SMART Spirit: Dr. Joe Gerstein on Secular ConversionsSMART Spirit: Dr. Joe Gerstein on Secular Conversions
SMART Recovery® Podcast
For more than 30 years Dr. Joseph Gerstein has been collecting stories from SMART participants about powerful emotional experiences related to their recovery journey. He has now written a captivating essay about the nature of these occurances that...
50:59•16 Jan 2025
Dr. Joe Gerstein on Secular Conversions and Recovery
Episode Overview
- Secular conversion experiences can lead to profound changes in perspective.
- These experiences often involve a deep sense of relief and absence of urges.
- Dr. Gerstein has documented numerous such experiences over 30 years.
- SMART Recovery's approach integrates cognitive and emotional aspects of recovery.
- Understanding these experiences can provide valuable insights into addiction treatment.
“It's important for people to realise that these aha moments are volitional. People make a decision.”
Dr. Joseph Gerstein, the founding president of SMART Recovery, shares fascinating stories from over three decades of collecting powerful emotional experiences from SMART participants. In this episode, Dr. Gerstein discusses his new essay on 'secular conversion experiences,' a term he uses to describe profound, transformative moments that participants have had during their recovery journeys.
These experiences, often characterised by a sudden shift in perspective and a deep sense of relief, offer valuable insights into the emotional and cognitive aspects of recovery. Dr. Gerstein recounts various anecdotes, including one about a man who, after years of struggling with alcohol addiction, experienced a dramatic change in a single moment. This episode is packed with intriguing examples and thoughtful analysis that highlight the power of SMART Recovery's approach to addiction treatment.
If you're interested in understanding how cognitive functions intertwine with emotional experiences in recovery, this episode is a must-listen.
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