Guy Du Plessis

Utah State University | USU · Department of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology

The first workbook written for individuals progressing through the Recovery Resilience Program, a person-centered, strength and resiliency-based relapse prevention and recovery-oriented intervention designed for individuals in addiction recovery. The book presents practices derived from the I-System Model and the evidence-based intervention Mind-Bo...

High-risk situations can be understood as events and situations that, if not effectively managed, pose a potential risk for relapse. What is important to note is that it is chiefly the individual’s subjective perception of “risk” that plays a significant role in whether a situation is high risk or not. A high-risk situation poses a threat to one’s...

In the last chapter the authors provide an overview of all aspects of a Recovery Resilience Practice that will contribute towards a sustainable recovery-oriented lifestyle. In this chapter the reader will consolidate their Recovery Resilience Practice and see how to use it to support any recovery program or pathway. As highlighted throughout the wo...

There is a strong link between our capacity to cope with negative emotional states and their associated negative thoughts and substance use relapse. When individuals use substances as a coping mechanism this strategy may be effective in the short term and but proves maladaptive in the long run. The use of drugs provides both negative reinforcement...

In this chapter there is a focus on the expectations or Requirements that sustain an addictive lifestyle. It highlights that in addition to fueling resentments, Requirements also affect how one relates to potential high-risk situations, triggers, and stressful events in general. Chapter 1 of this workbook highlighted that oftentimes it is not the s...

It is often stated that cravings are a formidable adversary to those on a recovery pathway and that cravings are one of the major factors related to relapse. Individuals who lack effective coping responses and/or the confidence (self-efficacy) to deal with cravings and the situations that trigger them are at high risk for relapse. In this chapter t...

In this chapter the workbook’s previous chapters are integrated into an explanation of the dynamics that underlie the cycle of addiction. It highlights that when the I-System becomes hyperactive, individuals forfeit their innate capabilities for creative thought, open-mindedness, and resilience, exhibiting instead overly stringent expectations or a...

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 philoso...

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 philosophica...

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 philosophica...

This article explores the potential utility of certain features of Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophical concepts for philosophical counselling. Central to the philosophical counseling process is philosophical counsellors applying the ideas of philosophers or philosophical system to inspire, educate, and guide their counselees in dealing with life pr...

In this chapter, 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 ba...

In this chapter, 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 ba...

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), a philosophical practice methodology developed by Elliot Cohen, philosophical practitioners help their clients to find an uplifting philosophy that promote...

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...

It 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...

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 pro...

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-defe...

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...

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 are philosophical counsellors or practitioners applying the work of philosophers to i...

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 are philosophical counsellors or practitioners applying the work of philosophers to i...

In this essay, I provide a brief philosophical analysis of some of the foundational suppositions that often underlie harm reduction theories and interventions. I deliberately take on the ‘strong’ versions of these suppositions in order to reveal what I consider to be at stake. I will limit my focus to three theoretical orientations (or ‘-isms’), of...

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...

This article explores the utility of the philosopher and Commonwealth statesman General Jan Smuts’ theory of Holism within the context of philosophical practice. It is common practice that philosophical counsellors or practitioners apply the work of philosophers to inspire, educate and guide their counselees in the philosophical counseling process....

This article explores the utility of the philosopher and Commonwealth statesman General Jan Smuts’ theory of Holism within the context of philosophical practice. It is common practice that philosophical counsellors or practitioners apply the work of philosophers to inspire, educate and guide their counselees in the philosophical counseling process....

This 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-psycholog...

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...

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...

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...

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...

In this article I provide the conceptual building blocks or architectonic of a metatheory of addiction, referred to as the Integrated Metatheoretical Model of Addiction (IMMA). I do not present the IMMA as a conclusive metatheoretical framework, but rather as an exploratory attempt at providing the architectonic of an integrative and comprehensive...

In this article, I provide the conceptual building blocks or architectonic of a metatheory of addiction, referred to as the Integrated Metatheoretical Model of Addiction (IMMA). I do not present the IMMA as a conclusive metatheoretical framework, but rather as an exploratory attempt at providing the architectonic of an integrative and comprehensive...

In this article, I provide the conceptual building blocks or architectonic of a metatheory of addiction, referred to as the Integrated Metatheoretical Model of Addiction (IMMA). I do not present the IMMA as a conclusive metatheoretical framework, but rather as an exploratory attempt at providing the architectonic of an integrative and comprehensive...

In this article, I provide the conceptual building blocks or architectonic of a metatheory of addiction, referred to as the Integrated Metatheoretical Model of Addiction (IMMA). I do not present the IMMA as a conclusive metatheoretical framework, but rather as an exploratory attempt at providing the architectonic of an integrative and comprehensive...

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 (LBT) appli...

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 in...

In my chapter contribution, ’Incompatible Knots’ in Harm Reduction: A Philosophical Analysis, I provide a critical philosophical analysis of some of the foundational suppositions that often underlie harm reduction theories and interventions. I present the argument that harm reductionists must look more carefully at the suppositions that underpin th...

In my chapter contribution, ’Incompatible Knots’ in Harm Reduction: A Philosophical Analysis, I provide a critical philosophical analysis of some of the foundational suppositions that often underlie harm reduction theories and interventions. I present the argument that harm reductionists must look more carefully at the suppositions that underpin th...

In this essay I argue that an adequate understanding of addiction and its recovery should be informed by an existential understanding of human nature. I provide a brief overview of an existential perspective/foundation of addiction and recovery, which will contextualize the remainder of the essay. I then present a case study of how the six-step phi...

Mind-Body Bridging (MBB) is an evidence-based transdiagnostic intervention that alleviates psychological distress for individuals with a broad range of mental health issues, and increases psychological flexibility and resilience (Tollefson et al., 2009; Nakamura et al., 2011; Nakamura et al., 2013; Lipschitz et al., 2013; Lipschitz et al, 2015; Nak...

In the first part of the presentation we will explore issues within the Disability Sector relevant to Mediation. It is important for Mediators (both in the Commercial and Family focus areas) to be familiar with issues of prejudice, misinterpretation and inclusivity. Marginalised voices may receive an opportunity to be heard during the mediation pro...

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...

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 Integ...

In the information age of the 21st century, the world has become exceedingly complex. Never before in history have we had access to the sum total of all human knowledge, technology, and wisdom. Consequently, finding the right path and methods to recovery can often be perplexing to the newcomer, as well as the "old timer." This book presents to you...

This article outlines an integrally informed individual psychotherapy adapted for treating addicted populations. Integrated Recovery Therapy, as a therapeutic orientation, is a psychotherapeutic Integral Methodological Pluralism. As with any Integral Methodological Pluralism, it has paradigmatic and meta-paradigmatic features. The paradigmatic aspe...

This article introduces and briefly outlines some orienting generalizations of an integrally informed model of addiction. I argue that by applying Integral Theory as a metatheoretical and transdisciplinary framework, we may be able to arrive at a comprehensive integrative model of addiction that honors all the existing single-factor etiopathogenic...

This article outlines an integrally informed model for addiction treatment and recovery that is being pioneered and developed at Tabankulu Secondary Addiction Recovery Center in Cape Town, South Africa. Tabankulu is the world's first inpatient addiction treatment center to implement an integrally informed treatment model. The Integrated Recovery mo...