The internationally awarded Life Recovery Program is featured in the new Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health (CAMH’s) “Fundamentals of Addiction” textbook and cited as the
example of an effective online program in a chapter called “Digital Future.”
The
book details are as follows:
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Fundamentals of Addiction: A Practical Guide for Counsellors (4th Edition)
With over 30 chapters, this edition provides the most essential, updated information for counselling professionals and students. Chapter authors are national and international experts on a variety of topics in the addictions field. Foreward by Dr. Gabor Mate.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Fundamentals of Addiction: A Practical Guide for Counsellors (4th Edition)
With over 30 chapters, this edition provides the most essential, updated information for counselling professionals and students. Chapter authors are national and international experts on a variety of topics in the addictions field. Foreward by Dr. Gabor Mate.
The
Life Recovery Program was also featured in CAMH's (eenet.ca) "promising practices" segment and
reposted in this blog
http://eenet.ca/products-
http://eenet.ca/products-
The Life
Recovery Program: Web-based Treatment and Support for Addiction and Mental Health
Issues
Today,
there is increased awareness about addiction and mental health issues– people
are starting to be more open about their experiences with depression and
anxiety. But there still is much stigma
attached to these and other mental health diagnoses, and many don’t seek
treatment for mental health issues, either for financial or access reasons, or
because they’re afraid of the stigma associated with treatment.
One
U.S. study found that the delay between the first onset of symptoms of a mental
health issue and when people seek and receive treatment can be as long as
decades.1 The study found that because
75 percent of lifelong mental illnesses start before age 24, many people adopt
unhealthy coping strategies, including using substances. This means that
addiction issues are high among this population group. This can lead to other problems,
such as loss of a job and home, destroyed relationships, and even death.
Research
is increasingly backing the use of online programs to provide treatment for
mental health and addiction issues. Such programs are easy to access, avoid the
stigma associated with in-person treatment, and let the individual make progress
at their own pace. Cunningham and colleagues (2010)2 affirm that trials of
computer-based interventions for different health behaviours and interventions provide
“significant evidence for their efficacy” (p. 1). A meta-analysis also suggests
that minimal contact computer-delivered treatments that can be accessed via the
Internet may represent a cost-effective means of treating uncomplicated substance
use problems and related issues (Rooke et al., 2010).3
Web-based
Treatment and Support
The
Life Recovery Program website is found at: https://liferecoveryprogram.com/
The
Life Recovery Program (LRP) www.liferecoveryprogram.com is an internationally-awarded,
online, video-based program that provides trauma-informed psycho-education and support
to people with addiction and mental health issues, as well as to their friends
and family.
The
program is aimed at persons with such issues as substance use, behavioural or
process addictions, self-cutting, disordered eating, gambling, toxic
relationships, anger, managing chronic stress, trauma, and impulse control
issues.
It’s
informed by the latest research and integrates materials and resources used by
many inpatient addiction treatment centres. It also takes a holistic approach
to the individual’s needs, and looks at the biological, spiritual, and
psychosocial influences of addiction.
Paul
Radkowski, CEO/Clinical Director of the LRP, came up with the concept of an
online recovery program while working as a psychotherapist in the Northwest
Territories, where traditional support for mental health and addiction issues
was very difficult to access.
How
the Program Works
The
Life Recovery Program defines addiction as any behaviour a person can’t stop,
resulting in destructive consequences. This can mean substances as well as behaviours
or processes, such as self-cutting, disordered eating, gambling, toxic
relationships, even anger. The program
is based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches and other evidence-informed
modalities that have been proven to reduce symptom severity. This includes the
use of various self-regulation skills training resources, all of which are
foundational for recovery.
The
web-based format allows people to access the program anytime, when they need
it, wherever they are. Throughout the
program, clients download homework that allows them to practise and review new
coping strategies for their mental health and addiction issues. They also
receive weekly e-mails that encourage actions such as finding an accountability
partner (e.g., AA, a friend, counsellor, pastor), summaries and reminders of key
messages from the latest lesson, and videos.
They
can also join an interactive peer-support forum that allows participants to
interact anonymously with others in the program. This clinician- moderated
forum is a way for people to find support and resources for the mental health and
addiction issues they’re facing.
The
program uses the most recent research findings in the field of neuroscience and
neurobiology to help explain to clients the effect that addictions, stress, and
impulse/control issues have on thoughts, feelings, and behaviour.
Challenges:
Misconceptions about the program
There’s
a misconception that LRP is providing e-counselling and live video exchange
with a counsellor. But this online program doesn’t aim to replace traditional
treatment options. It’s designed to fill current service gaps —not to replace
existing treatment approaches.
The
Life Recovery Program can be used by a variety of people for many different
purposes, such as support for someone waiting for treatment, those who want
anonymity, or who are unable or not ready to have face-to-face treatment. It
can be used to prevent relapse or as support for someone coming out of
treatment.
The
outcomes
A
content analysis of the LRP peer support forum revealed that more than 80
percent of participants were able to view their lives differently, regulate their
moods, and developed new ways of coping to stop or decrease their addictive
behaviours. Among active members, 27 percent chose to sign up and pay to go
through the entire six month program (which remains available for one year) for
a second time, decreasing their likelihood of relapse. Participants also noted that they increased
their use of alternative resources, such as support groups and therapists.
The Life Recovery Program has been peer reviewed
and recognized in 2008 for its comprehensiveness and innovation by the International
Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors’ with the Outstanding Addictions Professional Award. The
program also received the first Outstanding Mental Health Award from the
Ontario Association of Counsellors, Consultants, Psychometrists and Psychologists,
in 2011. It will also be featured in the
upcoming textbook by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Fundamentals
of Addiction , in a chapter called “Digital Future”.
For
more information about the Life Recovery Program contact Paul Radkowski at https://www.liferecoveryprogram.com/
References:
Wang,
PS, et al. Failure and Delay in Initial Treatment Contact After First Onset of
Mental Disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry.
2005;62(6):603-613. Available at: http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=208684
Cunningham
JA, Wild TC, Cordingley J, et al. Twelve-month follow-up results from a
randomized controlled trial of a brief personalized feedback intervention for problem
drinkers. Alcohol Alcohol. 2010 May-Jun; 45 (3):258-62. doi:
10.1093/alcalc/agq009. Epub 2010 Feb
Rooke
S, Thorsteinsson E, Karpin A, Copeland J, Allsop D. Computer-delivered interventions
for alcohol and tobacco use: a meta-analysis. Addiction. 2010 August; 105(8):1381–90.
doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.02975.x
