Isn’t AA (or 12 Step) Enough?
Now about health: A body badly burned by alcohol does not often recover overnight nor do twisted thinking and depression vanish in a twinkling. We are convinced that a spiritual mode of living is a most powerful health restorative. We, who have recovered from serious drinking, are miracles of mental health. But we have seen remarkable transformations in our bodies. Hardly one of our crowd now shows any dissipation.
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.
-Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 133 (The Family Afterward)
The truth is that “working a program” may well be “enough” for many people in recovery. Or it may be enough at different seasons of life. A holistic program in which the person in recovery lives in steps 10 – 12 and according to pages 84 – 88 of the “Big Book” goes far to build a healthy sober life.
However, engaged AA participation often does not heal co-occurring issues such as anxiety or depression. It does not address grief, children acting out, or career challenges. Even dedicated work with a sponsor may not heal relationships; you’ve probably heard that a sponsor is not a marriage counselor.
There are a multitude of trained and licensed professionals who can help you sort through challenges beyond early recovery. I have assisted clients through the stress and psychology of adding to their family with the birth of a child, with becoming empty nesters, with buying a home, with responding to the needs of an addicted child, as they consider a career change, and with addressing life-long anxiety. Other topics include:
- Relapse prevention from the medical and behavioral model
- Depression, grief, trauma
- Chronic or acute illness
- Impact of natural disasters
- Marriage and family counseling
- Deepening a spiritual program
- Cognitive Behavioral therapy to affect change
I’d be happy to offer a reduced rate mini-session to determine if we are a good fit for your current needs. Contact me by phone (832-248-5249) or email (hopetherapist@victoriacravens.com) to schedule a $50 introductory 30 minute appointment.