Alternative And Non-traditional Alcoholism Treatment

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