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Addiction as a mode of being: An existential-psychodynamic foundation for Mind-Body Bridging Therapy in the treatment of addicted populations.Presentation at the 2Nd Annual Mind-Body Bridging Conference, University of Utah, Utah, Salt Lake City. 2021.
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Mind-Body Bridging for professional self-care: Preventing and treating secondary trauma.Domestic Violence Solutions Conference, Utah State University, Utah, Provo. 2021.
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148Achieving consensus, coherence, clarity and consistency when talking about addictionAddiction 119 (5): 796-798. 2024.Progress in addiction science is hampered by disagreements and ambiguity around its core construct: addiction. Addiction Ontology (AddictO) offers a path to a solution of the kind that has addressed similar problems in other areas of science: a set of clearly and uniquely defined entities to which terms such as ‘addiction’, addictive disorder’ and ‘substance dependence ’can be applied for ease of reference while recognizing that it is the construct …Read more
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270Will to Power: The Utility of Nietzsche’s Philosophy for Philosophical CounselingPresentation at the 6Th International Conference on Philosophical Counseling and Practice, 17 February 2024. 2024.This presentation explores the utility of Nietzsche’s ethical thought for philosophical counselling. Central to the philosophical counseling process is philosophical counsellors applying the work of philosophers to inspire, educate, and guide their counselees in dealing with life problems. For example, Logic-Based Therapy (LBT), a method of philosophical counselling developed by Elliot Cohen, provides a rational framework for confronting problems of living, where the counselor helps the counsele…Read more
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346Will to Power: The Utility of Friedrich Nietzsche’s Moral Philosophy for Philosophical CounselingQeios 1 (1): 1-22. 2024.This article explores the utility of Nietzsche’s ethical thought for philosophical counselling. Central to the philosophical counseling process is philosophical counsellors applying the work of philosophers to inspire, educate, and guide their counselees in dealing with life problems. For example, Logic-Based Therapy (LBT), a method of philosophical counselling developed by Elliot Cohen, provides a rational framework for confronting problems of living, where the counselor helps the counselee fin…Read more
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146In article I explore how Logic-based Therapy (LBT) can inform a philosophically oriented recovery pathway for individuals in addiction recovery. Considering that there is an ostensibly low efficacy rate for the treatment of addiction, there is significant value in highlighting the utility of LBT for the development of novel philosophically based addiction treatment and recovery-oriented programs, which would expand the treatment and recovery options. I propose that LBT may be a suitable interven…Read more
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390Simone de Beauvoir’s Existentialist Ethics as an Antidote for Ideology AddictionInternational Journal of Philosophical Practice 9 (1): 141-157. 2023.Central to philosophical practice is the application of philosophers' work by philosophical practitioners to inspire, educate, and guide their clients. For example, in Logic-Based Therapy (LBT) philosophical practitioners help their clients to find an uplifting philosophy that promotes guiding virtues that counteract unrealistic and often self-defeating conclusions derived from irrational premises. I will present the argument that Simone de Beauvoir’s existentialist ethics can be applied as an u…Read more
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305The Integrated Metatheoretical Model of AddictionQieos 1 (1): 1-25. 2022.In “The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy and Science of Addiction” Robert West highlights a pervasive challenge for more conceptual clarity and consensus within the field of addiction studies. In an attempt to address the challenge I provide the conceptual building blocks or architectonic of a metatheory of addiction, referred to as the Integrated Metatheoretical Model of Addiction (IMMA). The IMMA is not a general theory of addiction, but rather an exploratory attempt at providing the architec…Read more
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191Philosophy as a Way of Life as a Pathway to Recovery for Addicted IndividualsQeios 1 (1): 1-15. 2022.In this essay I address the notions of motivation and self-deception by exploring the value of philosophy in the context of addiction treatment. More specifically, in this essay I explore the notion of philosophy as a way of life as a recovery pathway for individuals in addiction recovery. My hypothesis is that philosophy as a way of life can be a compelling, and legitimate recovery pathway for individuals in addiction recovery, as one of many recovery pathways. I will focus on logic-based thera…Read more
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381The Integrated Metatheoretical Model of Addiction - Current Approaches in Addiction PsychologyIn E. Ermagan (ed.), Current Approaches in Addiction Psychology, Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 2023.
