THINKING ABOUT REFERRALS TO ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IN RELATIONAL WAYS

This article examines Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a relational therapy, seen through the lens of the relational needs described by Richard Erskine. AA as a resource may be underemployed by therapists who do not realize its potential to heal the relational damage suffered and inflicted by their alc...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Christopher K. Bitten
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Integrative Psychotherapy Association 2010-02-01
Series:International Journal of Integrative Psychotherapy
Online Access:http://www.integrative-journal.com/index.php/ijip/article/download/18/4
Description
Summary:This article examines Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a relational therapy, seen through the lens of the relational needs described by Richard Erskine. AA as a resource may be underemployed by therapists who do not realize its potential to heal the relational damage suffered and inflicted by their alcoholic clients. Common misconceptions about AA are addressed, and ways for therapists to facilitate successful referrals of clients to AA are described. The author posits that there is a synergistic benefit in combining integrative psychotherapy with the client’s involvement in AA.
ISSN:2156-9703