February 26, 2019 | 12:00am CST

Prodependence: The End of Codependency

With Robert Weiss PhD, MSW

The past 35 years have brought endless new, useful, and cutting-edge treatments to the addiction space. During this time, we have integrated all sorts of methods like: motivational interviewing, Smart Recovery, EMDR, trauma work, somatic and equine therapies, and more — all to foster better outcomes for our addicted clients. But when it comes to the treatment of an addict’s partner and loved ones, we have seen little new thought since the concept of codependency was first fleshed out over three decades ago. Prodependence, the first attachment-based model for the treatment of addict’s partners and loved ones, moves beyond the trauma-based theories of codependency and co-addiction, allowing us to view this population with fresh eyes and fresh ideas. Prodependence as a model is more invitational, less pathological, and more personally affirming to those who are intimately involved with addicts, as Prodependence neither assumes nor assigns any pathology or label to people simply because they are loving an addict in the best way they can.