1. Denial Management 12 Ways We Lie to Ourselves and Others & What We Can Do To Stop Shari Corbitt, Psy.D.

2. Denial is Natural ?!  Denial is a normal, even healthy part of life.  There is a crucial difference between “healthy” and maladaptive denial. One allows us to function effectively in the world while the other prevents us from handles life’s problem’s effectively.  Maladaptive denial minimizes consequences, obvious to others but not the addict and at times the related family members.

3. The 4 Levels of Denial  Level 1 Lack of Information  Level 2 Conscious Defensiveness  Level 3 Unconscious Defensiveness  Level 4 Delusion

4. The Big 5 Denial Types  Avoidance (distraction, playing dumb, etc)  Minimization  Absolute Denial  Rationalizing  Blaming

5. The Little Seven  Democratic Disease State  Flight Into Health  Manipulation  Compliance  Scared Straight  Strategic Hopelessness  Comparing

6. Final Thoughts  Denial is not malingering.  Denial cannot be effectively addressed through arguing, threatening or giving ultimatums.  Denial is best addressed through joining with the individual through education of the various denial patterns in a group format where shame is minimized.  All of us experience denial – whether we experience process addictions and/or substance use disorders or not.