Join Dr. John Fitzgerald, a clinician with 25 years of experience, for a FREE Webinar on "Understanding and Addressing the Challenges of Addiction."

Wed April 24th 6-7pm ET

Register Here
Become a member of Allies in Recovery and we’ll teach you how to intervene, communicate and guide your loved one toward treatment.Become a member of Allies in Recovery today.

Can Anyone Help Me with the CRAFT Method?

man in therapy, hands up (small)

An Allies member wrote in wondering whether there are therapists trained in the CRAFT method to provide individual support and guidance.

This post originally appeared on our Member Site blog, where experts respond to members’ questions and concerns. To sign up for our special offer for the Allies in Recovery eLearning program, click here.

 

“This is a great resource, and helpful. One thing I would like to see are resources for family members who want individual support. Are there counselors out there who are familiar with this approach? I don’t find it helpful when someone I am consulting tells me to just turn my back on my son. I would like to have a resource for myself, someone who can listen and advise, with an up to date understanding of addiction, CRAFT etc.”

 

Counselors well-versed in the CRAFT method are few and far between

Even though the CRAFT method has been studied widely, it is poorly disseminated across the country. One reason for this is that insurance doesn’t reimburse therapy for the family. You need to be the identified patient in order for the work with a therapist to be reimbursed.

The person who developed the approach at the University of New Mexico does however provide a short list of CRAFT-certified providers:  https://www.robertjmeyersphd.com/download/CertifiedTherapists.pdf

 

CRAFT Method Online at Allies in Recovery

We built our members-only eLearning site to promote the CRAFT method and to make it accessible to everyone. The eLearning Modules and exercises on this site are designed so that you, the family member supporting your loved one, can learn the essential tools of the CRAFT method on your own. I invite you to view our Introductory Module to see how our program works. I understand that the site isn’t a substitute for solid therapy but there are many ways it can still be very useful.

 

How to get the most out of the member site:

  1. We encourage new members to start with a free phone consultation with an Allies in Recovery Advocate. The advocate will then guide you to the most appropriate resources on our site. You may also return for a refresher phone call if needed (also free of charge).
  2. As you just did, ask your questions. Reach out to others on the site who are using the CRAFT method in their life. Our private messaging feature allows you to maintain your privacy.
  3. The blog posts provide answers to questions our members have brought up. I’m certain there will be some posts you will relate to. Some recurring topics are: ‘natural consequences’, ‘rewards’, ‘negative emotions’, ‘relapse’, ‘self-care’ and ‘shame’
  4. Find a therapist you like and provide him/her with this site. You can then ask them to work through the Video Modules and eLearning exercises together with you.

 

An evidence-based approach

Families definitely need trained help to handle someone abusing alcohol or drugs. Our eLearning program using the CRAFT method goes beyond just an intervention. We help families address all the possible situations that come up.
 
The science has proven that turning your back on a loved one isn’t the answer. People with addiction need to know they are loved, and that support for getting help is available to them. They also need to be treated with dignity. Meanwhile, you need the right support to be able to react in ways that unblock the situation and move your loved one towards recovery.
 
We hope that the member website, with the personalized guidance we provide, the solid CRAFT-based teachings, and the opportunity to connect with others in similar situations, will meet your needs and move you forward.

 

A membership at Allies in Recovery brings you into contact with experts in the fields of recovery and treatment for drug and alcohol issues. Our learning platform teaches you the CRAFT method and guides you through the best techniques for unblocking the situation. Together we will move your loved one towards recovery. Learn more here.

Loading

Related Posts from "CRAFT"

Trusting A Loved One in Early Recovery

Her husband is in early recovery, but he doesn’t want to share details with her. She’s nervous and struggling with trust due to his history of SUD and lying. She’s reluctant to let him come home, and unsure how to talk to him about it. Dominique weighs in with an idea of what to say based on the CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) approach that we use at AlliesinRecovery.net.

How CRAFT Can Help: Supporting Your Partner to Successfully Moderate Opiate Use

His partner is trying to moderate her use of heroin and methamphetamine with no formal support. Her use consumes so much of his partner’s life that it’s hard to see her “moderation” as progress. But his loved one wants him to acknowledge how “well” she’s doing, and there hasn’t been room for more discussion. Read on for suggested strategies from AlliesinRecovery.net to engage his partner into treatment, using the CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) approach.

How to Use the CRAFT Approach to Communicate with a Loved One Living with Substance Use Disorder

Substance Use Disorder can often involve volatile emotions on all sides. When family members use the CRAFT approach that we teach at AlliesinRecovery.net, it can help disentangle emotions from practicalities, leading to greater calm and more effective outcomes. This mom recently had an exchange with her son who is struggling with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), but held back from responding in fear it would end in a heated argument. So, she to turned to Allies for guidance. Read on for some pointers on how best to communicate with a loved one in active addiction using the CRAFT approach.

He’s on Suboxone and Hiding Away for Most of the Day. We are Worried.

Her son was using heroin, and he just got out of jail. He reached out for mom’s help and asked to live at home as he starts recovery, and he is getting MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment), specifically Suboxone. But he’s secluding himself so much at home she can’t tell what he’s up to. He’s accessing counseling and groups remotely, but he stays holed up in his room all the time and rarely emerges. Mom worries about his isolating so much and whether he might be using. We weigh in with some thoughts about the varied aspects of early recovery, and with some reminders about practicing CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training.)

Real Allies in Recovery Success Stories: Families Share How CRAFT Helped Their Loved Ones with SUD

Read real success stories from families who used the CRAFT approach to help their loved ones with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Learn how CRAFT helped them engage their loved ones into treatment, and how it improved their relationships and reduced stress levels. Discover how you can use the CRAFT method to help your loved ones find recovery, and visit AlliesinRecovery.net for more stories and resources.

How Do I Prepare for My Daughter with SUD to Come Home? And What About Her Boyfriend?

Her daughter is involved with a man who may be sabotaging her efforts to stop using substances. But she’s expressed some readiness to get help, and mom wants to support her in any way that she can. Mom’s working on ignoring the bad-news boyfriend while setting up guidelines for her return home. She needs guidance on the details…Allies in Recovery weighs in with some CRAFT-based tips.

Her Partner is Not Improving from Substance Use Disorder. Is There an Underlying Mental Health Condition?

One of our AlliesinRecovery.net members as been artfully following the CRAFT principles and yet her loved one is not showing signs of improvement. Engaging in extreme behavior, barely ever sleeping, misusing his ADHD medication, lying, and now, stealing… Is it all on the addiction or could her partner suffer from an underlying, undiagnosed and untreated mental health condition?

Shall We Dance?

CRAFT as choreography? Our hosts step into the metaphor of a dance with your loved one. This isn’t a traditional dance – it’s a look at the steps to see what works and what doesn’t, to CRAFT a new dance and change your role. The idea is to learn new tools, practice them, and see where they fit in. Be patient. It’s a process.

The Important Difference Between Bribes, Incentives, and Positive Reinforcement

A mom wrote in asking for guidance on whether she should offer to reward her son for attending addiction recovery group meetings. However, she is unsure if she’s implementing the CRAFT concept of “rewards” correctly. Laurie MacDougall, an Allies in Recovery virtual program trainer – who herself has a loved one with SUD – explains the important differences between bribes, incentives, and positive reinforcement. Laurie advises steering away from the first two and sticking with positive reinforcement instead.