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Percetion TherapyPERCEPTION THERAPY® The protocol for substance abuse and psycho-emotional disorders treatment is making a major change. Developed by Alternative Treatment International, Inc. (â??A.T.I.â??), this includes the use of Perception Therapy® and Mind-Body-Spirit-Environment® techniques combined with other client focused clinical techniques and alternative healing methods to affect change in perceptions, thinking, and behaviors. TREATING THE ADDICTIVE THINKING AND/OR PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL BEHAVIORS At A.T.I., our philosophy is to examine all aspects of the individualâ??s life in a clinical and holistic way to determine the best course of action to treat the whole person, and uncover and resolve the problem. This is enhanced by employing Perception Therapy® and Mind-Body-Spirit-Environment® techniques which are designed to raise the therapeutic arsenal currently in use. We believe that the answers do not l Many addictive and psycho-emotional behaviors are a result of psychological, physical, spiritual, and environmental issues in regard to the individual, and can be successfully treated utilizing a variety of clinical techniques combined with alternative methods. In some cases, medication management may be indicated and can be a helpful adjunct to the therapeutic process. Client success can also be improved if the clientâ??s belief system embraces holistic healing methods. Rather than employing a directive and controlling approach that may produce a defensive attitude by the client and hamper the change process, our indirective and metaphorical techniques allow the client to come to his/her own conclusion. This yields a more productive therapeutic result, not only in the clientsâ?? thinking, but in their behaviors, sobriety and recovery as well. Our staff views each client as an individual who is coping with his/her life in the ways that they know. We support their choice to enter a residential setting to obtain guidance and learn new ways of perceiving and thinking. Clients who enter treatment have recognized that their current ways of thinking and behaving are getting in the way of their happiness. They may also not want to lose their vested interests (i.e., family, home, business) and are willing to do something about changing their present situation. In light of this, we find that it is possible to obtain successful results when treating the addictive thinking and/or psycho-emotional behaviors utilizing the unique therapeutic processes developed by A.T.I., that addresses the whole person and underlying causes, not just the symptom. BY CHANGING PERCEPTION â?? THINKING WILL CHANGE For an individual to discontinue substance use or other self-destructive patterns and begin a recovery process, one must be open to the philosophy that will bring him/her to their own conclusion and learn to affect change. This can be achieved through the process of changing perceptions and thinking. Most people accept the basic concept that there is always another way to view things. Once a certain way of thinking as been formed in an individual, it generally requires applied therapeutic techniques to open the mind to accept a change in perception. By treating the thinking as the primary therapeutic target, the client is given the opportunity to decipher their formed perceptions to be true or false. These may have manifested the dysfunctional thinking which has produced the behaviors that are interfering with a healthy lifestyle. Once clarity has occurred regarding the formed perceptions, the therapeutic processes of making a positive change of thinking are easily accepted by the client. This allows the client to come to a productive conclusion because perceiving and thinking are being internalized in a new way. These perceptions, which have now changed, allow clearer thinking to occur and positive choices to be made, resulting in an automatic change in behavior. WHEN THINKING CHANGES, BEHAVIORS WILL CHANGE BY THEMSELVES Thinking must change for behavior to change. â??When thinking changes, behaviors will change by themselves.â?? Understanding this simple concept, it appears a waste of time to spend our efforts on trying to help or force people to improve their behaviors. It has proven not to work, and hence, relapse continues. As we have seen, clients do not appear to recover from their addictive behaviors as they do with many other disorders. Even if they discontinue their substance use, many continue to be unhappy, unfulfilled, depressed and continue to experience life problems, because their thought process remains a result of their perceptions. We see this every day, even with clients who have spent months in rehabilitation programs, in therapy of one kind or another, and with counselors who promote a variety of techniques. MIND IS THE MAKER and will always produce the thinking and emotions that are productive or unproductive for all of us. How then do we assist people in changing their thinking? Helping people to think differently is a complex process, but is an attainable goal. By uncovering and resolving the underlying causes of the problems utilizing A.T.I.â??s Perception Therapy® and Mind-Body-Spirit-Environment® approaches, healing of the whole person, not just the symptom, occurs and the result is hope, peace and happiness. Relapse, substance abuse, behavioral problems, anti-social acting out, low self-esteem, feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness are removed as the perceptions and thoughts have transformed. PERCEPTION THERAPY® and MIND-BODY-SPIRIT-ENVIRONMENT® APPROACHES WORK BY PRODUCING A CHANGE IN THINKING Thinking begins with "Perception". We perceive in the way that we have been taught to perceive. Our perceptions about ourselves, others, and life around us, begin at birth and continue throughout life. Perception for most is equal to truth. Whether the taught perception is true or not, makes no difference. The only thing that matters is that, â??I was told or taught this by a perceived reliable source, or read this, so it must be trueâ??. Therefore, one perceives in a certain way which formulates one to think in a certain way, causing one to behave in a particular way. For the individual, the resulting behavior may be positive or negative, productive or unproductive, all depending on how one was taught to perceive and think. We must recognize that the perceptions we are being taught are actually someone else's, not our own, and these perceptions were taught to them by someone else. Are their perceptions true, or are they just perceptions that they have been taught by well-meaning or even misguided individuals who have also been taught by others? Part of the therapeutic goal is to examine the perceptions one has about Mind-Body-Spirit-Environment® and how those perceptions produce thinking. Perception Therapy® reviews those perceptions throughout the therapeutic process and as those perceptions change, we witness changes in thinking, which in turn brings hope to the client. When a change in thinking produces a new view, all things are possible including lifestyle