Changing Substance Abuse and Criminal Behavior Through Therapeutic Relationships

This book approaches the treatment process from a new and yet old perspective. Eleven men who successfully desisted from substance abuse and offending were interviewed to determine how their significant therapeutic relationships facilitated this life change. Data is integrated with a new psychodynamic framework, relational analytic theory, which focuses clinical attention on the qualities and processes of the therapeutic relationship. A therapy model is developed which addresses how to attain and maintain therapeutic engagement, treat client symptoms, and utilize therapeutic conflict to develop client capacity for internal conflict and personal agency, functions critical to resolving addictive behavior. Societal and cultural obstacles to treatment are addressed including group stigmatisation, a lack of funding, and our current manual and group-based treatment protocols.


Debra H. Benveniste maintains a private psychotherapy practice and is an MSW field supervisor. Her recent publications include the article, 'Relational Quandaries in the Treatment of Forensic Clients' in the Clinical Social Work Journal. She has an MA in Criminal Justice, an MSW, and a PhD in Social Work with 35 years' experience providing psychotherapy and consultation.