This article addresses some of the issues involved with anyone present
ing for treatment, in treating addiction, or in working with patients
in recovery who seek help for other problems. A comprehensive examinat
ion is beyond its scope; however, it provides an orientation to severa
l issues often poorly understood by therapists outside the addiction f
ield. The recovery oriented psychotherapy model permits the therapist
to focus his or her activity more clearly in relation to the tasks fac
ed by the recovering person. The accelerated development of empirical
research in recent years permits the refinement of treatment practices
in ways not always seen in other areas, and offers new challenges and
great rewards for clinicians working in the field.