- Your sponsor isn’t all that interested in the ‘reasons’ you drank, used, gambled, ate, etc.
- Your therapist thinks your root problem is your lack of self-esteem, negative self-image, and your poor self-concept. Your sponsor thinks your problem is a 3-letter word — YOU!
- Your therapist wants you to pamper your ‘inner child.’ Your sponsor thinks you ought to be hard on yourself and considerate of others.
- Your sponsor thinks your inventory should be about you, not your parents.
- Speaking of your parents, your sponsor tells you not to confront them, but to make amends to them.
- The only time your sponsor uses the word ‘closure’ is before the word ‘mouth.’
- Your sponsor thinks ‘boundaries’ are things you need to take down not build up.
- Your therapist wants you to love yourself first; your sponsor wants you to love others first.
- Your therapist prescribes care-taking and medication. Your sponsor prescribes prayer making and meditation.
- Your sponsor thinks ‘anger management skills’ are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
- Now that you haven’t had a acted out in your addiction in six months, your therapist thinks you should make a list of your goals and objectives for the next five years, starting with finishing up that college degree. Your sponsor thinks you should continue to take personal inventory, seek a closer relationship with God, carry the message to the addict who still suffers and to practice these spiritual principles in all your affairs.
- Your sponsor won’t lose his license to practice if he talks about God.
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I’m a therapist and have been active and sober in the program for 34 years. I believe this reading gives people a poor idea of how therapist can actually help individuals with getting and staying sober, as well as improving the course of their lives, if only as another strong part of their support system or, for those who require it, help with medication management.
Therapy can assist in connecting the dots of of family patterns, help a person let go of shame, self hatred, false beliefs and assist in co- creating and resourcing programs and systems that the individual may not have been aware of. There are many positive lessons that hasten access to a more stable life if therapy is added to the program. It has plenty of value. It works if you work it- just like the steps.
Barbara, I certainly agree. Big Book recovery is a spiritual-moral approach to the efficacy of addition. However, there are mental-emotional issues that definitely require therapy… childhood trauma, ptsd, clincial depression… these issues in my opinion, could be alleviated by a therapeutic approach, thus the therapist is the properly appointed authority in such matters. Thanks again for posting.
This message that i got from the Big Book i will read it an keep it up front an i Thank God Today for Allowing me To WAke up an give him the Glory Amen