Again, the hazards of responding to more than one post at once. Sounds like we are all on the same page.

Hi Nick,

It has been my experience that finding a good therapist can be a very difficult process indeed. Like yourself, I've seen many therapists over the years and I regret having paid exhorbitant sums of money for long periods of time and achieved very little. Unfortunately, there has always been a need for therapy in my adult life. I cannot sort myself out on my own and many self-help books have limited use. So, my search for a good therapist continued. I now believe I am in good hands with a small group of therapists that I have been seeing for about a year.

In saying the above, I am acutely aware that one of our members is a practicing therapist. I do not mean to offend and I suspect that you will agree with my observations. I have no doubt that you are a good therapist (you will know who I mean).

V.

I find it useful to view alcohol addiction and mental health as two separate issues. Counseling will directly aid TSM only if it addresses compliance with the Golden Rule (i.e. nal one hour before drinking -- always). Counseling will do nothing to dismantle the neural pathways reinforced over years of drinking alcohol. Counseling certainly can help with the issues that either led to or were caused by heavy drinking.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a useful tool, and most everyone can benefit from it. Studies have shown that a self-guided program can be as least as effective as therapist-led CBT. Here's an excellent, FREE, CBT program. http://moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome Its format is geared more toward the adolescent but if you can get past that, it really works, according to their own tracking.

Someone on the MyWayOut board was in a VERY pricey outpatient program which used a combo of naltrexone and CBT -- to promote abstinence. GRRR.

According to Eskapa, Sinclair's subjects in a study were administered the Beck Depression Inventory at the onset of TSM and again at 12 weeks in, at which time most showed significant improvement. Eskapa, pp. 96-97.

It's to be expected that many life issues resolve as we regain control over our drinking -- and our lives. It's also to be expected that many of us could benefit from varying degrees of professional mental health help.

Here's another very good online CBT course, which has been set up by one of the UK's most-respected CBT practitioners:

http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/

V.