Research to Recovery 2026

In my years of practice, it was not unusual for me to hear another clinician say “I don’t treat substance use disorders”.  What they may not realize is that it is often present; if not as the primary concern, it may be the obstacle that slows or impedes progress in therapy.  Regardless of the specialty, it is critical that mental health (and medical) practitioners have the basic knowledge to “sniff it out”.  Whether you contract around honesty and abstinence to resume your course of treatment or refer to someone who treats SUD’s and resume your therapy at a later date, it is not fair to the client when “the elephant in the room” is not addressed.  
      This session will address ways to “sniff out” problematic use, to start the conversation in a non-threatening manner and to assist the client with options for resuming treatment for their presenting concerns.   
Learning objectives: 
1. Participants will be able to identify at least 3 questions that could help to tease out problematic substance use 
2. Be able to articulate ways in which continued use can impede progress in therapy 
3.  Identify 3 options for a clinician when a client’s substance use may get in the way of therapy 

A connection between grief, loss and substance use has become a more explored topic to illuminate how layered complicated grief can be. In a 2021 paper, Caparrós and Masferrer looked at the complications and coping skills of individuals who experienced grief and were also using substances and/or in recovery.  The line between loss and grief of individuals and loss and grief in the recovery process is often overlapping therefore raising questions for helpers how to frame grief work.  The session explores a potential framework.    

Objectives: 1) Participants will be able to distinguish the relationship between loss, grief and complicated grief. 2) Participants will explore how their own experiences inform the way they engage with loss and grief 3) Participants will be able to discuss a framework to assist helpers in working with individuals experiencing loss and grief in relation to active substance use and recovery.