28
christian counseling today
Vol. 20 no. 4
Ste ve Arterburn and Dav i d Stoop
y the time you have counseled or coached your first
dozen or so clients, you have probably worked with
an addict. When you combine drug and alcohol
issues with sex/pornography, romance, codependent
relationships, food, gambling, and anything else a
person cannot stop on his or her own, you may
find your practice overflowing with addiction-related
cases in one form or another. Long after you become
involved with those clients, they may yet struggle with
obsessions, compulsions, dependencies and addictions. There is a good
chance that if they do not stop the progression of addiction, it will leave
them emotionally, psychologically and spiritually depleted, and even without
the necessary resources to pay for therapy.
Fortunately, there is a variety of 12-step meetings available at no
charge, which can help. However, sadly, many counselors, therapists and
coaches are reluctant to recommend a recovery program. If you do suggest
attending a meeting, clients may object because there is often a lack of
Christian focus or they may say something like, “I’m not like those people.”
Nevertheless, if you are well-informed and follow to a comprehensive
treatment focus, this kind of resistance can be overcome.
overcoming
resistance to
recovery
programs
B
