ch. 9 - 12-step philosophy

Question 1

HISTORY of 12 step

Answer 1

Originally written in 1939 by William Wilson (cofounder) to describe how recovery process works
Origins in Christian religious perspective of the Oxford Group (The Principles of Jesus)
Wilson understood that the Oxford Group had provided them with some type of spiritual origins but didn’t want to take on the overt religiousness
Took on mantra of “spiritual rather religious” - offered wide-open set of beliefs and practices that could complement any religion and accommodate those with no religious faith

Question 2

Development of the recovery process was guided by:

Answer 2

The personal experience of the earliest recovery members
How they understood what had happened to them
How they communicated this experience to others
Didn’t accept medical view of addiction
Addiction = threefold condition of the physical, mental, and spiritual

Question 3

12-STEP DIAGNOSIS OF ADDICTION:

Answer 3

focuses on “character defects” as the central spiritual problem (selfishness, self-centeredness, self-centered fear, self-will run riot = root of addict’s troubles)

Question 4

12-STEP THEMES

Answer 4

(primary conflicts and struggles with steps): helps counselor develop a connective link between the 12-step and SUD treatment client experiences

Question 5

STEPS 1-3

Answer 5

preliminary work before one can actually start the process toward a spiritual awakening

Question 6

STEPS 1-3 themes

Answer 6

Essential limitation: “to be human, to be essentially limited…is to be essentially dependent”; you can not do everything and anything - you will make mistakes
-Acceptance of oneself as limited and flawed brings the calming realization that one is not (nor was one ever) expected to be perfect or consistently in control

-Allows one to let go of all the cognitive and emotional “tricks we try to pull on ourselves to maintain an illusion of control

Surrender and Confession: in order to regain power over his or her life, the client must abdicate any control he or she currently possesses

Combating narcissism: narcissism can manifest as a perceived ability to control addiction or that the varied and serious associated life issues can all be handled with no assistance

Question 7

STEPS 1-3 counseling

Answer 7

• Supporting the client in this difficult task of confronting shame and guilt over past actions
• Understanding that the addictive behaviors were only a symptom of a larger control issue
• Help the client with the “letting go” process
• Teach self-reflection, coping skills, and strategies required with the high emotionality elicited via a fearless, moral inventory
• Focus on engaging client in spiritual and philosophical discussions on despair, regret, guilt, and self-doubt