Guilford Press has recently released Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Addictive Behaviors by Sarah Bowen, Neha Chawla and G. Allan Marlatt, the developers of MBRP.
Respected author of Radical Acceptance and mindfulness teacher Tara Brach recently praised the book, noting that "Mindfulness is the single most powerful tool available for those seeking freedom from addiction. Drawing on their notable wealth of research and clinical experience, Bowen et al. have created a groundbreaking relapse prevention program. For any therapist drawn to the practice of mindfulness, this guide provides a clear, accessible, and sensitive way to engage clients in a process of deep transformation and healing."
The new book is described as a detailed description of the 8-week program designed for clients in early recovery from addictive behaviors. The guide offers detailed curricula for each session, examples of client-therapist exchanges, meditation exercises, and discussions of issues that commonly arise in sessions. It is intended for clinicians with a strong background in mindfulness meditation who are interested in using mindfulness-based practices to offer clients new skills to meet the day-to-day challenges of recovery.
The MBRP program, adapted from MBSR and MBCT, integrates mindfulness practices with evidence-based cognitive and behavioral strategies. The practices are designed to help clients raise awareness of triggers and reactions, learn new ways to relate to discomfort (e.g., emotional distress or craving), and relate to one's own experiences, whatever they may be, with compassion and a sense of space that allows for skillful choice versus habitual reactivity.