| Fifteen years ago I first heard the term | | | | who did not find success on a 12 Step basis stayed, |
| pseudo-egalitarianism, false equality, from Dr. Steve | | | | understandably, quiet about their failures. Through this |
| Schroeder-Davis in Minneapolis. At the time he was | | | | winnowing process programs became ever more |
| speaking about "dumbing down" education so as to | | | | homogeneous and clients found themselves in a |
| penalize the academically gifted. Through the course | | | | revolving door with few alternatives available. This has |
| of my work with people suffering from alcohol related | | | | gone on through fifty tears of repetition while the other |
| problems I encountered another face of the same | | | | approaches have been lost, ridiculed, suppressed, or |
| form of denial - institutionalized insistence that people | | | | simply ignored. |
| are the same even when they obviously aren't, and | | | | Lately, however, other models have begun to appear |
| that a condition is best treated by only one, usually | | | | or re-appear, programs rooted in medical and cognitive |
| unsuccessful, approach. Ignorance and fear would | | | | behavioral approaches. Programs whose philosophy is |
| seem to be the propelling forces in both cases but | | | | client centered, not dogma centered. Politically incorrect, |
| neither the gifted, nor clients, nor society are very well | | | | some even tread on the forbidden ground of |
| served by programs founded on either. | | | | moderation. The commonality here, if there is one, is |
| People's abilities, whether athletic, intellectual, musical, | | | | the idea that clients are best served in matching them |
| emotional, and so on, are not equal and we all know it. | | | | to strategies that take advantage of their strengths |
| We may hate it, but we know it. To pretend otherwise | | | | while extinguishing their alcohol abuse, dependence, or |
| is to ignore primary factors in the successful diagnosis | | | | addiction. The end product is an ex-drunk in the same |
| and treatment of any condition, alcohol dependence | | | | sense that many of us are ex-smokers. It's something |
| included. Failure to incorporate strengths, abilities, and, | | | | we were, or did, but is no longer a factor in our lives. |
| yes, differences, dooms many a client to depression | | | | While this is a welcome change it isn't an easy one. |
| and despair that could have been avoided. | | | | Client specific counseling requires focus, knowledge, a |
| Why the monolithic approach? The development of | | | | willingness to experiment, and the freedom to suggest |
| current treatment practices evolved from the | | | | unorthodox solutions. In short, it requires conscientious |
| marketing of AA's 12 Steps, an approach that worked | | | | providers who aren't linked to one narrow philosophy |
| for a group of alcoholics who'd failed at the other | | | | or approach. |
| approaches used in the 1930's. These approaches | | | | If you are looking for help don't sell yourself short by |
| hadn't failed everyone, only a subset who became the | | | | settling for one standardized possibility. Allow yourself |
| group from which most current practice is derived. | | | | the better option of selecting from a number of |
| Once established, the programs themselves also | | | | diverse options. That way you are most apt to find a |
| became philosophically incestuous with those who | | | | program that will match your needs and expectations, |
| experienced success becoming the true believers who | | | | a sure way to help generate and maintain the |
| trained the next generation of "counselors," and those | | | | motivation that is the number one predictor of success. |