"A highly impressive volume describing the first treatment for this population that has had published empirical validation....Essentially, what Dr. Najavits provides is a comprehensive buffet of skill-based therapy topics with accompanying handouts. From the 26 topics presented, the therapist can then select which issues are most relevant to a particular client or group of clients....The handouts provided are clear, and generally user friendly both to clinicians and clients. There is a fair amount of structure to the treatment, yet the author continually encourages clinicians to tailor the treatment to their personal style and the constraints of a clinical situation (i.e., time, setting). She is very clear on what is a 'must' in the treatment (and why) and what is a guideline. This gives the clinician the structure of a manual as well as the freedom to be a flexible, creative clinician....This treatment manual is an impressive contribution to both substance abuse and PTSD fields, as well as the target comorbid diagnostic arena. It is highly recommended for all clinicians."
-- Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy
"The Seeking Safety manual itself is designed to be clinician-friendly and provides a plethora of patient and therapist information and handouts. Each chapter proves to be easily accessible, including a summary of the session coping skill, a therapist orientation to the topic, ideas for session preparation, session content, and examples of tough cases. Also included in each coping skills chapter are patient materials. These are thoughtfully designed, adding key points, examples, alternatives and suggestions, and ideas for how to apply the material to daily life. In the protocol introduction, there is a wealth of information about PTSD and substance abuse and a section on what is not part of the treatment (focused trauma work). Therapist processes are also addressed throughout the manual with a kind eye to the difficulty of helping individuals with this dual diagnosis recover. The Seeking Safety manual is action-oriented, information- and detail-focused and is also attentive to the emotional pain that brings people into treatment....In sum, Seeking Safety has scientific merit, clinical wisdom, provides an excellent philosophy and protocol for the 'time- and resource-strained clinician,' and patients like it!"
-- Journal of Trauma Practice
"Given the prevalence of patients with both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse diagnoses and their complex interactions, this volume makes an important and timely contribution."
-- Psychotherapy Research
"Fills a tremendous gap in treatment resources....Provides clinicians with an empirically based and well-developed treatment program that enables them to intervene in comorbid SUD and PTSD in an integrated way....Provides a breath of fresh air by rising above the often contentious debate on whether cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic interventions, or 12-step-oriented approaches are the best treatment model....The manual is well organized, easy to use, and relevant to the treatment needs of individuals with comorbid PTSD and SUD. It is an innovative, flexible, and practical program that is adaptable to a variety of treatment settings. Although this manual is particularly useful for clinicians, I highly recommend it as a resource for students and researchers who seek to gain a better understanding of the treatment needs of individuals who have concomitant SUD and PTSD as well."
-- Criminal Justice Review
"This manual provides a well-researched treatment approach developed specifically for the difficult-to-treat but common dual diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse. The author gives much of herself, her thoughts and past experiences in the preface, including reservations that are no easy answers....the book is a very useful tool, well organized and imaginative."
-- Addiction Today
