Therapy and aa??

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

Therapy and aa??

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

Tanin wrote:
This is a crucial decision. I do not know of any reason why therapy would conflict with any AA concepts.
The BB encurages us to seek medical help, including psychological treatment, if needed. I did both in early sobriety and benefited. Good luck.

I did too, even though it only lasted a few months, it was nice to hear a professional tell me that I wasn't nuts. biggrin

Seriously, It would be advisable to look for someone that specializes in substance abuse.

-- Edited by StPeteDean on Friday 3rd of August 2012 06:41:59 PM

Mr_David · MIP Old Timer

StPeteDean wrote:
Tanin wrote:
This is a crucial decision. I do not know of any reason why therapy would conflict with any AA concepts.
The BB encurages us to seek medical help, including psychological treatment, if needed. I did both in early sobriety and benefited. Good luck.
I did too, even though it only lasted a few months, it was nice to hear a professional tell me that I wasn't nuts.
Seriously, It would be advisable to look for someone that specializes in substance abuse.

-- Edited by StPeteDean on Friday 3rd of August 2012 06:41:59 PM

I agree with Dean. Maybe you can find a therapist who knows a thing or two about substance abuse rather than just traditional therapy. It's only my take though. I went to a substance abuse counselor early on, which I can say helped. So you can check them out as well, if need be. I hope this helps.

-- Edited by Mr_David on Friday 3rd of August 2012 09:51:07 PM

Col · MIP Old Timer

Hey all:) I am wondering if any of you have thoughts or opinions on seeing a therapist. Specifically, can it be in opposition to working the steps. Weird question.. But I've heard varying opinions on the matter. My sponser, though not entirely opposed to me seeing a therapist, is not 100% supportive either. Her thinking, and I've heard many who agree with her, is that my focus should be working through my issues in aa..not through an outside source...especially during the first couple of months. I originally began seeing my therapist to "combat" my drinking problem, and she is supportive of my involvement with aa. I think I feel as though my time and focus SHOULD be with aa, the teachings of the big book. I feel as though, with aa, I don't necessarily need to be in therapy. Any thoughts?

Tanin · MIP Old Timer

This is a crucial decision. I do not know of any reason why therapy would conflict with any AA concepts.

The BB encurages us to seek medical help, including psychological treatment, if needed. It is not a zero-sum game.

I did both in early sobriety and benefited. Good luck.

Bryan39 · Senior Member

If the only reason you are going is to treat alcoholism i would say like pappy did why bother if you suspect you have deeper issues stay in counseling for sure.

Stepchild · MIP Old Timer

If it's in the book...It's AA.

But this does not mean that we disregard human health measures. God has abundantly supplied this world with fine doctors, psychologists, and practitioners of various kinds. Do not hesitate to take your health problems to such persons. Most of them give freely of themselves, that their fellows may enjoy sound minds and bodies. Try to remember that though God has wrought miracles among us, we should never belittle a good doctor or psychiatrist. Their services are often indispensable in treating a newcomer and in following his case afterward.

bb pg 133

Stepchild · MIP Old Timer

You may not need it...I know my doctor wanted to give me drugs for anxiety...All I needed to do was work the steps. I don't take anything now. Do what's best for you Col!

SoberMan6271986 · Member

Hello Colleen,

My name is Russ and I have been a grateful, sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous since June 27, 1986. I have never had to drink again since I came through the doors. My personal experience with therapy and AA is this: I had many years of therapy while I was drinking and really, I didn't give the psychologist a fair chance at trying to help me with some issues. He never asked about my drinking...and I never mentioned it. By the way, that Dr.s name was Sam Q. Ball! No kidding! Q Ball! =)

When a judge finally made the decision to send me to a 28 day out-patient treament facility (6/27/1986), I was ONLY there to complete my probation requirements and had NO intention of listening to any of their "therapy" nonsense. However, after a few weeks of hearing others talk about their "issues", one thing seemed to be familiar - somehow, we all had problems when it came to drinking. Many of their stories seemed familiar to my own and for once I began to listen to someone else. My therapist's name was Deanne and, at that time, she had been a sober member of AA for 12 years...and she NEVER mentioned it until I was about to finish the treatment requirment. The reason for this was because she understood that the difference between therapy and AA was that, in treatment I discoved that I had a problem and AA was where I learned HOW to deal with the problem through putting into action, the principles of the AA program (steps). What I discovered in therapy was that I did NOT become an alcoholic because my mother abandonded me when I was 4 neither was I an alcoholic because my father beat me as a child...although these factors were important in shaping how I dealt with life. (not very well I would say)

What I have experienced is that therapy helped me understand where my problems came from and gave me knowledge to confront some of them and taught me some things about my disease. However, knowing what my problem is...does NOT fix it! Just like knowing that I have a broken arm does not fix it...I have to do something to make it better an that's where AA came in. Not only did AA give me additional knowledge of the problem but also gave me the solutions of how to live with ANY problem I may encounter in life....without a drink and live that way with less fear, resentments and inappropriate behavior. I do however hear many newcomers come into the meetings parroting treatment-ese and treating AA like it was a social club. That, I feel is inappropriate. Sorry for the long-winded post. That's just my experience. Finally, I like to say that AA has given me a life I never knew I always wanted.

