RobbyRobot

I have found the best counseling for me is my work with Gestalt Therapy counselors. I would not discount what you have to offer simply because you're not alcoholic, but if I had to educate you as to my alcoholic condition, or you were not able to relate with empathy to my struggles, failures, and successes, -- then absolutely I would quickly move on and seek help else where. When dealing with alcoholism recovery, no extra time to play head games defining this and that. It's hopefully down to business ASAP.

Good luck with your counseling ambitions. The world obviously needs good counselors. I hope it works out well for everyone involved.

miamifella

Onlythesmart--

Addiction specialists (at least the 12 or 20 I have known) support patients choice to take part in 12-step fellowships. But it is not anything they require. I myself am not part of any fellowship.

I am not sure what you mean by a "12-step based rehab."

ksumm77

I've always found this interesting.

If you are struggling from a mental illness, say schizophrenia, you want your counselor or psychiatrist to be in recovery from schizophrenia? If you are struggling from cancer, you want your doctor to have survived cancer?

Many people can be extremely good at their profession without having experienced exactly what you are going through.