change, recovery, sobriety, happiness and success. EXAMPLES OF PERCEPTION CHANGE REGARDING MIND, BODY, SPIRIT and ENVIRONMENT Mind â?? It has been estimated that over ten million Americans suffer from depression. This alarming statistic proves that changes must be made to better treat and prevent depression. Because the symptoms of depression have many variables contributing to the discomfort, aside from or along with the possibility of a chemical imbalance, it is necessary to treat depression with a diverse treatment plan that focuses on the whole person. Depressive symptoms are typically categorized in the DSM IV by depressed mood, loss of interest in daily activities, weight loss, insomnia, and feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. With this diagnostic method, symptoms are neatly packaged, diagnosed, and treated most often with a variety of anti-depressant medications that are designed to alleviate or diminish symptoms. Although medications in some cases of depression may be helpful if the individual believes in the process, it is believed that this traditional course of treatment masks symptoms and is not designed to uncover and resolve the cause of the problems which may include: biological, psychological, psycho-emotional, situational, environmental, or spiritual areas. At A.T.I., depression accompanied by alcohol and/or other forms of drug abuse is seen frequently. What this addictive behavior indicates is that either depression is a causal factor in substance abuse, or that the substance abuse is producing the depression. The therapists at A.T.I. are well versed in treating co-occurring disorders such as substance abuse and depression. By addressing this combination from a spiritual standpoint, it is important to recognize that the substance abuse reinforces selfish behaviors which deter people from recognizing their true nature or inner self. As the person gains recognition through a change in perception as being more selfless, the closer they come to their true nature and their feelings of hopelessness are replaced with renewed hope. Those that attempt to understand the origins of depression and depressive symptoms cannot ignore that the one common symptom is the concept of â??loss of hopeâ??. Hope is not biological, bio-chemical, psychological, or environmental. Rather, it is a spiritual concept that cannot be ignored in the treatment of depression. Therefore, it should be at the forefront of the predominant clinical protocol of the treatment plan for the client who suffers from depression with a co-occurring disorder. When changes in perception and a spiritual understanding are introduced into the life of a person experiencing depressive symptoms, the depressive symptoms begin to lift, sometimes immediately. For every human being, the spiritual concept of â??hopeâ?? is the one concept that intuitively keeps us going. Combining perception changes and spiritual healing to address the symptoms of depression can help lift the depressive feelings, and bring hope and a feeling of purpose to a person who has lost that. It is an interesting observation that people perceive the concept of depression in many different ways. Some may suffer from a true diagnosis of depressive disorder while others magnify a minor biorhythm change or transient feeling of malaise as depression. (perception) Their thinking then becomes one of a depressed individual and their mannerisms are seen as lack of energy or disinterest. (behavior) The approach at A.T.I. toward all true or perceived depressive feelings is to assist the client to think of themselves as healthy and project affirmations in terms of wellness rather than sickness. As the Mind produces all thought, perceptions about oneâ??s feelings may change through positive awareness relative to Mind-Body-Spirit-Environment® (thinking), resulting in behaviors that demonstrate a person who speaks of and believes in well-being. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Trauma, another example, is a common occurrence that produces negative perceptions, thinking and behaviors. Traumas may affect both the conscious and subconscious parts of the mind, produce perceptions which may be consciously recognized or kept hidden in the subconscious and continue to influence thinking. Traumas do not always have to be horrific to be life changing events, although they certainly can be. Examples may include physical, sexual, emotional abuse, loss of loved one, automobile accident, etc. However, traumas may also be small, seemingly insignificant events that may also cause perceptions and thinking, and years later may manifest into unwanted or at least misunderstood behaviors. Families have probably the greatest potential for creating positive self-esteem, feelings of self-worth and self-love in their children. Families also have the greatest potential to produce traumatized, self-defeating individuals who may develop drug, alcohol or psycho-emotional disorders to be able to cope with the traumas inflicted on them by family members. Of course, these same dysfunctions may not necessarily be caused by family but in many cases, traumas of self-concepts could be imbedded in childhood or adolescent minds by friends, television, magazines, religion, misguided teachers, etc. Some traumas are caused by catastrophic events and people deal with these traumatic events in a variety of ways, both positive and negative. Unfortunately, many do not have knowledge of therapeutic interventions or have family support to seek out appropriate therapeutic interventions. Without help, the results may be the use of easily accessible drugs, alcohol or psychiatric medications to cope with the emotional pain. In the case of family induced traumas, the same catastrophic results may be produced. They may occur as a one time event or repeated traumas over an extended period of time. A one time traumatic event might be, for example, a sexual abuse episode, a physical beating, abandonment, divorce of parents, or even an illness. The more insidious types of traumas may occur over and over for years. Examples may include repeated abuse episodes or beatings and even being told, â??you are not as smart as your brother,â?? â??you are built just like your grandmother (who may be overweight),â?? â??you are badâ??, â??your sister got all the talent,â?? and more, by parents, siblings, grandparents, etc. All of these traumas that are produced by family can and do cause life long damage. At A.T.I., we see a large percentage of clients that present a problem of alcohol, drug abuse or emotional problems, but also suffer from feelings of low self-esteem and low self-worth. Clients relate how as children, they were told that they were â??no goodâ??, â??worthlessâ??, â??dumbâ??, â??not wantedâ??, â??a painâ??, etc. (perception) This may have lead them to consciously try to â??find an identityâ?? through friends, style of dress, hair, speech patterns (all typically dysfunctional), or subconsciously view him/herself in th Dr. Alan Meyers and Julia D. Stewart, C.Y.I. Permalink: http://expert-talk.com/tips/615/percetion-therapy-249615.htm Related Tips and Advices
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