>---------------------- Information from the mail header ----------------------- >Sender: Alcohol and Temperance History Group <[log in to unmask]> >Poster: harold rosenberg <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: ATHG Digest - 23 Feb 1996 to 24 Feb 1996 >------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >> >> Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 12:47:25 -0500 >> From: Michael Davids <[log in to unmask]> >> Subject: Re: Alcoholics Anonymous >> >> In regards to A.A., does anyone have any info on the >> group *Rational Recovery* which is far more liberal >> and less religious than A.A. Thanx, MD:) >> >> ------------------------------ >> *********************************************** >> I second what Rosenberg has written. I know Jack personally and he lives near me. He is a genuine sincere man but spends too much time AA bashing. There are a large number of RR groups in the country and I understand that a division has taken place. I don't know the details, but Jack is now advocating Addiction Voice Recognition Training (AVRT). There are two web pages that you might check: http://www.sna.com/recovery/ and www.wco.com/~eforeman/rr.htm. While I disagree professionally, personally and philosophically with AA, there is room for many points of view > There is a "movement" called Rational Recovery which is promoted >by its founder, Jack Trimpey, as an alternative to AA. Although the >outcome goal for participants is the same (i.e., abstinence), and the >importance of group support is retained, the proposed steps to recovery >are different. Trimpey uses an RET (Rational Emotive Therapy, based on >Albert Ellis's work) approach vs. the your-life-is-unmanageable approach >and higher-power approach proposed by AA. Trimpey has written a book, The >Small Book, Delacorte Press, 1989, that explains his approach. His book >is not well-written (for example, it is often redundant and boring and >there is no obvious reason why this approach endorses abstinence a priori); >however, the approach using RET is clearly different than AA. One may >also write to Trimpey at Rational Recovery Systems, Lotus Press, Box 800, >Lotus, CA. 95651 for more information. > > Harry Avis Ph.D. Sierra College Rocklin, CA 95677 [log in to unmask] It takes a lot of courage to become the person you grew up to be If we live long enough, death comes to us all