Marc Handelman
PhD.
Psychotherapy NYC
Twelve-step programs and psychotherapy are not mutually exclusive. Rather, they can reinforce each other and provide help for you as a whole person.
While there is some overlap, and there are some differences between the two, the differences are not in conflict.
In fact, they can provide synergy to promote your overall welfare spiritually, emotionally, socially, and physically.
People who have suffered from alcohol or drug addiction have often suffered from feelings of self-loathing, self-contempt, and self-hatred.
They often come to view themselves with moral condemnation. These feelings are reinforced by society’s view of alcoholics and addicts.
Addiction involves feelings of overwhelming cravings, and a feeling of desperation that may be hard to comprehend for those who are not addicted.
Addicts may come to experience their lives in terms survival which leads to upended priorities, placing the need for the substance above all other needs.…