Episode 174 • How Science and Kindness Help People Change, with Dr. Carrie Wilkens
Episode 174 • How Science and Kindness Help People Change, with Dr. Carrie Wilkens
Episode 174 • How Science and Kindness Help People Change, with Dr. Carrie Wilkens
Thursday 7th August 2025
Explore how science and kindness drive change in addiction recovery with Dr. Carrie Wilkens' evidence-based approaches like CRAFT and ITC.
58 minutes
compassionate
hopeful
informative
challenging
empathetic
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Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Creative Recovery Journeys
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Financial Health in Recovery
Body & Mind
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Episode Overview
- CRAFT empowers families to support loved ones.
- Invitation to Change (ITC) integrates empathy in recovery.
- Addressing shame and grief in addiction losses.
- Kindness and compassion as catalysts for change.
- Understanding ambivalence in recovery processes.
All of us can use a little more kindness, a little more compassion.
In this episode of the Positive Sobriety Podcast, hosts Nate Larkin and David Hampton engage in a profound conversation with Dr. Carrie Wilkens, co-founder of the Center for Motivation and Change (CMC) and co-author of 'Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change.' With her extensive background in addiction treatment, Dr. Wilkens shares transformative approaches that combine scientific methods with empathy to facilitate real change in those struggling with substance use disorders. Dr.
Wilkens delves into the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) method, which empowers families to support their loved ones through positive reinforcement rather than traditional confrontational approaches. She contrasts CRAFT with outdated methods like the 'hitting rock bottom' belief, emphasizing that kindness and understanding can be more effective in motivating individuals towards recovery. Another critical approach discussed is the Invitation to Change (ITC), which integrates elements of empathy and compassion. Dr.
Wilkens explains how ITC helps families and individuals navigate the complex dynamics of addiction recovery by promoting open communication and understanding normal ambivalence during the recovery process. Throughout the conversation, the emotional tones are both hopeful and challenging, as the hosts and Dr. Wilkens discuss the stigma and shame often associated with addiction and how these emotions can hinder the grieving process when a loved one is lost to an overdose.
The conversation underscores the importance of compassion and empathy in overcoming these barriers. Listeners are encouraged to embrace these evidence-based methods, which not only support individuals in recovery but also help family members to cope with the associated challenges. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to share their own stories and feedback, fostering a community of support and understanding.