creating change
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Creating Change is Lisa's newest book (2024). It's an evidence-based past-focused model for trauma and/or addiction that can be used on its own or combined with Seeking Safety (a present-focused model).
****Creating Change won first place for best new psychiatric / mental health book of 2024 at the American Journal of Nursing book of the year awards (the top nursing journal)**** See below for a brief description, how to obtain the book, reviews of it, training options, a list of the session topics, publications, fidelity, feedback form, and how to join our email list. You can visit our store to obtain the book (ebook or paperback), and a video overview of the model. |
creating change brief description
This is Lisa Najavits’ new evidence-based treatment model, which offers counselors a gentle, compassionate approach to help people with trauma and/or addiction explore their past. It has the same format, flexibility, and compassionate tone as Seeking Safety. But whereas Seeking Safety focuses on the present, Creating Change focuses on the past. The models can be used together or separately; each is independent of the other. Creating Change guides clients to understand how trauma and addiction arose over time, grieve losses and regrets, create a new perspective on their life story, and take pride in their survival. The manual has 23 topics (see full list below) or download them here; they can be implemented in any order, with individuals or groups. Topic examples include Honor Your Survival; Emotions and Healing; What You Want People to Understand; Relationship Patterns; Power Dynamics; Break the Silence; Deepen Your Story; and Influences: Family, Community, Culture. Creating Change can be conducted with a very broad range of clients, by any provider. It’s designed from a public health standpoint to be highly accessible and engaging. You can read more about the model belowhere.
the creating change book
The Creating Change book is now available from our website store in paperback or ebook; it's also available at amazon. Each facilitator needs their own book. See our book page for more information.
creating change reviews
"Among the many virtues of Creating Change, perhaps the greatest is that it takes a public health approach to two major problems that are often intertwined--trauma and addiction. With a simple but adaptable structure, this approach makes treatment accessible and affordable to a wide population, with very few restrictions on who is eligible for care or who can serve as a counselor. Unlike many manualized treatment models that impose a rigid, 'one-size-fits-all' template, Creating Change offers patients maximum flexibility and choice. For survivors who have suffered the humiliations of stigma and powerlessness, this model is based on the principles of compassion, respect, and empowerment."
--Judith Lewis Herman, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
"Creating Change is a fresh, evidence-based, nonpathologizing approach to treatment of trauma and addiction. It offers a past-focused model that empowers the survivor to carefully process trauma memories while engaging resilience and growth. If you are one of Najavits's many thousands of professional and lay followers, you already know of her brilliant and incisive work. Well, prepare yourself for this one--Creating Change is guaranteed to be an instant classic."
--John Briere, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Emeritus), Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
“Infused with clinical wisdom and practical guidance, Creating Change provides a kinder, gentler way to process trauma and recover from addiction. Najavits expertly details the rationale and research support for her unique perspective and describes critical relationship dimensions to effectively engage clients. The book presents essential science-based concepts that can be adapted to fit client and counselor. It offers 23 treatment topics that are relevant, interesting, and engaging. Each topic has a wealth of information, handouts, and activities to guide counselors and clients through important conversations about the past while preventing retraumatizing and triggering. Counselors and trainees will find all they need to implement the model to promote integrated, client-centered care and recovery.”
--Carlo C. DiClemente, PhD, ABPP, Department of Psychology (Emeritus), University of Maryland, Baltimore County
"This exceptional treatment manual for trauma and addiction stands out in the mental health literature. One of the book's strengths lies in its clear, concise descriptions and accessible language, which means that it can be used by all providers. Najavits breaks down relevant topics into easily understood instructions that work very well clinically. Each chapter is meticulously structured, providing a step-by-step guide to mastering the structure and content of the method. The broad definition of trauma and addiction in Creating Change makes it suitable for a wide range of vulnerable individuals. The flexible format that encourages session-to-session assessment of the client makes the approach very safe to use. I highly recommend this 'must-have' resource for counselors and therapists working with addiction or trauma."
