ividual sessions as well as meetings with this network. The therapist continues to meet with the network while the abuser focuses on ways to protect continued abstinence and on the psychological issues that would allow the achievement of full recovery. As time goes on, the abuser's abstinence is secured, the network sessions are held less frequently and individual therapy continues. "A social network is apparently a necessary vehicle to stabilizing the cognitive components of patients' recovery, to allow them to deal with the reality they need to see and to provide the support essential for accepting the new reality." (Newman, 1987)The purpose of network therapy is then to create an atmosphere that will allow an alcohol or drug abuser to experience relief from distress by participating and moving towards a drug free outlook. After initial sobriety has been achieved, network sessions often acquire a social quality.In order to act out a pattern of behavior that is clearly self-destructive, addicts must adopt a pattern of denial. This denial is supported by a variety of distorted perceptions: "persecution at the hands of employers, failings of a distraught spouse, a presumed ability to control the addiction if wanted." (Newman, 1987) This cognitive set is not only unfounded, but it is also at variance with the common sense views of the drug free family and friends. Because of this, intimate and positive encounters with them in the network produce an inherent conflict between addicts' views and the views of network members. The addict must resolve this conflict, or cognitive dissonance, in order to feel accepted in the group. The network therefore creates an ongoing pressure on the addict to relinquish the trappings of denial.Typically, addicts deal with this conflict by defensive withdrawal, but if their network is properly managed, cohesive ties in the group will engage them and draw them into an alternative outlook. Gradually, they come ...
