Within this paper there will be an examination of core Biblical principles through exploring Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 12 STEPS for treating individuals battling addictive behaviors and dependence. Also discussed in great detail and scriptural support is the importance of fostering healthy relationships, maintaining a strong sense of self-awareness, developing the ability to know one’s existing problems, and the value of having a dependency on God. The author will integrate a Biblical Worldview and examine the implications of incorporating a 12 STEP program and MI into counseling and the best avenue to utilize them with Non- and Christians alike. This paper closes with the writer’s personal reflections, considerations and revelations from the research done for this paper.
Key words: Motivational Interviewing, 12 STEPS, Alcoholics Anonymous, Biblical Worldview
Examining and Adapting Motivational Interviewing, God’s Word and the 12 STEPS Program
Core Biblical Themes
There are many factors impacting an individuals struggle in attaining and maintaining sobriety. They range from socioeconomic status (SES), education (or the lack there of) ethnicities, and religious affiliations. Spirituality has been pursued in a myriad of ways; one definition of spirituality is the relationship one has with self, others, and the universe (Clarke, Giordano, Cashwell, & Lewis, (2013). Many individuals derive their core biblical beliefs in life from their spiritual philosophies. Clarke, Giordano, et.al. (2013) report that religion or spirituality is a key factor in the lives of at least half of the American population and that many others operate by creating their own set of beliefs, practices and...
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...umble and be an open vessel to be used is by maintaining a strong relationship with Jesus.
Indeed, I can honestly say that my understanding and knowledge of addiction counseling has increased exponentially. The work performed in this class on the Biblical Word Study and the 12 STEPS program has given me a detailed introduction into this perplexing, multi-dimensional, continual process of addiction counseling. Honestly, I have to admit that in many regards to this scope of counseling I was completely ignorant and thought like many others that addiction is a choice and why can’t people just stop. After this paper I have a new appreciation for the helping profession and those struggling for sobriety. My ultimate goal is to allow God to mold me for His use and purpose to reach and introduce souls to my Savior; allowing Him to make their lives whole through me.
Gerald May’s book Addiction & Grace: Love and Spirituality in the Healing of Addictions is a wonderful book that addresses grace, freewill, and forgiveness around addictions. The reader should keep in mind that the book is written from May’s personal views and experience. May (1988) states that he is “neither a trained theologian nor a scriptural scholar [and] this book is full of my own theological assumptions” (p. vi). The book is written to help the reader understand how addiction keeps one’s focus on things other than God. The reader learns about the struggle with sin and how the conflict creates awareness to addictive behavior. While the book offers some great understanding regarding addictions and spirituality, it is also based on a reflection of May’s own personal view and experience with addictions.
Coming into the substance abuse meeting the student nurse was scared and nervous. She was scared of the reaction of the consumers and feared all the stereotypes she heard about typical alcoholics. Innervison gave the student nurse a new outlook on these types of consumers. She no longer looked at them as people who were just drunks and wanted to use AA as an excuse to make it seem like they are getting help. She never really looked at alcoholism as a true addiction; it seemed like more of an excuse to escape life’s problems. Sitting in and listening to these consumers gave the student nurse a dose of reality. The student nurse now understands alcoholism better and AA helped her realize recovery is truly a process that takes one day and one step at a time.
Alcoholism is as prevalent in my family, as blood is in our veins. When previously asked to observe 12-step groups, I ritualistically flocked to Alcoholics Anonymous, without consideration of the possibility that other groups had any potential to make an impact on me. I always pride myself in my ability to identify as an individual that is not ensnared in alcoholism, but unfortunately am an individual that was highly tormented by alcoholism. Through observation of the group and how it processed, as well as identifying how I felt as a new attendee, I was able to understand why self-help, support groups are so vital for individuals in recovery. I finally realized, I too am in recovery.
