Relapse Prevention Therapy (RPT) is one of the most effective theories of counseling helping people avoid the problem of alcohol or drug abuse. This theory was developed in the beginning of the 1970s, and first implemented in 1977. As identified by the developer, the theory has no adverse effects, unintended consequences or any other undesired outcomes. The main concept of RPT is in helping the patient with drug or alcohol abuse conditions avoid relapsing of their bad practices. This concept seems to work with one of the most complicated problems which the affected individuals face because it is well known that it is much easier to quit smoking or taking drugs for some short period, but it is easy to return to these unwanted behaviors under the influence of former set of behaviors.
First of all, speaking about the origin of RPT, it should be stated that it was developed in the beginning of 1970s, and first implemented in 1977 as a maintenance program after the other programs aimed for curing the patient with different types of addiction (Parks, 2000). According to Marlat and Witkiewit (2002, p. 2), the developer of this theory based it on the idea that “addictive behaviors are acquired, over-learned habits with biological, psychological, and social determinants and consequences”. During the researches, it became evident that people engage in harmful habits because they feel good doing so. With the acknowledge of the above mentioned fact, the team of specialists working on RPT theory developed methods aimed to destruct good feeling which people have during taking alcohol or drugs. This appeared to be an efficient method, and soon RPT theory acquired its due place among the other theories of counseling helping people avoid the problem of alcohol or drug abuse. Nowadays, this theory is actively applied in the United States, Canada and Scotland (Relapse Prevention Therapy, 2012). In the United States, the RPT based program is financed by the National Institute of Health. The school of thought from which it was originated is cognitive-behavioral therapy school.
The history of implementation of RPT theory in practice extends for more than forty-five years. During this long period, the specialists working with it developed effective practical strategy of its implementation. In the initial stage of treatment, they evaluate the inner potential of the patient. According to Marlat and Witkiewit (2002, p.2), “utilizing this Relapse Prevention Therapy begins with the assessment of a client’s potential interpersonal, intrapersonal, environmental, and physiological risks for relapse and the unique set of factors and situations that may directly precipitate a lapse”. Then, high-risk situation for this particular individual are identified. When the patient’s examination is ended, the period of medication begins. During this period, psychological cognitive-behavioral methods along with relevant medical support of medicaments and medical procedures are used. Simultaneously, the patient is subjected to the sports therapy with different exercises aimed for improving the patient’s physical condition and mood. The first period of treatment is very important. It is also connected with the biggest amount of difficulties. On this reason, the patients are isolated from the society during this period, Such strategy is aimed to help the patient avoid dangerous situations in which he or she may relapse one’s harmful behaviors. The main factor for the success in the implementation RPT is shown in the “identification of a client’s unique profile of high-risk situations for relapse and evaluating that client’s ability to cope with these high-risk situations without having a lapse” (Marlat & Witkiewit, 2002, p.5).
This counseling theory is of great interest for me because it is aimed for overcoming the syndrome of dependence during the treatment of abuse conditions. Everybody knows that it is easy to quit smoking, but very difficult to avoid this harmful habit in future. Many people gave up smoking multiple times, but they did not succeed in maintaining their new positive practices (Heather & Stockwell, 2004). RPT is aimed to help such people develop self-control and avoid unwanted behavioral patterns in order to cope with the problem’s relapse. According to Parks (2000, par.2), relapse can be identified as “a breakdown or failure in a person’s attempt maintain change in any set of behaviors”. Relapse is the most frequent problem for those who try to conquer their unwanted routines. RTP helps every individual analyze his or her life circumstances, and identify the areas where they are most probably subjected to the danger of relapsing their bad behaviors. Specialists working with patients using programs developed on the basis of this theory provide their patients with considerable measure of psychological support. In the form of friendly discussions, they offer the individual a chance to analyze one’s life circumstances and see those of them which should be changed. For example, in case the person is subjected to the unwanted behavior on the reason of bad influence by some people including the so-called “friends”, the specialists provide him or her with psychological help aimed to avoid such dangerous contacts. In the very beginning of the treatment course, the patient is isolated from the dangerous situations in the medical establishments. This minimizes the risks of the relapse problem. Later, the individual is assisted in avoiding unwanted behaviors until he or she develops new habits and strategies of behavior (Marlat, Park, & Witkiewit, 2002).
Evaluating the outcomes of RPT theory, hypothetical-deductive method can be implemented. The analysis of the most frequent problems for those individuals who try to avoid unwanted behaviors including alcohol or drug abuse shows that it is very difficult for them to maintain newly received positive practices which they acquired during the treatment program. The positive side of RPT is in addressing this common problem. Using hypothetical-deductive way of thinking in this case indicates relapses in bad behaviors as the most critical issue. Thus, because RPT addresses the above-mentioned problem, its effectiveness does not offer any grounds for distrust.
Concluding on all the above-discussed information, it should be stated that RPT is one of the very effective theories applied in the area of treatment of alcohol or drug dependences. The RPT theory of counseling is based on the concept of fighting with possible relapses of harmful practices by the patient. The effectiveness of this theory is proved since the 1970s. For about half a century, RPT is successfully applied in practice by the specialists from numerous hospitals in the United States. During such long history of its implementation, RPT became a basis for a number of successful practical methods applied during different stages of the patient’s treatment. The developers of this theory state that it has no adverse effects, unintended consequences or any other undesired outcomes. Nowadays, RPT theory of counseling is applied in a number of countries including the United States, Canada and Scotland.
References
Heather, N. & Stockwell, T. (Eds.). (2004). The Essential Handbook of Treatment and Prevention of Alcohol Problems. Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons. Web.
Marlat, A, Park, G., & Witkiewit, K. (2002). Clinical Guidelines for Implementing Relapse Prevention Therapy. Web.
Parks, G. (2000). Relapse Prevention Therapy: A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach. Web.
Relapse Prevention Therapy (RPT). (2012). Web.