http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/02/01/intervention-or-whats-a-family-to-do/ <<exploring healthy therapy & counseling>> Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:04:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/02/01/intervention-or-whats-a-family-to-do/#comment-6805 Laura Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:26:41 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/02/01/intervention-or-whats-a-family-to-do/#comment-6805 To follow up on Jason's comment, you'll be doing your father a much greater service by hooking him up w/ such organizations. You will be helping him to become resourceful. Rather than depending on someone else for everything, you will be helping him take the first steps towards independence and a reclaimed life. To follow up on Jason’s comment, you’ll be doing your father a much greater service by hooking him up w/ such organizations. You will be helping him to become resourceful. Rather than depending on someone else for everything, you will be helping him take the first steps towards independence and a reclaimed life.

]]> http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/02/01/intervention-or-whats-a-family-to-do/#comment-6803 Jason Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:25:23 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/02/01/intervention-or-whats-a-family-to-do/#comment-6803 Jessie-don't forget that there are agencies out there designed to help your father. If you start feeling guilty about sending him to a homeless shelter, just remember that you've already paid for his night's stay there in the form of taxes that come out of your pay check. You don't have to shoulder this burden alone. Jessie-don’t forget that there are agencies out there designed to help your father. If you start feeling guilty about sending him to a homeless shelter, just remember that you’ve already paid for his night’s stay there in the form of taxes that come out of your pay check. You don’t have to shoulder this burden alone.

]]> http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/02/01/intervention-or-whats-a-family-to-do/#comment-6801 Jessie Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:24:07 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/02/01/intervention-or-whats-a-family-to-do/#comment-6801 On the outside looking in, all of this makes perfect sense. However, has anyone here ever dealt w/ this first hand? My father is an alcoholic. No matter how much I know with every brain fiber I have that I need to draw a line in the sand, I can't bring myself to do it. When it's 20 degrees outside in mid-January and he calls me and tells me he doesn't have a place to sleep that night, how can I, in good conscious, tell him to find a nice, comfy park bench to sleep on-oh, and don't forget the newspapers. What kind of son would I be if that was the approach I took? On the outside looking in, all of this makes perfect sense. However, has anyone here ever dealt w/ this first hand? My father is an alcoholic. No matter how much I know with every brain fiber I have that I need to draw a line in the sand, I can’t bring myself to do it. When it’s 20 degrees outside in mid-January and he calls me and tells me he doesn’t have a place to sleep that night, how can I, in good conscious, tell him to find a nice, comfy park bench to sleep on-oh, and don’t forget the newspapers. What kind of son would I be if that was the approach I took?

]]> http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/02/01/intervention-or-whats-a-family-to-do/#comment-6799 niels Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:22:01 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/02/01/intervention-or-whats-a-family-to-do/#comment-6799 I think the real key to this article is realizing that no one can change an alcoholic's behavior accept him or her. No matter how much we want to "do something," we just can't. When we "do something," no matter how well intentioned, we aren't affecting positive change. The only change we can really control in this situation is the decision we make about our own actions. I think the real key to this article is realizing that no one can change an alcoholic’s behavior accept him or her. No matter how much we want to “do something,” we just can’t. When we “do something,” no matter how well intentioned, we aren’t affecting positive change. The only change we can really control in this situation is the decision we make about our own actions.

]]> http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/02/01/intervention-or-whats-a-family-to-do/#comment-6797 Mary Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:20:08 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2008/02/01/intervention-or-whats-a-family-to-do/#comment-6797 I have read several other blogs on this site that have dealt with the ineffectiveness of 12-step programs and other forms of treatment for alcoholism. I am so glad to see this article take this concept one step further. Finally, we know something concrete we can do about it. I appreciate the author's advice to those affected by alcoholism. Not only does the author acknowledge that interventions and treatment programs don't work, he gives the reader permission to change their responses to the alcoholic and frees the reader from feeling guilty about putting up boundaries. I have read several other blogs on this site that have dealt with the ineffectiveness of 12-step programs and other forms of treatment for alcoholism. I am so glad to see this article take this concept one step further. Finally, we know something concrete we can do about it. I appreciate the author’s advice to those affected by alcoholism. Not only does the author acknowledge that interventions and treatment programs don’t work, he gives the reader permission to change their responses to the alcoholic and frees the reader from feeling guilty about putting up boundaries.

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