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10Certified as an evidence-based intervention by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), and listed on the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs (NREPP). Seeking treatment for substance abuse or addiction is half the battle—staying sober is the other. In this important book, physician Stanley Block and addiction specialist Guy du Plessis present a powerful, easy-to-use program for overcoming addiction utilizing the mind-body bridging modality. If you're recov…Read more
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13Building Recovery Resilience: Addiction Recovery and Relapse Prevention WorkbookCambridge University Press. 2024.The first workbook for individuals progressing through the Recovery Resilience Program for addiction recovery and relapse prevention. The book presents practices derived from the I-System Model and the evidence-based intervention Mind-Body Bridging that enhance 'recovery resilience' – a term we use to refer to an individual's capacity to effectively apply coping and self-regulation skills in dealing with cravings, triggers, stress, and high-risk situations without reverting to substance use and …Read more
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511This essay addresses the notion of self-deception as articulated by Sigmund Freud and Jean-Paul Sartre. More specifically, it provides an analysis of Sartre’s critique of Freud’s depth-psychological account of self-deception. I critically examine his theory of bad faith as an account of self-deception. Sartre’s main objection to the depth-psychological explanation of Freud’s account of self-deception rests on his argument that for self-deception to occur there needs to be conscious awareness of …Read more
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246It is indubitable that machines with artificial intelligence (AI) will be an essential component in humans’ quest to become a spacefaring civilization. Most would agree that long-distance space travel and the colonization of Mars will not be possible without adequately developed AI. Machines with AI have a normative function, but some argue that it can also be evaluated from the perspective of ethical norms. This essay is based on the assumption that machine ethics is an essential philosophical …Read more
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335Mind-Body Bridging for Professional Self-Care: Preventing and Treating Secondary Trauma2019 Domestic Violence Solutions Conference,. 2019.
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1438A Dispositional Account of Self-Deception: A Critical Analysis of Sartre’s Theory of Bad FaithQeios 1 (1): 1-12. 2023.This essay addresses the notion of self-deception as articulated by Sigmund Freud and Jean-Paul Sartre. More specifically, I will critically assess Sartre’s notion of ‘bad faith’ (mauvaise foi) as a critique of Freud’s depth-psychological account of self-deception. Sartre’s main objection to Freud’s account of self-deception rests on his argument that for self-deception to occur there needs to be a conscious awareness of the coexistence of mutually incompatible beliefs, and that Freud had obscur…Read more
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252Simone de Beauvoir’s Existentialist Ethics as a Prophylactic for Ideology Obsession and Ideology Addiction: An Uplifting Philosophy for Philosophical PracticeThe 5Th International Conference of Philosophical Counseling and Practice 1 (1): 1-11. 2023.Central to the philosophical practice is the application of philosophers' work by philosophical practitioners to inspire, educate, and guide their clients. For example, in Logic-Based Therapy (LBT), a philosophical practice methodology developed by Elliot Cohen, philosophical practitioners help their clients to find an uplifting philosophy that promotes a guiding virtue that acts as an antidote to unrealistic and often self-defeating conclusions derived from irrational premises. In this essay, I…Read more
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220Towards an integral metatheory of addictionDissertation, . 2014.Addiction is one of the most significant problems facing contemporary society. Consequently many scholars, institutions and clinicians have sought to understand this complex phenomenon, as is evident in the abundance of etiological models of addiction in existence today. A literature review pointed that there is little consensus regarding the nature and etiopathogenesis of addiction, and integrative models have not yet been able to provide the sought-after integration. In addressing this problem…Read more
