Things My Sponsors Taught Me

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From the Book

Things My Sponsors Taught ME
By Paul H.
On the Efficiency of Therapy

If it works, don’t fool around with it; if it doesn’t, quit.

Many A.A. members have a mixed bag of feelings about doctors and therapists. This is probably because many doctors and therapists, if not most of them, simply do not understand alcoholism. Horror stories abound about psychiatrists who allow drink to drink while under their care, about social workers who are pleased that so-and-so has cut down to only on fifth per day, or about doctors who fall for hard luck stories or outright lies and prescribe Valium.

My sponsors recognize the truth of A.A.’s slogan. “If it works, don’t fix it,” and the statement I’ve quoted to a pigeon who was being counseled by well-meaning members of our A.A. group. Some wanted him to continue therapy; other wanted him to quit.

A.A. practices a sort of benevolent pragmatism; this is way members practice their own programs, while admitting their programs might not work for others. There’s the attitude, “Weather therapy would or would not work for me is immaterial; it just doesn’t matter. What matters is if it works for you.”

Please feel free to share your Experience, Strength, and Hope