In our quest to continually refine and improve our treatment programs, several of our clinicians were recently trained in Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE).
In case you haven’t heard about MORE, it is an evidence-based therapy which is supported by more than 12 clinical trials, in addition to also receiving 60 million dollars in Federal Research grants.
Developed by Dr. Eric Garland, MORE unites complimentary aspects of mindless training, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and principles of positive psychology into an integrative therapeutic approach.
What excited us about MORE was its focus on stress, addiction and pain. The MORE techniques were developed specifically for these problems and so it seemed like a perfect match to our whole-person approach.
MORE focuses on teaching clients the following: a) become aware of when their attention has become fixed on addictive cues, stressors, or (physical / emotional pain); b) a shift from affective to sensory processing of cravings, stress, or pain sensations; and c) re-orient attention to breathing via the practice of mindful breathing. The technique is also aimed at enhancing self-control over automatic thoughts.
Adding to our excitement is a recent article, published the American Journal of Psychiatry, that announced the results of a six-year clinical trial of MORE. This was funded by the U.S. Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CCDMRP). The article, titled “Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement for Veterans and Military Personnel on Long-Term Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial “, reported that MORE techniques were superior to supportive psychotherapy (through an eight-month follow-up) in reducing chronic pain symptoms and opioid use among 230 veterans and active-duty personnel.
Over the past few months, we have integrated MORE techniques into several of our groups with a very positive response from clients. Specifically, a healing component of MORE is a practice of focusing on and enhancing already positive aspects of the client’s experience. In addition to recovery, this aspect is about “savoring” the positive that already exists. Some clients reported, “This is so empowering,” among other optimistic reactions to the techniques.
We have found that MORE is easy to implement, and the techniques are enhancing our programs, as we hoped they would. If you are interested in learning MORE, you can access their website at https://drericgarland.com/about-m-o-r-e/ .
New Bridge Foundation® has been assisting individuals who struggle with Substance Use Disorder for over 55 years. We provide person-centered, evidence- based treatment and believe that individuals receiving services can benefit from varied and diverse strategies meant to address the whole person. Feel free to contact us at 800 785-2400.
