Alcoholism and addictions to heroin, cocaine, crack, sedatives and other drugs as well as gambling are a huge problem in today's world. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) have helped many addicts deal with their dependency, using a specific approach based on 12 steps leading to permanent abstinence. However, some patients may still need to be motivated to go to that first meeting. Others may have decided that the 12-step approach does not suit them or other various reasons, but would still like to tackle the problem and prefer to do this on a one-to-one basis with a doctor. In both of these situations, a short course of Provocative Therapy may be very useful.

The Provocative Therapy Approach to Addictions:

Most addicts know what they have to do – quit. Many addicts are also masters at providing legitimate reasons why they cannot give up now. There is no point persuading them otherwise! That approach is often perceived as being patronising and condescending.

The approach in Provocative Therapy is never to give such advice. Instead patients find themselves in a therapeutic and humorous 'negotiation' about their problem. This involves a light-hearted conversation which nevertheless contains some tough talking with the aim of provoking patients to locate and articulate the true solutions to their problems. When people are therapeutically and responsibly provoked to voice the solutions they are much more likely to own and enact those solutions and this is what I see consistently in my practice.

I believe that Provocative Therapy is an immensely powerful way of dealing with drug addiction and dependence, one of society's biggest modern problems. People of all ages are capable of responding well to it. I believe that deep down, addicts know that they have to quit so provoking them to admit that, state it emphatically and then do it – is a straightforward challenge for a Provocative Therapist.

Smoking: A legal and lethal addiction:

Don't give up smoking. Only think of giving up when symptoms appear! Be a fearless smoker! Be a rebel! Just joking ;-) Just doing a little group Provocative Therapy on all the world's smokers. But this is the general idea of the Provocative Therapy approach to smoking. It's no good telling a smoker to quit; s/he knows that already so saying so just sounds patronising. But wait until a doctor, (with a twinkle in the eye) gives you reason after almost believable reason, why you must smoke and you will be amazed at how you react.

Seriously, smoking is one of the most powerful addictions there is and a radical approach is certainly appropriate. Provocative Therapy is certainly a radical approach!

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