What kind of counselor do you prefer?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 8
What kind of counselor do you prefer?
I am in grad school for counseling and find myself wondering if future clients who struggle with alcoholism will discount my advice/support since I am not an alcoholic. For those of you who have sought professional counseling, do you have a preference to meet with a counselor who can relate to you out of personal experience in this area?
bona fido dog-lover
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay area, CA
Posts: 99,760
My counselor is an addiction specialist and was addicted to a substance a long time ago. she's a great counselor just being the person she is and i don't think her past addiction makes her any better or worse. she's just good as she is.
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Right here, right now!
Posts: 3,424
I am in recovery from an eating disorder. I married a loved one with an alcohol addiction.
My therapist never lived with an eating disorder, but have recovered from addiction and from codependency. She has assisted me in all areas of my recovery with her experience, but mainly from helping me to work on myself....which is her as a person in my opinion.
My therapist never lived with an eating disorder, but have recovered from addiction and from codependency. She has assisted me in all areas of my recovery with her experience, but mainly from helping me to work on myself....which is her as a person in my opinion.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Kansas City, Mo.
Posts: 40
In most situations, I would prefer a counselor who did not have a substance abuse problem but had studied the subject and various treatment options. All too often those with past substance problems are nothing more than spokespersons for the program that helped them. They have no knowledge or training in the use of any other program, limiting the number of clients they can effectively help.
12-Step Recovered Alkie
Join Date: May 2010
Location: West Bloomfield, MI
Posts: 5,797
great ? MJ. I'd suspect someone in your position will have at least SOME opposition from the AA crowd (and yes, I'm in AA myself so I speak from some experience). I'd advise you get get really familiar with AA principles (powerlessness, unmanageability, requiring a HP's power, etc).
Many new ppl hit the rooms of AA and bring with them a lot of terminology from their therapist that's 180* out of sync with AA's stuff. If I were in your line of work, I wouldn't want dozens of rooms of recovering and recovered alkies advising my clients that I didn't know what I was talking about. I mean, you have to be true to yourself and your beliefs.......but AA is (generally) very protective of their literature and their principles and they're either a great ally or a nasty group of detractors. ......that said, it's important to AA to be allied with therapists so it's not like "we" want an adversarial relationship with the treatment community.
I've seen a therapist (court ordered) since about 8 months into my first year. She's a MSW, LMSW, CAAC. She's also in recovery herself and uses a "12-step philosophy" in most if not all her sessions. Every meeting with her I'VE HAD has been 12-step based. I continued to see her even after my 2yr probation period with the state came to an end because she was and still is very helpful to me.
She's helped me immensely in my 4th step work. Although it's been painful as HELL, she's been a God-send in the area of digging into my past, my feelings, my emotions and in me gaining a better understanding of myself. She helped me address things (parents, women, loneliness, depression, and especially my own past that I'd buried verrry deep and forgotten) that I likely wouldn't have considered looking at for many years.
I highly recommend my sponsees or friends new to recovery seek out professional help if their situation warrants it. That said, I'm also not afraid to recommend someone consider changing if their therapist's advice runs contrary to AA advice. Not that the therapist is wrong......but hearing two completely different solutions typically leaves the new person mired in confusion.
Many new ppl hit the rooms of AA and bring with them a lot of terminology from their therapist that's 180* out of sync with AA's stuff. If I were in your line of work, I wouldn't want dozens of rooms of recovering and recovered alkies advising my clients that I didn't know what I was talking about. I mean, you have to be true to yourself and your beliefs.......but AA is (generally) very protective of their literature and their principles and they're either a great ally or a nasty group of detractors. ......that said, it's important to AA to be allied with therapists so it's not like "we" want an adversarial relationship with the treatment community.
I've seen a therapist (court ordered) since about 8 months into my first year. She's a MSW, LMSW, CAAC. She's also in recovery herself and uses a "12-step philosophy" in most if not all her sessions. Every meeting with her I'VE HAD has been 12-step based. I continued to see her even after my 2yr probation period with the state came to an end because she was and still is very helpful to me.
