"This is an important and inspired book about addiction. It will appeal to students, scholars, and clinicians because it covers all the bases - the drugs, the societal contexts, the theories, and treatments. More importantly it astutely addresses the dogmas and controversies that have plagued the field of addiction theory and practice. Dr. Fetting provides useful definitions of alcoholism and other addictions but she goes beyond narrow definitions and offers meaningful insights and understanding provided by her students, theorists, and those in recovery. Her perspective helps profile and fathom the nature and complexities of addictive disorders. She effectively captures and conveys the treacherous aspect of relapse but also the hopeful prospect for the clinician and patient to find pathways for transitioning from using addictive substance to considering imaginative avenues for recovery. Dr. Fetting's case examples, and her reflections on them (she calls them "reveries"), are compelling. She adopts and concludes with an integrative model of stages of treatment based on the seminal work of Stephanie Brown. Fetting uses her exhaustive comprehension of good theorists to infuse her empathy and compassion which in turn guides her work and that of the reader to appreciate what is needed in each phase of recovery." -- Edward J. Khantzian, MD
Perspectives on Addiction will spark new, vital interest in theories of addiction and hopefully encourage more integrated thinking about addiction and its treatment.
Margaret Fetting has accomplished multiple, inspiring feats. Her tone is lovely - warm, casual, informal, while her material is in-depth and complex. She is an assimilative thinker, using many addiction specialists and psychoanalytic theorists to build depth from a baseline developmental perspective.
I appreciate her contribution and working sense of a diagnostic continuum, rather than narrow categories, distinctions that are beautifully illustrated throughout her work. Fetting's clinical examples and the details of how the therapist thinks, feels and works with each "unique" person, will be useful and supportive to clinicians and no doubt to addicts who may read this book as well. It is accepting, respectful and understanding of the alcoholic/addict.
Perspectives on Addiction is a comprehensive, integrative text - an invaluable resource for clinicians and patients and a great contribution to the field.
Dr. Stephanie Brown, author of Treating Adult Children of Alcoholics: A Developmental Perspective; Treating the Alcoholic: A Developmental Model of Recovery; A Place Called Self: Women, Sobriety and Radical Transformation.
-- Dr. Stephanie Brown
"I have a strong impression of this text. It covers a lot of ground, is sensitive to cultural issues, and presents an outstanding chapter on various theories of addiction. I could certainly see adopting it for one or more of our program's Addictions Counseling courses." -- Jason D. Florin
"The three greatest strengths of this text are that it introduces theory at teachable moments - I found myself on the edge of my seat wondering what will happen next to Angela, to James, to Roger? What will Margie do?; It illustrates how a therapist makes practical and contextual assessments of community resources, such as partial care or hospitalization; (And lastly), the various people involved in addictions recovery- the clients especially, and their families, workmates, friends and communities come alive as real people with real circumstances, and real choices." -- Jo Cohen Hamilton
"Perspectives on Addiction offers an in-depth and comprehensive exploration of the desire for the experience of being intoxicated-for substances that produce alterations in feelings and moods-along with a treatment approach to manifestations of this desire that have become habitual and detrimental. Although mindful of ethno- and sociocultural aspects of addiction, Fetting's therapeutic approach includes a psychoanalytic sensibility that emphasizes the uniqueness of each individual's emotional experience and history. I particularly appreciated her emphasis on the importance of creating a relational space wherein the overwhelming emotional pain that the addiction has served to numb and keep hidden can be felt and brought into therapeutic dialogue. This reader-friendly book is highly recommended to students, teachers, practitioners, and anyone who wishes to gain an understanding of addiction to substances." -Robert D. Stolorow, Ph.D., psychoanalyst, author, Trauma and Human Existence (Routledge, 2007)
-- Robert D. Stolorow, Ph.D.
"An enlightening and practical approach to addictions, theoretically and clinically astute. This book is at once mind and heart-opening with hands on explorations and suggestions. Dr Fetting is perceptive, feeling, and thoughtful in a readable, down to earth way. A sensitive and helpful addition to the addiction literature." -- Michael Eigen, PhD
