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The national charity working
to end alcohol harm through
evidence-driven change

Matrix Row logo The talking route to recovery
Time to consolidate the lessons of row 4 of the Alcohol Treatment Matrix, all about therapies in which human interaction is intended to be the main active ingredient – psychosocial or ‘talking’ therapies, the mainstay of alcohol dependence treatment. Via key studies, reviews and guidance, the row walks you through what we know, from the therapies themselves to the influence of practitioners, management, organisational context, and their place in the surrounding treatment system.

Click button to view the matrix with this row highlighted or go straight to your chosen cell in the row by scrolling down and clicking the blue titles.

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Cell A4 Talking interventions
Introduces the famous ‘Dodo bird’ hypothesis that all bona fide therapies are equivalent. Read about the American Psychological Association’s “impressively wise overview” but question their list of the most important things to do in therapy, and explore the implications of unexpected findings from the largest UK trial.

Cell B4 The talker in talking therapies
Structured around Carl Rogers’ classic account of the prerequisites of effective therapy. Highlights the seminal study that validated empathy, understanding and warmth, and asks, is this really all that’s needed, can being genuine contravene other ‘rules’ of good counselling, and why don’t more studies register therapist effects?

Cell C4 Managing the talking route to recovery
Starts with leading researchers “bravely questioning” whether their work has been futile, highlights the study which teased out the indirect influence of leaders, then asks whether feedback and ‘coaching’ are the right strategies for producing good clinicians.

Cell D4 The organisation is the healing context
Starts with the contention that “organizational climate underlies the entire process of innovation adoption”, then addresses three key issues: Is your service even ready to change? Change driven by money versus mission; just as good for patients? The stultifying effect of high staff turnover and how to reduce it.

Cell E4 Psychosocial therapies in the treatment system
Focuses on guidance from NICE, England’s gatekeeper to the public provision of health and social care, questioning its interpretation of research and examining its support for care coordination, referral from treatment to mutual aid groups, and the groups themselves. Also, how far should commissioners tie the hands of treatment providers?

Alcohol Treatment Matrix for alcohol brief interventions and treatment
Drug Treatment Matrix for harm reduction and treatment in relation to illegal drugs
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