NCJ Number
171426
Journal
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: (1997) Pages: 63-74
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article contains a survey of psychologists and addictions counselors concerning their assumptions about alcoholism and how it might be treated.
Abstract
The survey also examined issues of therapist personal recovery, multiple diagnoses, use of referrals, and combining psychotherapy with more specific addictions treatment. The two professional groups were very similar in referral use, accepting a disease analogy for alcoholism, use of a 12-step model of recovery, and strong spiritual or religious beliefs. The two groups showed contrasts, with psychologists more willing to accept controlled drinking as an alternative goal to abstinence, and addictions counselors having more personal experience with problem drinking. The disease concept of alcoholism has become traditional in the field of alcoholism treatment. The 12-step model and the goal of obtaining abstinence are extensively used. Instead of incompatible philosophies and treatment approaches, subjects in this study reported another greater difficulty when they attempted to cooperate with other professional groups: clients did not complete alcoholism treatment. Notes, table, references