| Alcohol rehabilitation treatment providers are nearly | | | | occurs in isolation. Getting over it can't be addressed |
| universally wedded to the outdated 12-Step model that | | | | as either a single problem unrelated to the rest of |
| only works for approximately ten percent of the men | | | | one's life, or an activity that can be altered without |
| they were designed for, much less for women. | | | | other changes also occurring. Such life-altering steps |
| Women, and their usually differing needs, motivations, | | | | need and deserve good support. |
| and solutions, are merely lumped into this | | | | Good support in this case is actually a little different |
| one-size-kinda/sorta-fits-all category with predictably | | | | than what we, as women, tend to migrate towards. |
| poor results. | | | | Research in women's development finds that under |
| Many women find it impossible to access help that | | | | stress we tend to regress towards group conformity |
| addresses their particular circumstances, life stages, | | | | rather than move forward towards individually based |
| degrees of alcohol involvement, and other relevant | | | | solutions. What this means is that we are more |
| factors. This isn't surprising, because there are very | | | | comfortable choosing a socially acceptable solution |
| few programs available that offer these services. | | | | rather than one that might really works for us. |
| Since women generally are more comfortable talking | | | | However, alcohol abuse is highly individual, therefore |
| about problems rather than actively making the | | | | long-term solutions need to be equally unique. |
| changes necessary to solve them, we tend to shy | | | | Remember, alcohol misuse, ranging from abuse to |
| away from newer models of treatment that ask more | | | | dependence to addiction, is not an equal opportunity, |
| of us. This is unfortunate. The older, 12-step model of | | | | nor necessarily, progressive condition. Effectively |
| treatment, that is readily found in group meetings, | | | | intervening and relieving a specific woman's symptoms |
| undermines our strengths and plays into the "victim" | | | | means accurately assessing strengths, interests, |
| mentality that society imposes on women who drink | | | | circumstances, and preferences. Only then can an |
| too much, rather than addressing individual women and | | | | action plan be devised that addresses all of the |
| their unique situations. | | | | components that have led to the current problems - a |
| Are their better options available? Of course there are, | | | | plan that is based on her wishes and needs, not |
| though they're harder to find. Real change involves | | | | onebased on an imposed, and largely inapplicable, |
| more than conferring a label like "alcoholic" and | | | | model. |
| prescribing a series of rituals. Rooting out a problem, or | | | | Professional help can make the process much more |
| eliminating its negative consequences, means | | | | effective and efficient. Look for programs that take |
| assessing a woman's strengths, interests, and needs. It | | | | into account individual goals and needs, not those of |
| also means changing her day-to-day life in ways that | | | | the program or counselor merely looking to acquire |
| are fulfilling and motivating. It's really about changing | | | | another long-term client. Intensive short-term |
| oneself so that specific problems no longer have fertile | | | | assessment and planning followed by implementation |
| ground to grow in. | | | | and follow-up should lead to substantial permanent |
| Alcohol abuse or dependence isn't something that | | | | change in less than a year. |