Mindfulness-Based Substance Abuse Treatment for Adolescents: A 12-Session Curriculum

235 Pages·2015·6.28 MB·English

by  Sam Himelstein

MINDFULNESS-BASED SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT
FOR ADOLESCENTS
Mindfulness-Based Substance Abuse Treatment for Adolescents is a group-based curriculum incorporating
mindfulness, self-awareness, and substance-abuse treatment strategies for use with adolescents deal-
ing with substance use. The evidence-based, how-to format provides a curriculum for professionals
to implement either partially, by picking and choosing sections that seem relevant, or in full over a
number of weeks. Each session comes equipped with clear session agendas, example scripts and talking
points, what-if scenarios that address common forms of resistance, and optional handouts for each ses-
sion. Sections cover the major principles of working with adolescents—relationship building, working
with resistance, and more—along with a full curriculum. The book is a natural fit for psychotherapists,
but addiction counselors, school counselors, researchers, mentors, and even teachers will find that
Mindfulness-Based Substance Abuse Treatment for Adolescents changes the way they work with young
people.
Sam Himelstein, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in the state of California and a Behavioral Health Cli-
nician at the Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center. He is also the author of A Mindfulness-Based Approach
to Working with High-Risk Adolescents.
Stephen Saul, MS, is a mental health clinician who works with addiction and marginalized populations
via individual, group, and family therapy. He focuses primarily on serving incarcerated and underprivi-
leged adolescents and young adults in San Mateo County, California.
“Himelstein and Saul offer a rich and highly practical guide while providing much more than a how-to
book. Clearly based in research, personal mindfulness practice, and years of clinical experience, here is a
raw, honest, fearless program that promises to engage adolescents from all backgrounds. Deeply rooted
in both mindfulness practice and science, the program skillfully integrates meditation, skits, role-plays,
psycho-education, metaphors, acronyms, stories, poems, and even formal debates, while offering clini-
cians a reliable structure and guidance balanced with trust in one’s own clinical expertise and personal
mindfulness practice. This is the resource so many of us have been seeking, and this is a program that
will undoubtedly change the course of countless young lives. A deep bow to my colleagues.”
—Sarah Bowen, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at Pacific University in
Portland, Oregon, and author of Mindfulness-Based Relapse
Prevention: A Clinician’s Guide
“Imagine taking the extensive experience of someone who has helped a range of high-risk youth, com-
bining this with the ancient practice of mindfulness training, and then weaving these together beauti-
fully with steps proven by science to help enhance emotional well-being and reduce self-destructive
behaviors. This is the magnificent mixture you have in your hands in Himelstein and Saul’s important
guide, which offers step-by-step group lessons to support the healthy development of a resilient and
insightful mind.”
—Daniel J. Siegel, MD, author of Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain
and The Mindful Therapist: A Clinician’s Guide to Mindsight and Neural Integration
“If you are working with adolescents suffering from addiction, this is the book you need. Himelstein
and Saul have done a stellar job of gathering and imparting the mindfulness-based treatment method-
ology. Read this book, be mindful, and serve the truth.”
—Noah Levine, author of Dharma Punx and Refuge Recovery: A Buddhist
Path to Recovering from Addiction
“A truly authentic, sensitive, savvy, and invaluable curriculum for transforming young lives and the
lives of those who are drawn to offer it to them.”
—Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of
the Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness
“Based on years of experience working with and listening to young people, Himelstein and Saul present
a curriculum that is well-designed and user friendly, respectful of young people, and effective in build-
ing self-awareness, self-control, and community connection. An important resource for every profes-
sional in the substance abuse field. Highly recommended!”
—Paul Kivel, educator, activist, and coauthor of Helping Teens Stop Violence,
Build Community, and Stand for Justice
“Mindfulness-Based Substance Abuse Treatment for Adolescents is a pioneering manual that weaves together
science and clinical wisdom from the fields of mindfulness, psychotherapy, and addiction treatment. It