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189The Import of Integral Pluralism in Striving Towards an Integral Metatheory of Addiction.The Third International Integral Theory Conference. 2014.ABSTRACT In my previous work I explored how Integral Theory can be applied as a meta‐theoretical and transdisciplinary framework, in an attempt to arrive at integrally informed metatheory of addiction, yet indispensable aspects were overlooked. Moreover, an overemphasis was placed on Integral Methodological Pluralism, without clarifying the ontological pluralism of addiction as a multiple object enacted by various methodologies. I believe what is needed in an attempt at a comprehensive integral …Read more
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894The Utility of Jan Smuts’ Theory of Holism for Philosophical CounselingInternational Journal of Philosophical Practice 8 (1): 80-102. 2022.This article explores the potential utility of the theory of Holism as developed by South African philosopher, British Commonwealth statesman and military leader, Jan Smuts, for philosophical counselling or practice. Central to the philosophical counseling process is philosophical counsellors or practitioners applying the work of philosophers to inspire, educate and guide their counselees in dealing with life problems. For example, Logic-Based Therapy, a method of philosophical counselling devel…Read more
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789Philosophy as a Way of Life for Addiction Recovery: A Logic-Based Therapy Case StudyInternational Journal of Applied Philosophy 35 (2): 159-170. 2021.In this essay I explore the notion of philosophy as a way of life as a recovery pathway for individuals in addiction recovery. My hypothesis is that philosophy as a way of life can be a compelling, and legitimate recovery pathway for individuals in addiction recovery, as one of many recovery pathways. I will focus on logic-based therapy applied in the context of addiction recovery. The aim of presenting a case study is to show how a client receiving LBT is provided with techniques and a worldvie…Read more
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348A Philosophical Psychotherapy: Logic-Based Therapy in the Treatment of Addicted PopulationsPresentation at the 4th International Conference on Philosophical Counseling and Practice, National Philosophical Counseling Association, 11-12 February 2022. 2022.In my presentation I argue for the utility of a philosophical counseling method, called logic-based therapy (LBT), in the treatment of addicted populations. In the context of addiction treatment LBT could be also classified as a philosophical psychotherapy. Philosophical psychotherapy can be understood as an umbrella term for interventions designed to treat mental health disorders, with theoretical foundations that are philosophical. Philosophical psychotherapy would be distinct from philosophi…Read more
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540Incompatible Knots in Harm Reduction: A Philosophical Analysis in Opioids in South Africa: Towards a Policy of Harm ReductionHuman Sciences Research Council Press. 2019.Human Sciences Research Council Press.
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385The Integral Jan Smuts.Paper Presented at The Fourth International Integral Theory Conference, CA: San Francisco, 19 July 2015. 2015.Integral Theory as developed by Ken Wilber and other contemporary Integral scholars acknowledge many antecedent foundational influences, and proto-Integral thinkers. Curiously, the philosopher-statesman Jan Smuts’ theory of Holism is seldom acknowledged, although it has significantly contributed, albeit often implicitly, to the development of Integral Theory. This paper and presentation has two central aims: To point out that Smuts can be counted amongst one of the great Integral thinkers of the…Read more
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1086An Integral Foundation for Addiction Treatment: Beyond the Biopsychosocial ModelIntegral Publishers. 2017.Currently there is such a cornucopia of conflicting theories in the field of addiction studies that it has become exceedingly difficult for treatment providers, therapists, and policymakers to integrate this vast field of knowledge into effective treatment. Since such a chaotic overabundance of treatment theories, styles, and definitions cloud the field of addictionology, many therapists claim their field is in need of a paradigm shift. In the last 20 years an integrative and compound model ha…Read more
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Loyola University, ChicagoLecturer (Part-time)
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Areas of Specialization
Compulsion and Addiction |
Philosophy of Psychology |
Drugs and Consciousness |