Maike Klein on experiences of relapse

This podcast is for anyone who wants to understand the experience of and feelings associated with relapse.Dr Maike Klein talks about her qualitative research into relapse, and about how different people conceptualise and perceive relapse. She talks about how, for some, it is a process rather than an event, whereas for others it is a shocking and immediate experience. There are also elements of self-actualisation and learning that can follow a relapse - as well as the real fear that relapse can cause.Maike talks about the feelings of powerlessness that can accompany relapse as well as the importance that some people place on gaining trust in themselves. Looking further into the language of relapse, Maike explores how relapse is sometimes seen as a location by some people and the implications this has for working with substance use.Maike also spoke to people who work in addiction treatment services about their experiences working with people who relapse and of second-hand trauma.“How does it feel like for a therapist to witness their client’s relapse and does that impact the way that they approach their therapeutic work?”“It feels almost like torture in their minds of having that internal fragmentation that’s almost more difficult than the relapse experience itself”. The opinions expressed in this podcast reflect the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official positions of the SSA.The SSA does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of the information in external sources or links and accepts no responsibility or liability for any consequences arising from the use of such information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.