Conclusion

Try to remember the following essential principles in your interactions with your drinker:

1. People need to make their own decisions – support but do not order, bully or beg.
2. Never directly disagree with the person, but do not pretend that you agree with them either (if you don’t).
3. Ask questions, avoid statements!
4. Try to highlight inconsistencies in the statements made in a way that does not engender a feeling of resistance in the person you are trying to help.
5. Roll with Resistance.
6. Demonstrate empathy and concern – try to avoid outright sympathy or criticism.
7. Don’t rush it – bide your time and wait for a spontaneous response.
8. Accept that the drinker’s drinking is driven by subconscious influences, and is beyond their direct control. The drinker is suffering from a disease of the central nervous system called alcoholism.
9. Allow the natural consequences of the drinking behaviour to occur – neither help nor hinder.
10. Try to avoid taking on the role of the professional helper.

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Motivate Someone To Seek Help For Alcoholism index

The above information is copyright of Dr Bruce Trathen MBBS MRCPsych (2006). ISBN 0-9545164-0-0. The author grants permission for these guidelines to be downloaded, copied and distributed freely, but does not grant permission for their sale.