., Pfost, Newton, Kunce, Cope, & Greenwood, 1993), many sexual abuse resolution therapies recommended treating clients with childhood sexual abuse histories as a homogeneous subpopulation who would all respond to the same basic treatment approach (Haaken & Schlaps, 1991). This approach emphasized the central importance of abreactive techniques, recovered memory work, supportive validation, and the normalizing of client feelings, behaviors, and symptoms by the therapist (Courtois, 1988; Gil, 1988; Herman & Schatzow, 1987; Miller, 1985).…”

Personal Styles Inventory

“…This knowledge may help a counselor respond more appropriately to the ways in which an individual may tend to behave in counseling. In group counseling, for example, the counselor may need to respond differently to (a) Change-Oriented Extroverts who tend to dominate discussions and to (b) Stability-Oriented Introverts who initially tend to be very uncomfortable in group settings because of their need for privacy Pfost, Newton, Kunce, Cope, & Greenwood, 1990;Reynolds, Kunce, & Cope, 1991).…”

“…Research by and Reynolds et al (1991) indicates that PSI introversion and stability characteristics may be "at-risk" factors in the development of chronic dependence on alcohol. A model of individualizing counseling interventions for persons with alcohol abuse and dependence has been developed based on the personal styles model, PSI research findings, and clinical experience (Pfost et al, 1990).…”