Factors characterizing pre-alcoholism, alcoholism and alcoholism-recovery from neo-Adlerian and Catholic Christian perspectives

Abstract

This dissertation proposes a three-stage model of alcoholism development and recovery for persons suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD). The model is supported by literature that is focused on characteristics of the three stages: 1) Pre-alcoholism stage, consisting of factors that predispose children, adolescents, and adults to alcoholism; 2) Alcoholism stage, in which persons with AUD express psychological characteristics based on their addiction; and 3) Alcoholism-recovery stage, in which the persons with AUD takes on a new self-conceptthat manifests from the development of healthy coping skills, relationships, and treatment. I discuss research concerning transitional factors between the stages and the special treatments used to achieve and maintain the alcoholism-recovery stage. In order to understand how the three stages can be conceptualized and used within the context of psychotherapy, each stage was integrated with Neo-Adlerian Theory and enriched with a Catholic Christian Meta-Model. As such, the purpose of this dissertation is to outline the psychological implications of the three stages, and how therapists can conceptualize these stages to help clients seek healing, and flourish.