Psychotherapy and the twelve step approach for substance abusers: The limits of integration.

Abstract

Over two million substance abusers belong to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and study the twelve steps 1 of recov-I thank Kristy Nielsen, Julian Rappaport, and two anonymous reviewers for their comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.

Psychotherapists' Beliefs About the Benefits of 12-Step Groups

“…The latter has been true for some psychoanalytic clinicians who believe that addiction, as a symptom, will resolve as dynamic issues are addressed (Berger, 1991, May, 1991 and cognitive-behaviorists who adhere to the tenets of Rational Recovery (Ellis, McInerney, DiGiuseppe & Yeager, 1988;Trimpey, 1992). Others argue that psychotherapy and 12-step programs are inherently in conflict (e.g., Humphreys, 1993). Recently, a number of addiction specialists have argued that simultaneous involvement in psychotherapy and a 12-step program can be beneficial.…”

Counselling problem drinkers: The realm of specialists. Alcoholics Anonymous or generic counsellors?

“…The basic difference in values and philosophy between self-help through AA and the counselling relationship must be acknowledged for co-operation between the agencies to be effective (Humphreys, 1993). Humphreys distinguishes between helping strategies and helping values, and suggests that while integrating strategies between agencies may be possible, attempting to integrate helping values across self-help organisations such as AA and psychotherapy practice is more problematic.…”

World Views of Alcoholics Anonymous, Women for Sobriety, and Adult Children of Alcoholics/ Al-Anon Mutual Help Groups

“…AA is fundamentally a spiritual program (Humphreys, 1993b;Miller & Kurtz, 1994). Antze (1987) has shown that AA literature and the stories of AA members echo Christian themes concerning personal despair and surrender as a route to spiritual transformation.…”