Donuts, Frogs, and Bad Romance – Explaining the Neuroscience of Addiction Models

Program Description

We've all heard how addiction is a disease, but many clients (and sometimes clinicians!) have difficulty understanding the neuroscience that justifies addiction as a brain disease. Through easy to remember analogies and explanations, the disease model is presented to help understand the brain's role in addiction. An additional examination of addiction will be discussed through the lens of a trauma informed developmental model. Trainees will also learn about the relationship model of addiction as an alternative that can be explained to clients.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the brain's role in addiction
• Understand the neuroscience behind the disease model of addiction using analogies that can assist in building client understanding
• Learn about the relationship model of addiction