God Bless

rrib · Senior Member

I didn't think A.A. would work so I signed up to see a shrink.

He told me that since he was not an alcoholic himself that he could not help me with my drinking problem and that if i was serious about not wanting to drink anymore, I should go back to A.A. and give it an honest try - attend at least 90 meetings withing 90 days.

Also, that if I wanted to continue to see him I was welcome to since it seemed I had alot to talk about.

I took his advice and am sober today. And I kept seeing him for awhile and am glad I did.

mich · Senior Member

Mich here.... I see a psychiatrist. When I told him on Thursday for the first time... I AM AN ALCOHOLIC... he was extremely caring, understanding, and comforting. He wanted to know everything that was going on with me and I came clean. After all of that though he was certain to tell me that AA was the right place for me. We could continue talk therapy, but he was sure to say 90 meetings in 90 days. He was adamant that aa is where I belong. He even said that people in aa may or may not think my therapy was a good idea, but he was very supportive of aa.

Depends on the doctor... depends on the person... I say whatever keeps you sober and sane. Truly a personal decision.

Stepchild · MIP Old Timer

mich wrote:
After all of that though he was certain to tell me that AA was the right place for me. We could continue talk therapy, but he was sure to say 90 meetings in 90 days. He was adamant that aa is where I belong. He even said that people in aa may or may not think my therapy was a good idea, but he was very supportive of aa.

Sounds like you have a good psychiatrist...There is a reason they say that....It works.

Tanin · MIP Old Timer

leeu wrote:
AA may be indisputably therapeutic, but it is not therapy. My concern would be over having a sponsor overstepping and distorting the intended role of a sponsor (read the AA pamphlet on Sponsorship) and possibly doing more harm than good. The need for, and decision about, therapy is for you to work out...

Amen. I'm amazed at sponsors who have the arrogance to take on administration of a sponsee's health issues--as if they somehow magically ahd had the competence and qualifications to do so.

As an example, see a story from AGO about his short tenure as a psychiatric heatlh professional in AA:

http://aa.activeboard.com/t34758440/funny-or-bizarre-things-heard-at-aa-meetings/

I'm less amazed, though still as perturbed, by the random AA members who way too casually suggest avoidance or cessation of therapy or prescribed drugs. Or those who revel in casting negative aspersions about health care professionals, particularly those pracing in the mental health care field.

All the answers to mental health care are NOT in the Big Book.

-- Edited by Tanin on Saturday 4th of August 2012 10:35:05 PM

leeu · MIP Old Timer

AA may be indisputably therapeutic, but it is not therapy. My concern would be over having a sponsor overstepping and distorting the intended role of a sponsor (read the AA pamphlet on Sponsorship) and possibly doing more harm than good. The need for, and decision about, therapy is for you to work out. If you don't need it, any decent therapist will tell you so after a visit or two. Do your homework on the therapist's training and areas of expertise...you can also ask for a free 30 minute session to interview them, by the way--most will do this.

LinBabaAgo-go · Senior Member

That AGO Fella sounds pretty smart lmao

Therapy was a life saver for me in early sobriety, it literally changed my life, it helped my therapist had 25 years in AA, but I found therapy had even more impact the more times I worked the steps, since I had much less denial to get through, I've been a few times over the years to address specific issues (a few times meaning each time was a series of meets), a couples counselor twice, and a psychiatrist once, in each case I walked away with invaluable and indispensable new information, anyone who seeks to keep a newcomer away from a competent therapist against the express written words in the BB is an A-Hole of the highest order imaginable, the BB doesn't say a sponsor is indispensable but it says doctors and health professionals often are.

This is a no brainer not even worthy of a discussion frankly

chris · Senior Member

I completely agree with LinBaba. I've heard some stuff at meetings that made my hair stand on end, such as "throw all your psych meds in the trash, you're in AA now". I would run, not walk away from a person like that. I've been in therapy for many years, and it has helped me so much with issues in and out of AA. No AA member should play doctor. This whole topic makes my blood pressure rise when it is discussed in Living Sober meetings (there's a chapter on "Seeking Outside Help").

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

LinBabaAgo-go wrote:
That AGO Fella sounds pretty smart lmao
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except when it comes to women and were to park his jeep eh?

LinBabaAgo-go · Senior Member

StPeteDean wrote:
LinBabaAgo-go wrote:
That AGO Fella sounds pretty smart lmao
____________________________________________

except when it comes to women and were to park his jeep eh?

evileye disbelief bleh

LoL