ABSTRACT
When problematic drinking interferes with an Individual’s. physical health or life functioning, the alcohol use itself must be interrupted. Before a therapist can address other life-style issues, he or she must help the client to change the specific behaviors related to alcohol consumption. Thus, the treatment plan for an individual with alcohol-related problems must focus, at least in part, on measures that promise to alleviate the immediate problem of alcohol use. Depending on the severity of the alcohol problem, these measures may include detoxification and inpatient treatment. Treatment focused narrowly on alcohol consumption, however, provides a short-term solution at best. Long-term sobriety requires a holistic approach and attention to all elements of the client’s life-style.
