Treatment of the Significant Other

Abstract

In our practice and experience over the years, we occasionally become so removed from the ordinary world in our work with alcoholism, the family, and the problem drinker and with our treatment staff that we forget that not everyone believes that alcoholism is a family problem. We become acclimated to our world, busily developing newer, always more interesting methods of training counselors, when all of a sudden, “whomp,” we are brought down to earth by someone asking: “Do you think there is anything you can do before the alcoholic hits rock bottom?” or “What can you say to the client whose husband won’t stop drinking?” The questioners may have read that alcoholism is a family affair, but they have not seen treatment offered to anyone other than the alcoholic. They may know that programs exist that counsel the family while the problem drinker is in treatment, offering one or two sessions, but they have not believed you can really approach a program of treatment for alcoholism as a family problem.