--Sidsel Karsberg, PhD, Center for Alcohol and Drug Research, University of Aarhus, Denmark
"This book is excellent. It is written by an expert in the field. It can be used in an individual or group format. The book is evidence-based and easy to follow. It can be used along with Dr. Najavits' other classic manual, Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse, Najavits (Guilford Press, 2001). Readers will not be disappointed with this treatment manual." Score: 98 out of 100.
--Doody's Review Service (2024); see the full review here
--Judith Lewis Herman, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
"Creating Change is a fresh, evidence-based, nonpathologizing approach to treatment of trauma and addiction. It offers a past-focused model that empowers the survivor to carefully process trauma memories while engaging resilience and growth. If you are one of Najavits's many thousands of professional and lay followers, you already know of her brilliant and incisive work. Well, prepare yourself for this one--Creating Change is guaranteed to be an instant classic."
--John Briere, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Emeritus), Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
“Infused with clinical wisdom and practical guidance, Creating Change provides a kinder, gentler way to process trauma and recover from addiction. Najavits expertly details the rationale and research support for her unique perspective and describes critical relationship dimensions to effectively engage clients. The book presents essential science-based concepts that can be adapted to fit client and counselor. It offers 23 treatment topics that are relevant, interesting, and engaging. Each topic has a wealth of information, handouts, and activities to guide counselors and clients through important conversations about the past while preventing retraumatizing and triggering. Counselors and trainees will find all they need to implement the model to promote integrated, client-centered care and recovery.”
--Carlo C. DiClemente, PhD, ABPP, Department of Psychology (Emeritus), University of Maryland, Baltimore County
"This exceptional treatment manual for trauma and addiction stands out in the mental health literature. One of the book's strengths lies in its clear, concise descriptions and accessible language, which means that it can be used by all providers. Najavits breaks down relevant topics into easily understood instructions that work very well clinically. Each chapter is meticulously structured, providing a step-by-step guide to mastering the structure and content of the method. The broad definition of trauma and addiction in Creating Change makes it suitable for a wide range of vulnerable individuals. The flexible format that encourages session-to-session assessment of the client makes the approach very safe to use. I highly recommend this 'must-have' resource for counselors and therapists working with addiction or trauma."
--Sidsel Karsberg, PhD, Center for Alcohol and Drug Research, University of Aarhus, Denmark
"This book is excellent. It is written by an expert in the field. It can be used in an individual or group format. The book is evidence-based and easy to follow. It can be used along with Dr. Najavits' other classic manual, Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for PTSD and Substance Abuse, Najavits (Guilford Press, 2001). Readers will not be disappointed with this treatment manual." Score: 98 out of 100.
--Doody's Review Service (2024); see the full review here
creating change training
- Anyone can join our 1-day Creating Change training, which we offer at least once per year as part of our open webinars.
- A 2024 video overview of Creating Change (1 hour 35 minutes) by Lisa Najavits is available.
- We can also do a training just for your staff; see our training topics page for the agenda; and our training page to inquire further about booking a training.
creating change: session topics
The topics can be done in any order and as few or many as time allows; you can also do a topic over multiple sessions. Flexibility is key.
- Introduction
- Create Change
- Trust versus Doubt
- Honor Your Survival
- Relationship Patterns
- Why Addiction?
- Respect Your Defenses
- Break the Silence
- Darkness and Light
- Emotions and Healing
- Tell Your Story
- Influences: Family, Community, Culture
- Knowing and Not Knowing
- Your Personal Truth
- What You Want People to Understand
- Listen to Your Body
- Memory
- Power Dynamics
- Deepen Your Story
- Growth
- Extra Topic — Understanding Trauma and Addiction
- Extra Topic – Recovery Strengths and Challenges
- Extra Topic — Your Relationships
creating change publications
- A book chapter that summarizes the model
- A 2018 randomized controlled trial
- A 2014 pilot study
- A 2005 development study
creating change fidelity
You can download the Creating Change Fidelity Scale. We also offer certification in the model (identical to our Seeking Safety certification), which is optional (except for publishable research, for which it is required in advance).
creating change feedback
We welcome your feedback on the model! Please see our feedback page to fill out an anonymous form. You can also share tips or insights you'd like us to share with others here on our website.