She's helped me immensely in my 4th step work. Although it's been painful as HELL, she's been a God-send in the area of digging into my past, my feelings, my emotions and in me gaining a better understanding of myself. She helped me address things (parents, women, loneliness, depression, and especially my own past that I'd buried verrry deep and forgotten) that I likely wouldn't have considered looking at for many years.
I highly recommend my sponsees or friends new to recovery seek out professional help if their situation warrants it. That said, I'm also not afraid to recommend someone consider changing if their therapist's advice runs contrary to AA advice. Not that the therapist is wrong......but hearing two completely different solutions typically leaves the new person mired in confusion.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Tucson,AZ
Posts: 35
From late 2008-late 2010 I was in a court ordered program where I went to one on one therapy,anger management and substance abuse therapy 3 times a week. (thats alot of counseling! 9 times a week,not including other things I was doing like NA)...well during this,I learned SO much.Im very greatful for who I met,and what we discussed and goals we reached:
My one on one counsler I was the closest to,and she had no known substance abuse/alcohol addictions.She was very pro health,promoted excercise and healthy eatting habbits.
My S.A. counseler said his only addiction he ever had was nicotine which really screwed up his throat as he got older.
And my anger management counseler was a student who was graduating with some kind of diploma for substance abuse/therapy.... he was an ex meth addict and I identified with him because of that.However,I put personal walls up because of it also and was not very close to him at all before he graduated and moved up north.
I guess I would prefer someone who isn't an addict but is trained.OR,who is an addict and has a long sober period (10+ years) behind them.
My one on one counsler I was the closest to,and she had no known substance abuse/alcohol addictions.She was very pro health,promoted excercise and healthy eatting habbits.
My S.A. counseler said his only addiction he ever had was nicotine which really screwed up his throat as he got older.
And my anger management counseler was a student who was graduating with some kind of diploma for substance abuse/therapy.... he was an ex meth addict and I identified with him because of that.However,I put personal walls up because of it also and was not very close to him at all before he graduated and moved up north.
I guess I would prefer someone who isn't an addict but is trained.OR,who is an addict and has a long sober period (10+ years) behind them.
Member of SMART Recovery
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,722
In the 13+ years since I quit drinking, I have had therapy with:
1. A certified alcoholism counselor, who was employed at the rehab center I went to and was a member of AA.
2. A licensed psychologist who had no personal experience with addictions either personally or professionally.
3. An MSW who was not personally in recovery but who treated many with addictions and eating disorders, and who was not wedded to any one philosophy of recovery.
Of these three, the third was by far the most effective.
The first was so entirely wedded to 12 step treatment that I can't say I got anything from him that I wouldn't have gotten from simply attending 12 step meetings. He scoffed at my discomfort with 12 step and told me it was the only possible way to recover. Also, many years later I found out that he had 13th stepped my own AA sponsor.
The second had absolutely no clue what she was dealing with and was all but useless. She took an almost shaming attitude towards me.
The third...well, she saved my sanity. She was open minded, creative, listened, did not impose her own recovery agenda on me but met me where I was. She supported my membership in a 12 step program when I went to one, but also supported my decision to leave. She understood and worked with many different types of addictions, including eating disorders. We spent a few years together working through what lead to my various addictions and on developing better coping skills.
So in my experience, it's not personal experience with addiction that matters, it's the level of skill, education and experience a particular therapist has--and their ability to work with the CLIENT'S viewpoints and strengths--that makes the difference.
1. A certified alcoholism counselor, who was employed at the rehab center I went to and was a member of AA.
2. A licensed psychologist who had no personal experience with addictions either personally or professionally.
3. An MSW who was not personally in recovery but who treated many with addictions and eating disorders, and who was not wedded to any one philosophy of recovery.
Of these three, the third was by far the most effective.
