Stefanie Goldstein, Ph.D. on Mindfulness and Addiction

Mental Help Net (www.mentalhelp.net) presents the Wise Counsel Podcast (wisecounsel.mentalhelp.net), hosted by David Van Nuys, Ph.D. "Stefanie Goldstein, Ph.D. on Mindfulness-based Treatment for Addiction". Dr. Van Nuys interviews Stefanie Goldstein, Ph.D., a Los Angeles, CA based Clinical Psychologist specializing in providing mindfulness-based forms of psychotherapy to people dealing with substance abuse and addiction. Dr. Goldstein talks about her practical work helping addicted clients and the "broken pleasure system" that maintains their habits. In a simplified form, she reviews briefly the role of the neurotransmitter dopamine and its role in creating the experience of pleasure. Mindfulness and psychosynthesis techniques are helpful to addicted people becuase they help them to become more conscious and thus more capable of understanding when they are most vulnerable and of choosing to not continue drug use. Many actions in life are done on "autopilot"; in a semi- or unconscious state where people act but aren't really paying attention. Addictive behaviors get acted out without thought when they are triggered by unconscious impulses and feelings, and by mistaken interpretations of events. By learning to be more aware and conscious, it becomes easier for people to pay attention on a more consistent basis, and thus become more free to choose what they will do, rather than be led around by impulses and cravings.