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Seeking Safety

By Matthew Tull, PhD, About.com

Updated: June 30, 2009

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Definition:

Seeking Safety is a cognitive-behavioral group therapy that specifically targets the unique problems that result from struggling with both drug/alcohol use and PTSD.

It teaches people with PTSD and substance use problems a number of different coping skills, including learning how to ask others for help, recognizing warning signs or high-risk situations for drug/alcohol use, self-care, and coping with PTSD symptoms.

This treatment recognizes that the individual with both PTSD and drug/alcohol use problems is at risk for a number of negative outcomes, such as bad relationships, the experience of another traumatic event, or even death. Therefore, its top priority is improving the person's safety, and all skills are geared towards this focus.

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