Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Relapse Prevention

Relapse is the return to substance abuse after a length of time being drug- or alcohol-free, known as abstinence. Put simply, a relapse is the worsening of a medical condition that had previously improved. For example, someone who had completely stopped drinking for a period of time would be experiencing a relapse if they had a single alcoholic drink, as much as if they went on a drinking binge. Based in Miami Beach, Florida, Dr Norman Goldwasser has dedicated his career to helping people overcome issues related to addiction.

Behavioral Addiction

Most people understand addiction in terms of being dependent on substances, but they have a hard time with the concept of addictive behaviors. However, mind-altering substances aren't the only way to get high, as it is also possible to develop a behavioral addiction. Often referred to as process addiction or non-substance addiction, like addiction to drugs and alcohol, behavioral addiction is directly connected to the “rush” or “high” one experiences when engaging in a particular behavior. Behavioral addictions activate the brain's reward centers, releasing dopamine and other neurotransmitters that leave you feeling euphoric.

Clinical Psychology History and Approaches

Clinical psychology is a branch of psychology which integrates the science of psychology with the treatment of complex human problems. It is concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illness, abnormal behavior, and psychiatric problems. According to the experienced clinical psychologist, Dr Norman Goldwasser, it is an exciting career choice for people who are looking to work in a challenging and rewarding field.

In this article, the clinical psychologist shares the history of clinical psychology.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

If you have gone through some traumatic event (be it a traffic accident, abuse or something seemingly less important, such as having been humiliated), the memory of your experience may come back to your mind, forcing you to revive the original event with the same intensity and feeling, as if it was happening in the present moment.
These experiences that arise in your consciousness can occur either as flashbacks or as nightmares and are due to the fact that the mind was too overwhelmed during the event to process what was happening.

As a result, these unprocessed memories and everything that accompanied them, sounds, thoughts, and feelings, are stored in the brain so that they can be accessed every time we experience something that triggers the memories of the original event.