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From: Ellen-Marie Silverman
Date: 10/22/01
Time: 5:49:16 PM
Remote Name: 172.130.239.153
Hi, Janet,
Something you might want to seriously consider is establishing a "sobriety contract" with the individual you describe who is your client and who abuses alcohol. At the very least, such a contract would specifiy that you will work with him only when he is a non-user. He is to appear for all therapy sessions alcohol free, i.e., no imbibing wine, beer, etc. for at least 12 hours prior to his treatment session. If he does not accept or follow this term of treatment, I doubt you will probably become much more than an enabler for him to continue as he is.
The gift of your time and expertise is a valuable one. It can not be fully given nor received by someone whose perceptions, memory, concentration, and judgments have been clouded by drinking.
Your client may not appreciate being approached to make such a committment. He may demur and deny that his drinking affects his ability to respond to your treatment efforts. But, if you believe in the importance of only working with individuals who are attentive to the treatment experience and hold to this condition of treatment, you may make hime "wake up" enough to seriously approach the process of change. If he refuses to accept such a condition of treatment, then you will have to determine how much change you can reasonably be able to facilitate in this person at this time.
Best wishes,
Ellen-Marie Silverman