Temporality in addiction and counselling psychology practice

This mixed-­‐methods study investigates psychological perspectives of time in a group of sixty-­‐three individuals seeking help for alcohol/drug issues and who successfully completed a residential addiction treatment intervention. Measures of subjective time perspective (TP) were taken before and after treatment using a quantitative scale (short-­‐form ZTPI) and a qualitative component to capture additional phenomenological experiences of time. Measures of depression and anxiety were also taken pre and post treatment. Overall significant positive associations were found between time perspectives, in particular past-­‐negative, present-­‐fatalism and present-­‐ hedonistic time orientations and depression and anxiety. Significant negative relationships were also found between mental health and past-­‐positive and future time perspectives. Distinct changes were reported in temporality between pre and post measures of the addiction treatment intervention from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives. Associations were again made with more positive mental health at the post-­‐treatment phase. The potential use and implications of findings for understanding addiction and considering psychotherapeutic treatment is discussed