The definition of motivational interviewing (MI) has evolved and been refined since the first publications on its use as a way to deal with behaviour change. The technical therapeutic definition of motivational interviewing is a collaborative, and goal oriented method of communication with giving specific observation to the language of change. It is intended to reinforce an individual’s motivation for and development towards a particular objective by evoking and investigating the individual's own arguments for change (Miller & Rollnick, 2012). Motivational interviewing was created to enable clients to prepare for changing addictive behaviours like drug and alcohol abuse (Miller & Rollnick, 1991, 2002) and has been viable to lessen other harmful behaviours including tobacco, drugs, alcohol, gambling, treatment
Next, McMinn continues through the concerns that influence the client spiritually and psychologically: sin, confession, forgiveness, and redemption (McMinn, 2011). Sin is a universal and personal dilemma. Sin exist in all individuals, and an essential element of counseling is to confront the sin currently in a person’s life; choosing when and how to confront sin in counseling has immense implications for success. Confession is a primary component of coping with sin, and counseling is, in essence, a method of confession. The objective of the Christian counselor is to help the client experience forgiveness while concurrently being held accountable for sin and encouraging an empathetic outlook of other individual’s sins (McMinn).
Alcohol Anonymous (AA) is a fellowship worldwide consisting of over one hundred thousand men and women who are alcoholics, banded together in solving a common problem and in helping fellow alcohol users in their recovery from alcoholism. A.A.'s twelve steps are considered a list of principles which are spiritual in their nature, and if practiced as a way of life by members, can help significantly in expelling a member’s obsession to drink, and enable a holistic awareness. Step one is when the member admits they are powerless over the use of alcohol, resulting in an unmanageable life. No one wants to admit defeat, but admitting powerlessness over alcohol is the first step in becoming liberated. Step two is having a belief that the almighty power can restore their sanity. Step three is making the decision to turn their will and life over in the protection of the almighty God, which is the key to willingness of change as noted by the Twelve Steps of recovery. Step four is...
May, G. (1988). Addiction & Grace: Love and Spirituality in the Healing of Addictions. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
This paper will discuss what motivational interviewing is , who developed motivational interviewing and why it was developed. In addition, the most important aspects of motivational interviewing will be covered. Furthermore, the paper will discuss how I hope to use motivational interviewing in the future. At the conclusion of the paper the reader should have a better understanding of motivational interviewing.
One of the most difficult aspects of counseling is accepting when boundaries can be crossed for the betterment of a client and knowing when those boundaries should be respected no matter the outcome. Incorporating religion and spirituality into counseling can often be problematic in the sense that not everyone has the same views on the matter. In fact, not all therapists in the field of counseling agree that blending therapy and religion is effective or appropriate. However, for Christians who seek assistance, gaining knowledge on their situation, learning new coping mechanisms, and still incorporating the Bible as a reference tools serves a an excellent therapeutic method.
A big challenge that I will face is deciding which side I will take on a big debate in substance abuse counseling. Some people say that addiction is purely physical, while others disagree and believe that addiction is mostly psychological. Those who believe that it is psychological believe that it usually stems from abuse or as Jane Adams (2003) thinks an over dependence on parents. This side also says that addiction is operant conditioning and that cycle has to be broken (Silverman, Roll, & Higgins, 2008, p. 472). The other physical side of addi...
The motivational interviewing video was very informative. It not only described the five guidelines for conducting the technique, but it also demonstrated how motivational interviewing is done.
A large number of mental health care professionals have encountered resistance when encouraging patients to comply with treatment plan such as having medication, decreasing substance use and changing established routine. Patients tend to have difficulty changing poor health behaviour even though they are aware of benefits. Health care professionals can use motivational interviewing on patients to help them adhere to treatment recommendations and to promote behavioural change. This paper will discuss as to relation of motivational interviewing and process of change model, and also how to resolve ambivalence and to use relapse in change process.
Intervention 4: state the need for spiritual attitude when working in the 12 step program.
The Word of God is powerful and has the ability to help those who are hurting, heal. Counselors need to have an understanding of how the Bible applies to their profession. They need to research the different therapeutic methods they could use, such as scriptural interventions. According to Garzon (2005), “Christian counseling is a diverse profession and within this diversity exists a wide variety of perspectives on if, when, and how to use Scripture in psychological treatment” (p 113). The article utilizes a case study to highlight the different “interventions that might incorporate Scripture has a resource” (Garzon, 2005, p. 113). Different methods are applied to the subject in the case study.
Through the exploration of the Old and New Testament regarding counseling and addiction, one is imperative in understanding the other. The Bible speaks very highly of counsel, due to the learned discernment and instilling purpose. With counsel from God and those appointed as healthy in Christ, one gains wisdom and is able to continue the cycle of teaching, counseling, and modeling a Christ like lifestyle. This process is impossible without the need for help and guidance.