is an invaluable resource for mental health professionals and teachers, and offers a unique and highly
effective approach to treatment of substance abuse. I highly recommend this book.”
—Shauna Shapiro, PhD, professor at Santa Clara University and author of Mindful
Discipline and The Art and Science of Mindfulness
“Among the ever-growing number of resources for those privileged to share mindfulness with youth,
this book stands out as an absolutely exquisitely crafted resource! The authors are extremely generous—
sharing their wisdom, acknowledging the wisdom of the reader, and, most importantly, acknowledging
the wisdom of the youth we serve. The book is grounded in research and provides nuanced guidance.
Every chapter supports the reader in creating authentic connections with substance-using teens and
sharing potent skills that they will actually use. The detailed notes to the facilitator and ‘what if’ sce-
narios are invaluable resources for readers committed to inspiring youth to choose to make meaningful
changes in their lives.”
—Amy Saltzman, MD, author of A Still Quiet Place: A Mindfulness Program for Teaching
Children and Youth to Ease Stress and Difficult Emotions and director
of the Association for Mindfulness in Education
“Himelstein and Saul have created a thoroughly detailed and researched compendium of how to apply
mindfulness effectively in working with young people grappling with the complex issues of substance
use and abuse. Their curricula beautifully weave experiential exercises, didactic information, and pro-
cess-oriented techniques from multiple forms of learning, both through relationship building between
adults and adolescents and among the adolescents themselves. In the spirit of the best pedagogy, the
authors are able to train the trainers with the skill and finesse grounded in the solid foundation of their
own clinical, teaching, and mindfulness practice and experience.
—Larry Yang, Buddhist meditation teacher
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MINDFULNESS-BASED SUBSTANCE
ABUSE TREATMENT FOR
ADOLESCENTS
A 12-Session Curriculum
by Sam Himelstein and Stephen Saul
First published 2016
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
27 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2FA
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2016 Taylor & Francis
The right of Sam Himelstein and Stephen Saul to be identified as authors of this work
has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. The purchase of this copyright material confers the right on
the purchasing institution to photocopy pages which bear the photocopy icon and
copyright line at the bottom of the page. No other parts of this book may be reprinted
or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other
means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or
in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to
infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Himelstein, Sam.
Mindfulness-based substance abuse treatment for adolescents : a 12-session
curriculum / by Sam Himelstein and Stephen Saul.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Teenagers—Substance use. 2. Substance abuse—Treatment. 3. Mindfulness-
based cognitive therapy. I. Saul, Stephen. II. Title.
RJ506.D78H56 2015
616.86 00835—dc23
2015002930
ISBN: 978-1-138-81252-9 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-81254-3 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-317-60705-2 (ebk)
Typeset in Stones Sans and Stones Serif
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
I, SH, dedicate this book to the many people who have supported me in my personal and spiritual
journeys, from my parents and ancestors, to my clients and colleagues, to my wife Alicia and sons
Solomon and Malakai. This book would not be possible without all of you. Your teachings and grace
shine through me in this work.
I, SS, dedicate this book to my supportive family, my devoted wife Jennifer, and most cherished
daughter, Avery. With love.
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CONTENTS
Training and Resources Information x
Introduction 1
Curriculum Development and Researched Outcomes 11
Using This Curriculum 21
12-SESSION CURRICULUM
SESSION 1 Introduction to the Program 30
SESSION 2 Mindfulness of Drugs and Their Health Effects 49
SESSION 3 Reacting vs. Responding 60
SESSION 4 Mindfulness of Delusion 75
SESSION 5 Emotional Awareness 91
SESSION 6 The Brain and Drugs 111
SESSION 7 Mindfulness of Craving 130
SESSION 8 Mindfulness of Triggers 144
SESSION 9 The Family System and Drugs 161
SESSION 10 Mindfulness of the Peer System 178
SESSION 11 Mindfulness of the External Environment 193
SESSION 12 Closing Ceremony 207
Index 219