The Garnet Clinical Model: From Addiction to Joy
The Psychology Practice of Dr. Charles Zeiders wishes to thank the Global Addictions Recovery Network (GARNET) for permission to display the GARNET Operating System for Global Recovery™. Dr. Zeiders consulted to the GARNET Clinical Model and served as Clinical Strategist for the following white paper. Parties interested to discuss development of global addiction programs with GARNET are urged to contact the Chief Executive, David Godfrey-Thomas, by email at dgt@incoamericas.com.
I. GARNET Philosophy
GARNET treatment protocols incorporate understanding of addiction informed by science, medicine, outcomes measurement and experience from around the world. Core scientific foundations include recent brain research and study findings by the [American] National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) that show addiction to be a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior. This research provides the visual evidence of clinical diagnoses showing drugs of abuse [alcohol and prescription/illegal drugs] alter the brain’s structure and function. These brain changes affect the very areas of thebrain a person needs in order to ‘think straight,’ process emotions and act responsibly, and explain, in part, why treatment and recovery can be challenging and why relapses can occur. GARNET takes on addiction as a brain disease.
GARNET further understands the confrontation and acknowledgement of addiction by a person to be a traumatic event and regards therapy advised by trauma and post trauma stress management to be important in understanding, treating and managing the disease of addiction. GARNET aggressively treats addiction as trauma.
Recognizing addiction as a chronic relapsing brain disease infuses every aspect of GARNET’s treatment programming, as does the recognition that addiction is ‘caused by’ a combination of risk factors, including: genetics, childhood trauma, early use, social environment, mental illness and preceding substance abuse. As such, GARNET provides multi-faceted, internationally integrated treatment modalities targeted to the individual’s varied needs – not just his or her substance abuse – and which assimilate the individual’s national and cultural background and context. Treatment is profoundly culture specific.
GARNET recognizes that recovery must enable the individual to assume, sometimes for the first time, productive functioning in the family, workplace or classroom and society. As such, GARNET follows its initial comprehensive, individualized treatment programs with long-term, personalized progression plans and assessments, and incorporates similarly grounded educational offerings for families, persons concerned about their substance use and communities as a whole.
GARNET’s experts understand addiction recovery in an international context with the inherent opportunities for program development in a cross cultural and cross disciplinary environment. Garnet’s Operating System for Global Recovery™ transcends traditional techniques and incorporates and adapts trauma management, traditional 12-step methods, cognitive behavioral therapy, existing and new psychology practices and lessons from international treatment experience. Programs keep the focus on guiding patients toward transformative growth as an essential component of long term recovery and establish lasting connection with joyful, fulfilled, societally productive living.
GARNET programs support the following essential principles:
The need for education and awareness of the psychology and physiology of substance addiction
An understanding that all human beings have the capacity for transformation and that addiction recovery is most successful when patients find their personal path toward this growth
The importance of addressing the trauma associated with confronting addiction and the development of long-term personal growth strategies.
Active use of experiential learning modeling joy, fulfillment, and fully engaged, self-giving lifestyles.
Establishing a reachable goal of a joyful and meaningful life as an engaged, mindful and healthy individual.
Transformative growth transcends specific cultural or religious practices. Garnet does not endorse any dogma. Garnet does recognize and believe that transformative growth is a key indicator of addiction recovery success. Leading patients toward this goal is a primary objective of Garnet programs.
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