tyates

I've been struggling with finding a therapist that really understands the issues behind my addiction. I've gone through several therapist over the past few years and while I feel that they try to understand the root of my problems, I think that they just don't get it. It's almost like a non-smoker trying to convince a habitual smoker to just stop. I'm not in AA but I'm beginning to wonder if it it takes an alcoholic to really help another alcoholic. I'd like to find a therapist I can work with because I am more comfortable with discussing personal issues with them than friends/acquantances/sponsors.

Anyone out there have any success working with a therapist?

CarolD

Good to see you here with us again....

Once I finally quit drinking....I have not required a therapist.
My psychiatrist had suggested AA.
My situational depression quickly left me with AA recovery.

I see no reason anyone should not try all resources possible.
If I feel myself slipping out of balance
I certainly would be seeking another psychiatrist .

I so hope you will continue to move forward...

nandm

I am also interested in hearing others experiences in this area. Thank you for the topic.

Here is my experience. I went to several different psychologists while I was active in my alcoholism. Almost all of them would tell me I needed to stop drinking but were not able to provide any real support or direction for doing so. It was only after I found sobriety through AA that I was able to realize that I did still need the outside help of therapy for my mental health issues. Today, I still attend AA to treat my alcoholism but I also attend therapy to deal with my mental health issues.

Although I think that many issues that could be classified as mental health issues are addressed in the program of AA, it is not a cure all for mental health issues. I do know that AA is great for learning to live life without drinking, let go of resentments, dealing with situational depression, address some character defects that are associated with alcoholism.

hughs dad

I am seeing a therapist this time around. She specializes in addiction. She highly reccommends AA. I'm only 3 days in so I'll keep you posted on how it goes. I will say, she is the reason I am giving AA another shot...

sailorjohn

Yeah, I had a therapist a few decades back that was both aware of my alcoholism and in another 12 step program himself. And I got a lot out of it. Only thing was, I was sober at the time. For me, sponsors and tables aren't places to discuss my 'issues', which, IMO, are secondary to my alcoholism.

I am an alcoholic because I am an alcoholic, IMO. I never crossed an invisible line and became one, I became a practicing alcoholic the day I took my first drink, a recovering alcoholic when I stopped drinking.

I think it would be fairly easy to find a therapist that has as strong background in addiction, my old therapist actually worked for a methadone clinic. Though I didn't technically qualify at the time, he explained to me that the clinic clients didn't utilize the therapy services, I was doing the clinic a favor by using their low cost service, funding was based on the number of clients they served!

Mattcake

Therapy has been invaluable to me. Over the years, I have benefited immensely from working with different professionals in the mental health field (psychologists, counselors and psychiatrists). Choosing a therapist is a very personal matter, and you shouldn't hesitate to "shop around" until you find one that feels right for your needs.


Regarding addiction, I eventually chose a psychiatrist who did not specialize in the field, yet was very adept at recognizing and addressing certain underlying issues that were related to my drinking problem. Working with that pdoc was challenging and emotionally taxing, but it helped very much. Prior to settling for this pdoc, I consulted with two "addictionologists" who simply did not cut it for me: one of them was all about AA, and the other one preferred a behavioural approach.

If you want any further info, don't hesitate to PM me Good luck!

Zencat

I have and continue to use a therapist as a important component of my addiction treatment. I'm in duel recovery so to treat the mental disorder without treating the addiction disorder or vice versa, nothing gets done to get me well. I also go to addiction recovery meetings that treat both disorders at the same time. The county provides these services at the behavioral health clinic. I've tried the mutual self-help support system but that only made matters worse. So for being in the care of a trained specialist that is equipped to treat duel diagnosis people like myself has been a life saving experience.

Dime

I went to a Therapist early on at my psychiatrists suggestion. She really helped me to feel decent about myself and be positive with a open mind. She helped a lot with God and the AA experience. If I could afford it I would continue to see her today.

flutter

I have seen an addictions counselor who has personal history with alcohol and drug abuse stuff, since I got sober. I know I was concerned at first about him understanding my issues, or the causes/roots/whatever of my addiction, until I realized that wasn't his job. He's helped me figure that part out on my own.. more like a guide, not a teacher. When I first went I was more like.. "fix me!", but then he guided me in learning how to 'fix' (I'm using this term loosely here.. ) myself. I will not see him forever, but part of his job IS to teach me how to work with myself.

penny74

l have seen a few in my time.
Not one ever told me anything l did not allready know.

Never take the advice of someone who has not had your kind of trouble.
- Sidney J. Harris.

PaulN

I see a professional outside of AA and I find it to be very helpful. I guess I'm fortunate that my counselor is educated on the AA program. The focus of that help is centered around relationships. Specifically, how to listen.

God willing, I'll be married 25 years in May. We have 18 & 16 year old daughters, neither of whom ever saw me drink. I was sober three years before the first was born.

Today, I work steps 10-12 to the best of my ability and when I don't (deep inside I know when that is) I pray for the willingness to do so. For me, I'm convinced no counselor or therapist would be able to help, until I first took the steps. AA's solution for recovery works wonderfully. But I first had to take the steps to reap the promised results.

