Use of Autobiographies to Teach Concepts in Addiction: A Narrative Approach to Instruction

Abstract

Understanding the process of substance abuse is often difficult for counselors-in-training who have no personal knowledge of the trajectory of addiction. This article outlines a beginning addiction course class activity that is based on narrative teaching pedagogy and is entitled Book Club: Client Assessment Profile. Details of the class assignment are provided, along with student feedback regarding the usefulness of the activity in understanding addiction. Implications for the use of nonfiction to teach addiction concepts in counselor education are discussed.

Keywords:

• narrative pedagogy
• autobiographies
• addiction
• substance abuse
• creativity