Appendix B: Notes on finding assistance

There are many forms of help available but since psychologists are the most popular, this appendix centers on suggestions and cautions in finding a psychologist to work with.

If friends or family can't recommend someone, most counties have psychological associations which can refer you to a therapist.

Shopping for a therapist is like shopping for a used car. You might get lucky and like the first car you see but often you need to look at more than one.

Therapy has limitations and knowing those limitations can help avoid disappointment. Going to a therapist with the attitude, “I drink too much. It is your job to stop me” is a waste of time and money. A therapist can't do it for you.

Psychiatrists have entirely different training than psychologists. While there are competent and capable psychiatrists, they tend to look at problems in living as the result of “brain disease.” It is much safer to go to a trusted psychologist and, if he recommends drug treatment, continue psychological treatment while seeing the psychiatrist or M.D. for medication.

Asking for treatment for “alcoholism,” a drinking problem or drug use is asking for a twelve step “therapist.”

Going to an alcoholism or addiction “expert” is tantamout to going to a grouper. Even if not a grouper, the experts in the field tend to be very strongly influenced by grouper ideology and to be uninfluenced by, or ignorant of, recent advances in related fields. For example, one of the leading and most respected authorities in the field, displays a total ignorance of developmental psychology,