Allies in Recovery
Allies in Recovery
Interview with Dr. Julie McCarthy
Interview with Dr. Julie McCarthy
Interview with Dr. Julie McCarthy
Friday 6th September 2024
Dr. Julie McCarthy shares practical advice on supporting loved ones with dual diagnoses of severe mental illness and substance use disorders.
36 minutes
Informative
Supportive
Encouraging
Compassionate
Educational
About this podcast
Author:
Allies in Recovery
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Family Recovery from Addiction
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Creative Recovery Journeys
Links:
Visit site
Episodes:
238 (View all)
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!Supporting Loved Ones with Dual Diagnosis: Insights from Dr. Julie McCarthy
Episode Overview
- Use empathy and understanding statements instead of engaging in a tug-of-war over reality.
- Self-care is crucial for family members to be effective support systems.
- Integrated treatment approaches are recommended for addressing both mental health and substance use issues.
- CRAFT skills can help decrease depression, anxiety, and stress among family members.
- Family members should focus on maintaining their own well-being while supporting their loved ones.
Self-care is not selfish but essential for being an effective support system.
In this episode of Coming Up for Air, the hosts Laurie McDougall, Kayla Solomon, and Dominique Simone Levine sit down with Dr. Julie McCarthy, an Associate Psychologist at McLean Hospital and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. McCarthy brings her extensive expertise in schizophrenia and addiction research to the table, offering a wealth of knowledge on how families can support loved ones with dual diagnoses—conditions involving both severe mental illness and substance use disorders. Dr.
McCarthy discusses the importance of the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) approach, highlighting how its tools can be adapted for those dealing with psychosis and substance use. She shares practical advice on communication skills that family members can use to defuse tension and foster understanding. For instance, instead of engaging in a tug-of-war over what's real, family members can use empathy and understanding statements to show support without necessarily agreeing with their loved one's perceptions.
The conversation also touches on the challenges of treatment engagement and retention. Dr. McCarthy shares insights from her research, noting that CRAFT can lead to decreased depression, anxiety, and stress among family members, as well as improved happiness. She emphasises the importance of integrated treatment approaches that address both mental health and substance use issues simultaneously. One of the key takeaways is the need for family members to take care of themselves. Dr.
McCarthy points out that self-care is not selfish but essential for being an effective support system. She also discusses how families can use CRAFT skills to maintain their own well-being while helping their loved ones. This episode is packed with valuable information and practical tips for anyone dealing with a loved one's dual diagnosis. Whether you're struggling with how to communicate effectively or seeking ways to encourage treatment engagement, Dr. McCarthy's insights offer a roadmap for navigating these complex issues.
Don't miss this enlightening discussion that blends expert advice with real-world applications, providing hope and strategies for families facing the challenges of addiction and mental illness.