Category Archives: For Families

Ten Things I Wished I’d Known Before I Sent My Brother Off To Rehab

Interventionists measure their success rate by the number of people they get to go into treatment. But that doesn’t mean that your family member (or you) stays in treatment. Even if they leave the day after they arrived, the interventionist … Continue reading


Unjustly Accused – Divorce, Alcoholism and the Alcohol Treatment Trap

“Two things will be believed about any man whatsoever, and one is that he has taken to drink.” -Booth Tarkington It isn’t unusual for people to seek treatment for their alcohol abuse problems when divorce is looming on the horizon. … Continue reading


Kicking the 12-Step Habit

It is common for people who have remained sober for a year or two, to begin to wonder why they are continuing to attend various groups and meetings. It’s a good question. While some people may need, or prefer, to … Continue reading


The Bucket of Crabs, or Why AA and Alanon Are Bad For Your Health

The “Bucket of Crabs” is one of our favorite analogies. Pulling crabs out of traps on Kodiak Island, we’d just toss them into a big bucket – no need to put a lid on the bucket. Why not? Because as … Continue reading


Alcohol Abuse, Dependence and Addiction: Effective Non 12 Step Alternatives In Outpatient Alcohol Treatment

By Dr. Ed Wilson and Dr. Mary Ellen Barnes Most Of Us, Understandably, Deny Our Alcohol Problems People generally avoid looking too closely at their alcohol use. Over the long haul this can lead to problems, both real and mythical, … Continue reading


Helping Parents of Adult Alcoholics and Addicts With Non 12 Step Alternatives To AA

By Dr. Ed Wilson and Dr. Mary Ellen Barnes Adult Children Who Drag Their Parents Down With Them Nothing is sadder than the “over-age families” we see. These “children” are in their 30s, 40s, 50’s and sometimes 60s; their parents … Continue reading


Sabotage – Alcohol Treatment’s Unexpected Outcome

We work with clients very intensively – four or more hours a day for five to seven days – and with a well defined presenting problem – alcohol abuse. Following this initial treatment phase, during the ninety days of follow-up, … Continue reading