Choose a recent academic research article that discusses a therapeutic approach for treating clients, families, or groups with addictive disorders. • Provide an overview of the article you selected. o What population (individual, group, or family) is under consideration? o What was the specific intervention that was used? Is this a new intervention or one that has already been studied? o What were the author’s claims? • Explain the findings/outcomes of the study in the article. Include whether this will translate into practice with your own clients. If so, how? If not, why? • Explain whether the limitations of the study might impact your ability to use the findings/outcomes presented in the article. • Support your response with at least three other peer-reviewed, evidence-based sources. Explain why each of your supporting sources is considered scholarly.

Article with a Therapeutic Approach

Overview of the Selected Article

Population under Consideration

            The selected article, titled “Couple and Family Therapy for Substance Use Disorders: Evidence-Based Update 2010–2019,” offers an extensive review of therapeutic interventions for individuals and families struggling with addictive disorders. The population under examination in the selected publication, “Couple and Family Therapy for Substance Use Disorders: Evidence-Based Update 2010-2019,” comprises both people and families impacted by SUD (Hogue et al., 2021). The article systematically summarizes previous reviews and recent studies, establishing the efficacy of systemic family therapy as a stand-alone treatment and emphasizing the potential efficacy of behavioral family therapy and behavioral couple therapy, particularly when used as part of a comprehensive treatment approach for addictive disorders. The study also delves into the practical considerations and challenges of implementing these therapeutic interventions, as well as potential future directions for incorporating couple and family therapy into routine systems of care for individuals and families dealing with SUD.

The Specific Intervention That Was Used

Systemic family therapy, behavioral family therapy, and behavioral couple therapy are among the specific methods described in the selected article for treating addiction illnesses. These therapies are not new, but they have been studied and evaluated in the context of substance use disorders. The article provides an evidence-based update on their efficacy, confirming that systemic family therapy is well-established as a stand-alone treatment, whereas behavioral family therapy and behavioral couple therapy are considered possibly efficacious as stand-alone treatments and well-established when used in conjunction with other treatments.

The Author’s Claims

Based on their evaluation of data on therapeutic approaches for substance use disorders (SUD), the authors of the selected article make many statements. First, they assert that systemic family therapy is a well-established stand-alone treatment for SUD. Behavioral family therapy and behavioral couple therapy are likely effective as stand-alone treatments and well-established when combined in a full multicomponent treatment plan (Newman et al., 2022). Furthermore, the paper argues that there is a considerable body of data supporting the use of family-based and couple-based treatment approaches for SUD, providing hope to people seeking assistance in the setting of addiction. Finally, the authors offer practice guidelines and recommendations for putting these interventions into action.

The Findings of the Study in the Article

The findings of the selected study stress the efficacy of several therapeutic approaches for treating substance use disorders, such as systemic family therapy, behavioral family therapy, and behavioral couple therapy. A considerable amount of evidence supports these interventions, with systemic family therapy regarded well-established as a stand-alone treatment and the other two as possibly efficacious, particularly when integrated into comprehensive treatment regimens. Family and marital therapy can be beneficial in the treatment of addictive illnesses (Kourgiantakis et al., 2021). In my own practice, I would consider incorporating family and couple therapy into the treatment plan for individuals suffering from substance use disorders, acknowledging the potential benefits of involving family members and partners in the therapeutic process to provide holistic support and address the broader dynamics that contribute to addiction. This method may benefit clients by increasing their social support networks and addressing underlying family-related difficulties that contribute to their addiction. However, the decision to apply such interventions should always be personalized, taking into account each client’s specific circumstances and preferences, as not all clients may benefit or be open to family or couple therapy.