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A Meaning-Centered Therapy for Addictions

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Abstract

This article describes a treatment for addictions, based on the idea that addiction is a response to living a life that has little personal meaning. First, it presents the theory of Meaning-Centered Therapy (MCT) as developed by Paul Wong, particularly the need to understand intoxication from the addict’s perspective. Next, it presents the principles governing clinical application. MCT is a positive, existential psychotherapy, which incorporates psychoeducational, cognitive-behavioral, narrative, and positive psychologies, by using personal meaning as an organizing construct. The article ends with a case study.

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Correspondence to Geoff Thompson.

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Thompson, G. A Meaning-Centered Therapy for Addictions. Int J Ment Health Addiction 10, 428–440 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-011-9367-9

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