This is a book in the Practice Planners series. Unfortunately, it does not live up to the quality of some of the others in this series. The title for this book would lead one to believe that this would be full of information and forms on how to treat a chemically dependent client. This is not the case. Rather, it is geared and written in a format to help someone go from ground zero and set up a whole entire system of caring for the chemically dependent population. The language is easy to read, a plus for this planner.

This sourcebook starts out with a questionnaire that includes questions dealing with the type of population that you would be treating. In the first area they list “Special populations” and include areas of Male, Female, Homeless, Veteran, Gay/lesbian, Ethnicity, and Language. This seems excessive, because I don’t understand the significance of whether a client is gay/lesbian, or from what ethnic background he/she comes. Yes, some people have a disposition to alcoholism, but to ask these questions seemed a little forceful to me. If I was a client and was asked if I was gay/lesbian, whether I was or not, I would be upset that if I was, that it would make a difference. The authors cross the line of appropriateness several times by asking religious questions, sexual orientation questions, and educational questions

Furthermore, the authors do not provide a clear path for treatment. Rather, their format makes one feel as if they were writing a introductory text book on “Initiating a Drug & Alcohol program.” A few of the forms could be helpful, if you revise them a bit, and if you want to test your clients on how much of the system do they know. Unfortunately, most of us already know the system, and work for someone who has the program in effect.

The book will be useful for those planning to set up a D&A program, but will not be very useful for most social workers, clinical practitioners, or counselors.

Software is provided with this book, and the software is user friendly, but would be of no use in showing you how to set up a D&A program.
 

Su M. Hunter, M.S.

Born in Seattle, raised in Nebraska, and now lives in Colorado, spent 7 years in the Army and 5 years as a firefighter/EMT she has come to see a lot of diversity in people.  Her traveling experiences sparked  her curiosity about why people are the way they are.  She received an AAS from Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom, WA, a BA in Psychology from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, GA, and her M.S. in Family Science from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska.  She is currently seeking application to the University of Colorado in Boulder, where she plans on receiving her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.    Su works for Jefferson Center for Mental Health and enjoys being a residential counselor.

To discuss this book or the review you have just read, join the Metapsychology Discussion E-Mail Group by going to this URL: http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/metapsy-discussion

Categories: MentalHealth

Keywords: Alcoholism (Psychiatric Aspects), Drug Addiction (Psychiatric Aspects)