Counselling the Person Beyond the Alcohol Problem potx

[...]... drinker, their genetic make-up and their unique life circum­ stances Excessive levels of alcohol use have been identified as a ‘maladaptive coping strategy’ for dealing with stress and anxiety (Powell and Enright 1990) 14 COUNSELLING THE PERSON BEYOND THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM The counsellor has to be empathic to the individual client’s perception of, and the meaning they attach to, their use of alcohol Each person. .. shares part of their journey into what can often be the unknown and the unexplored It is a time 20 COUNSELLING THE PERSON BEYOND THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM of fear and hurt, of joy and creativity It is not about finding solutions for people, but rather helping to create the climate within which solutions may emerge There is an ongoing debate within the world of alcohol counselling as to whether a professional... by those who do not Some accept the ‘alco­ holic’ description, others do not I value their courage in 22 COUNSELLING THE PERSON BEYOND THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM speaking out from their experience It has been important for me that they should have their say The scenarios are fictitious yet drawn from the experience of working with this client group and the issues that arise The names are fictitious and offered... subject to what Rogers termed the actualizing 18 COUNSELLING THE PERSON BEYOND THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM tendency’ Bozarth (1998, p.6) describes this as the founda­ tion block of person- centred therapy’ and goes on to quote Rogers: Practice, theory and research make it clear that the person- centred approach is built on a basic trust in the person … [It] depends on the actualizing tendency present in every living... around the world than any other agency can hope to offer, but it is not for everyone Person- centred perspective The key to the person- centred perspective on working with people with alcohol problems is that the focus is on the client, on the person him or herself, with the client having autonomy in choosing where to place the emphasis It suggests that we are all subject to what Rogers termed the actualizing... while entertaining clients º the single parent of either sex using alcohol to unwind and relax at the end of every day º the sportsperson regularly celebrating successes with heavy alcohol use, or using alcohol to relax every time he steps out in front of 50,000 people Are these people ‘alcoholics’? They may be unable to choose not to have their alcohol, yet they are far from the usual ‘alco­ holic’ image... on drinking rum Another will find spirits send them to sleep while wine makes them extrovert and bubbly Taking alcohol is an intense experience for the body and the brain Associations are established between feelings present within the person and the drinking experience: the alcohol content, the flavour, the particular chemical make-up of types of drink, and the setting in which alcohol consumption... 24 COUNSELLING THE PERSON BEYOND THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM Then the client may begin to uncover their hidden potential for being human in a fuller and more satisfying way on the road to greater self-reliance, and perhaps in so doing gain a fresh perspective on their alcohol use and begin to make dif­ ferent choices Endnotes 1 For more information contact: National Institute on Alco ­ hol Abuse and Alcoholism,... different reasons Both are problematic even though the persons themselves do not recognize this Each is evidencing signs of dependence on alcohol to cope with very different environments, and within contrasting daily routines 25 26 COUNSELLING THE PERSON BEYOND THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM Both have at some point found alcohol to be a solution rather than a problem, yet it is now getting out of control In my... demonstrate how the person- centred approach to counselling can be applied within this framework Scenarios are given, together with sample dialogue to illustrate what can be offered The attempt is made to help the reader appreciate a little more the world of the person with an alcohol problem, emphasizing that therapeutic bridges can be built and change for the better can occur, given the creation of . 11 12 COUNSELLING THE PERSON BEYOND THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM The label can create a barrier to seeing the person, making it difficult to acknowledge their. 14 COUNSELLING THE PERSON BEYOND THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM The counsellor has to be empathic to the individual client’s perception of, and the meaning they