The first was so entirely wedded to 12 step treatment that I can't say I got anything from him that I wouldn't have gotten from simply attending 12 step meetings. He scoffed at my discomfort with 12 step and told me it was the only possible way to recover. Also, many years later I found out that he had 13th stepped my own AA sponsor.
The second had absolutely no clue what she was dealing with and was all but useless. She took an almost shaming attitude towards me.
The third...well, she saved my sanity. She was open minded, creative, listened, did not impose her own recovery agenda on me but met me where I was. She supported my membership in a 12 step program when I went to one, but also supported my decision to leave. She understood and worked with many different types of addictions, including eating disorders. We spent a few years together working through what lead to my various addictions and on developing better coping skills.
So in my experience, it's not personal experience with addiction that matters, it's the level of skill, education and experience a particular therapist has--and their ability to work with the CLIENT'S viewpoints and strengths--that makes the difference.
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Ontario
Posts: 806
Originally Posted by MJDustin 
I am in grad school for counseling and find myself wondering if future clients who struggle with alcoholism will discount my advice/support since I am not an alcoholic. For those of you who have sought professional counseling, do you have a preference to meet with a counselor who can relate to you out of personal experience in this area?
No matter what you do for work you'll find some will like you and some won't.
Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oxnard (The Nard), CA, USA.
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Originally Posted by onlythetruth
3. An MSW who was not personally in recovery but who treated many with addictions and eating disorders, and who was not wedded to any one philosophy of recovery.
Of these three, the third was by far the most effective.
The third...well, she saved my sanity. She was open minded, creative, listened, did not impose her own recovery agenda on me but met me where I was. She supported my membership in a 12 step program when I went to one, but also supported my decision to leave. She understood and worked with many different types of addictions, including eating disorders. We spent a few years together working through what lead to my various addictions and on developing better coping skills.
So in my experience, it's not personal experience with addiction that matters, it's the level of skill, education and experience a particular therapist has--and their ability to work with the CLIENT'S viewpoints and strengths--that makes the difference.
Of these three, the third was by far the most effective.
The third...well, she saved my sanity. She was open minded, creative, listened, did not impose her own recovery agenda on me but met me where I was. She supported my membership in a 12 step program when I went to one, but also supported my decision to leave. She understood and worked with many different types of addictions, including eating disorders. We spent a few years together working through what lead to my various addictions and on developing better coping skills.
So in my experience, it's not personal experience with addiction that matters, it's the level of skill, education and experience a particular therapist has--and their ability to work with the CLIENT'S viewpoints and strengths--that makes the difference.
I needed more help than a self-help organization could offer so as to get past the issues that held me down from living a rewarding life. Two of the most helpful individuals that have aided me in my recovery were MFT's, both free of an addiction history. I feel because these helping people weren't severely stunted in their personal development because of addiction, were more qualified in pointing me in the best direction to take my life. I'm sure those that have squandered half their life as wasteland drunks and finally wise up have a lot to offer too. Ya got to start somewhere, better late than never.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 1,701
I have never known an addiction specialist (either social worker or clinical psychologist) who was not him herself a recovering addict/alcoholic.
How common is this? What do your instructors and people you know in the field have to say?
How common is this? What do your instructors and people you know in the field have to say?
Member of SMART Recovery
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,722
Originally Posted by miamifella
I have never known an addiction specialist (either social worker or clinical psychologist) who was not him herself a recovering addict/alcoholic.
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: « USA » Recovered with AVRT (Rational Recovery) ___________
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Originally Posted by MJDustin
I am in grad school for counseling and find myself wondering if future clients who struggle with alcoholism will discount my advice/support since I am not an alcoholic. For those of you who have sought professional counseling, do you have a preference to meet with a counselor who can relate to you out of personal experience in this area?
I showed my therapist the Rational Recovery book, which has a section written for professionals, but he just dismissed it, since it didn't correlate with what he had learned. I eventually dropped him. If you don't have personal experience with addiction, I highly recommend that you read it. They won't teach you the material it contains in graduate school.
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