Vitality News Health Articles

Have you had enough of sitting in a mental health professional’s office talking technical matters and persuasive rhetorics how to hurdle your addictions? Do you feel as if your therapy session should be something more like reach out to others that have experienced similar issues, pains and affliction? Or are you anxious that this last-mentioned human approach is just a fad on the verge of disappearing?

My experiences as a social and human services worker have let me see therapy trends come and go, one that has come to stay and be useful to individuals and families alike is the 12-step program. First of all, the 12-step program is based on overcoming addictions, not only about coping or alleviating it. For example, resounding name in combating alcoholism is, the Alcoholics Anonymous. The success of this program and its roster of successful members have been echoed by others; programs for addictions have adapted the basic 12 steps to form groups. And why not, since the 12 steps can be applied to other program areas that are capable of operating similar conditioning plans, such as programs for addiction to painkillers and other depressing medication, eating disorders, sexual addictions and addictions to extreme forms of recreations. Furthermore, what’s constant between 12-step programs so far is the one single session wherein participants have to admit being in the control of what ever they are addicted to, and turning that addiction over to a higher power beyond themselves. While this does not mean that there is any statement on faith being emphasized, many found it exceedingly helpful to have a focus on looking towards a power that is greater than oneself. One more argument in favor of this historical movement is that there is no payment for attending the support groups. This makes sense for people that do not have health care coverage. With regards to social interaction, the 12-step program relies on its members to support one another throughout and in between meetings. Another thing is that the 12 steps draws recuperating participants to rely on a sort of friend-teacher, a person that will mentor them and depend on when ever you are in need. What with support being a phone call or one mouse click away, the 12-step program definitely is within reach.

- Mark Green