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Alcoholism treatment and marriage and family therapists: An empirical study

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Abstract

This article reports on results of a mail questionnaire study conducted among 257 members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (132 respondents, response rate of 51%) on their attitudes toward alcoholism issues (acceptance of alcoholism as a disease, treatment philosophies used with clients and/or families, and acceptance and use of Alcoholics Anonymous as a resource). Results indicated that 69% of respondents (as compared with 42% formerly) considered alcoholism a disease after MFT education. A combination of individual, family therapy, and AA (81.1%); family therapy (66.7%); and AA only (60.6%) were most often used. Controlled use of alcohol by clients in treatment was believed to be unethical by 43.2%, legal by 39.4% and ineffective by 54.5%.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterans Administration Treatment Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Sandra A. Zygarlicki MSW (practicing social worker)

  2. School of Social Work R-91, Florida State University, 32306, Tallahassee, FL

    Thomas Edward Smith PhD (Associate Professor in the Interdivisional Program in Marriage and Family Therapy)

Authors
  1. Sandra A. Zygarlicki MSW
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  2. Thomas Edward Smith PhD
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Correspondence to Thomas Edward Smith PhD.

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Zygarlicki, S.A., Smith, T.E. Alcoholism treatment and marriage and family therapists: An empirical study. Contemp Fam Ther 14, 75–88 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00891750

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00891750

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