| Non-traditional alcoholism treatment
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| | Additionally, treatment programs which
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| methods have always recognized that 12
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| | fail to address differences in how
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| Step models work for some individuals but
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| | individuals process information will also
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| not for most, at least not for very long.
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| | suffer. In the 1960's and 1970's Dr. Jane
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| The problem is that nothing else seems to
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| | Loevinger, at Washing University in St.
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| either. Designing effective treatment for
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| | Louis, developed a model of adult
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| individuals turns out to be a complicated
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| | development. Working with Dr. Loevinger's
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| business that must take into account many
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| | test protocol in Minnesota and Alaska in
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| variables in ways that don't easily lend
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| | the 1990's, Dr. Ed Wilson referenced
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| themselves to any particular model. As a
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| | developmental levels to 12 Step success,
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| result most programs offer little beyond
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| | along with identification of those
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| "don't drink, go to meetings, work your
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| | clients for whom traditional treatment
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| program, and repeat - forever."
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| | was apt to be ineffective as well as
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| It's also difficult to remember that
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| | those for whom it is frequently
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| people have been quitting drinking for as
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| | counter-productive.
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| long as alcohol has existed. Some
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| | As noted, the development of
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| individuals quit when their doctor
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| | comprehensive and effective treatment
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| suggests it's time; others when spouses
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| | plans for individuals is challenging and
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| threaten to leave; a few when they
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| | multi-faceted. Paradoxically, including
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| collect their first DUI with all of the
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| | developmental levels as another variable
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| attendant costs and embarrassment; and
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| | actually makes things simpler - if not
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| still more just because they decide to.
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| | easy. It allows the clinician to rapidly
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| They quit with or without help or
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| | determine the client's suitability for 12
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| programs or meetings.
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| | Step programs; calculates the initial
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| So, what happened?
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| | effective proportions of the cognitive
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| Historically, most current treatment
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| | behavioral therapeutic mix; indicates the
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| methods grew out of the experiences of
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| | proper "half-stage" of distance to
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| two intractable alcoholics, Bill W. and
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| | maintain so that the client feels neither
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| Dr. Bob. They discovered a way that
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| | patronized nor mystified; and the
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| worked when nothing else had for them,
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| | likeliest methods of avoiding relapse.
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| thus giving birth to AA and the 12 Steps.
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| | Developmental considerations do not, of
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| And that way was generalized by treatment
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| | course, offer any miracles. Effective
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| providers to individuals whose personal
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| | treatment will still require
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| characteristics are far different from
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| | conscientious therapists who are neither
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| Bill and Bob, two white, male,
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| | wedded to any particular model nor
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| middleclass, middle-aged, drunks.
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| | hampered by their own history.
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| Despite marketing to the contrary,
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| | Additionally, with time and trust,
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| alcoholism is not an equal opportunity
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| | clients are apt to reveal higher
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| disease. Its prevalence varies
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| | cognitive levels that necessitate
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| drastically depending on age, ethnicity,
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| | continuous adjustment to the treatment
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| geography, income, education, religion,
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| | plan. But that is, after all, the
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| and many other factors. Treatment which
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| | definition of "professional," isn't it?
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| fails to take these factors into account
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| | Good therapeutic services are not static
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| is far less likely to be successful than
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| | and neither are people. To suggest as
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| methods which do. As a result, 12 Step
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| | much, as in never ending "recovery," is
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| success tends to correlate to how closely
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| | to do a disservice to conscientious
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| the client matches the original Bill W.
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| | clinicians and clients alike.
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| Dr. Bob profile.
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