I continue to learn what "I don't want you to fix anything, I just want you to listen" means. I'm convinced that my struggle in this area, isn't only due to the fact that I'm an alcoholic, but also because I'm a man and a father. I get additional tools with my outside AA help along with the ones I receive from AA itself. If they help me be a better person/husband/father, then I'll continue to use that help as long as I need it.

Not sure if this is what you were looking, but it's what I myself, do today.

DayWalker

Although I'm personally not the type of person that puts a whole lot of stock into therapists (just the way I am)...I have gone to a few in my life time over Alcohol issues as well as a grief counsler after my dad died. Some court ordered and some on my own accord.


That's how I feel about therapists. And I believe that is the reason why a very good number of Therapists are recovering Alcoholics&addicts themselves. The ones I have went to back in my 20's that were not recovering alcoholics themselves just really didn't do much for me. It was too much like it was just cut&dried info and really wasn't given to me on a level I could relate to.

One of the therapist I had during an IOP program I went to back about 1999/2000 was a recovering alcoholic himself that had been sober for a good number of years and I felt he helped me in ways others couldn't because I could relate to him and he could relate to me.

I dont doubt that a therapist whom has not had any alcohol issues could in fact help people. But I just feel that someone whom is a recovering alcoholic themselves is in a better position to help a fellow alcoholic.

I kind'a look at it as ...you'd never take your car to a mechanic that has only read books on automotive repair and has no real hands on experiance would ya? so why take your mind&body to one. Just the way I look at things when it comes to therapists and such.

Steve

penny74

l have learnt more in 5 minutes talking to people who were in the same situation as me, than in 1000 hours with therapists.

Never take the advice of someone who has not had your kind of trouble.
- Sidney J. Harris. -

jamdls

I had a nervous breakdown in 1994 and my psychiatrist helped me alot and over the years since she or a therapist she recommends have continued to help. However, my psychiatrist always told me I was not an alcoholic that I "drank to self medicate". Even after I attempted suicide in 2007 and accepted that I was an alcoholic she wouldn't accept that, so I quit her and joined AA and funny thing since I quit drinking my "mental" problems have pretty much resolved themself...

J

navysteve

I am an addict because of my disease, no other reason. I have seen trained clinical therapists for outside issues. I am not one who believes that everything is my disease. Not everyone in the rooms has abandonment issues or was in abusive relationships. My practicing addiction defintely did not help those issues but certainly is not to blame for them either.

I will tell you that at 12 1/2 years sober I began seeing a therapist for relationship issues. I adapted an AA fellowship suggestion about no relationships while in the beginning of this phase of treatment. I stayed in therapy for 18 months and through most of that time (14 months) I remained date/relationship/ friend with benefits free. I took a serious hard look at what my issues were under the care of someone trained to deal with them ( not an AA member). I used many of the same tools we use in AA to deal with these issues. My relationship issues were not caused by my alcoholism/drug addiction. They were a related, but separate issue made much worse by my alcoholism. So yes, I have found therapists to be very helpful for me to deal with life on lifes terms, the only therapist I have needed for my alcoholism has been another member of AA and a Big Book.

Thumpers

A lot of AA meetings these days are like group therapy, a lot of dumping and affirmation. In my experience with that and with personal therapists, it just massages that woe-is-me victim mentality I love to embrace, rather than get me up and out of my own problems and into helping others with theirs. Which the Steps do.

It is just distraction for a real alcoholic like me, my own experience with it.

tyates

The psychologist that I've worked with claimed to be addiction specialist but they (as far as I can tell) didn't seem to be recovering addicts themselves. Each session was me pouring my thoughts out but getting nothing of substance back from them.

How did you get lucky enough to find a therapist that was a recovering addict?

Dime

I guess I got lucky with my therapist who was excellent. She was not a specialist in addiction and not in recovery herself but was just plain old competent in what she was licensed to do. Every time I left her office I felt like I had a new lease on life. I also have met people in recovery that also work in the field that I would not be comfortable sending anyone to.

DayWalker

I dunno really lol. It was back around 1999/2000 when I did a IOP. It was two therapists. (george) was a non alcoholic, yet a great guy. The other (Sean) was a guy that was a recoverying alcoholic whom had been in detox.recovery over 12 times and I remeber to this day how he use to tell use about the days where he drank almost a half gal of Vodka every day for years and years. George was a great guy and I wont say he didn't help me...but Sean was so easy to relate to and helped me so much more. I really think he was a huge part of me being sober for 6 yrs. Till I finally messed up again.

But that wasen't Sean's fault, it was my own.

Steve

HideorSeek

Personally, my therapist has been invaluable to me in many areas. Many alcoholics I know started drinking because they hated themselves in some way and many ultimately recognize that alcohol does not relieve that hatred, it only exacerbates it.

I believe I drank primarily to shut off my mind and feelings. Yes, the steps help with those areas, but so does my therapist. Plus, I agree that some issues (at least for me) are better left to a professional, not an AA meeting room. I would feel weird (I admit that this may be just me) discussing my marriage with my AA groups, whereas I feel safe discussing it with my therapist.