May 1990

gave me a better understanding of the The first three Steps of the Twelve

‘The Steps principles of the program. As I began to listen and absorb the philosophy, I could see that AA had a way of life to offer many people, alcoholic or not. Steps are approached as the foundation to recovery. If I can help the alcoholic see in Step One that accep tance means acceptance of himself as

Offer Solutions’ In my work today, I believe that alcoholics can recover in AA alone, but utilizing counseling strategies, a worthy person, as well as accep tance of his illness, he will begin to believe that he deserves to feel better they can have a stronger recovery. I and recover. An unmanageable life by Mary Mele use the AA philosophy and Twelve involves a lack of self-acceptance. Alcoholkm Counselor Steps to help my clients realize that Helping my clients discover their Reno, Nevada there are no magic answers, only a good qualities as well as flaws is the simple program of recovery which re- first step on their journey to recovery. I have worked in vate practice. At first, Alcoholics the field of addic- Anonymous was little more than a , quires a lot of work. Recovery from any addictive process comes with Step Two continues the journey to hope. Hope encourages the individtive illness for resource for speakers who could realizing that there is a way out of the ual to look at options – solutions to most of my pro- share their stories and experiences pain and that choices are available. getting out of the misery. Sanity, a fessional life. In with the students. Later, in the treat- Alcoholics and addicts see themselves more manageable approach to living, the beginning I ment centers, which were twelve-step stuck in their misery; they feel hope- becomes the goal. A life without disworked as a community health nurse developing prevention programs for school-age children, later as a nurse programs, I began to sit in on meetings and listened to the real significance of M.I liked what.1 heard at ‘ I

I less about their situation. A twelvestep program provides a positive means of escape. honesty or secrets, a life involving people and closeness becomes a reality. In sharing their stories and in counselor in treatment centers, and those meetings. Then I read the litera- Many of my clients are either alco- sharing their strength, AA members most recently as a counselor in pri- ture, especially the Big Book, which holics or addicts from alcoholic or gain new points of view. They also ‘ I dysfunctional families. They present . themselves in therapy with many adgain strength and more personal or individual power. justment problems, some the result of Giving up control over one’s life, alcoholism or drug addictions, some giving up control of everyone else’s resulting from the lack of emotional life, is terrifying. Fear says, “I know attachments in childhood. All suffer what I have – what if things get from a lack of serenity in their lives, worse?” Fear immobilizes. “Letting and little or no spirituality. M and go” implies having faith in another . other related twelve-step programs being. My clients cannot trust themgive these people principles that can selves, so it seems impossible to trust help them change disruptive behav- another. And yet Step Three says, iors. In therapy, I help my clients have faith and give up the lonely apply the AA principles to life’s fight. Trust in someone else. issues and probe deeper into feelings, In counseling, we work on exploraccept those feelings as part of being ing the Higher Power concept beginhuman, and develop healthier ways ning with a supernatural being. If of coping with them. that’s not feasible, a tangible person

or group is considered. I encourage lowship, the more I realize how much my clients to go to meetings and to the program has to offer everyone as listen to how others have applied the a way of life in a community. AA Steps and principles in their lives offers a life of successes and living, and have begun to grow beyond their rather than just surviving the crises. fears. By giving up the fight to be When i n , the turmoil of alcoholic in control, by trusting in a Higher thinking, it is inconceivable to see a Power, one has more energy to give way out. The Steps offer solutions. to living. I am grateful to all the opportuni- . AA’s principles are useful not just ties the AA principles have given.me to the alcoholic, but for anyone look- to improve my own life spiritually. ing for a productive, whole life. I Today I try to give back to my clients am not an alcoholic, and yet the more what I have learned about serenity work I do with the Steps, the more I through my own recovery program understand them and the greater re- using the counseling insight and the spect I have for their impact on lives. AA concepts I have been fortunate to The more I see the power in the Fel- acauire in my life.