Cruise Control speaks both to addicts, and is essential for practitioners. It's focus is the unique challenges that Gay men can find in the addictive process , and the treatment pathways.
When I first started in my career as a therapist, I knew that you had to have more than just your own experience. Roberts book is a clear example of this. Some clients find their landscape so challenging that if you do not know the personal aspects to their experience not only will therapy be ineffective but potentially harmful.
Robert explains clearly the different nature of relationships, sexual expression and co-occurring addictions within this community that would help addicts identify and inform therapists deeply.
The book covers the impact of cultural changes and depending on the generation and age of the client you are treating, a radically different inner world will need to be empathised with.
An example of this was some of the testimonies shared by men from the beginning of the HIV epidemic, pre- modern treatment and preventions advances. The incredible
loss of peers and loved ones brings a depth of grief that if you were not aware as a clinician, you would be doing your clients a disservice.
Cruise Control will leave your more confident as a health professional, whether you are a doctor identifying the addiction in a health check up , an inpatient service needing to make sure you program caters for GLBTG communities authentic and individual treatment needs or a Psychologist offering therapeutic interventions.
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