ABSTRACT
To some extent it is possible to school some of our patients who compensate themselves with claims that will not hold up. For example, the famous schooling of alcoholics in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) (Bateson, 1971) turns on the first step. “Try some controlled drinking,” says AA, and the alcoholic tries and cannot limit it himself. “Instead,” says AA, “admit you are helpless to control drinking, and turn yourself over to a Higher Power.”
