California State University, Northridge a 12 Step
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CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE A 12 STEP THEORY FOR GENERAL WELL-BEING A graduate project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Masters of Science in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy By Laura Rhodes-Levin December 2014 The graduate project of Laura Rhodes-Levin is approved: ____________________________________________ ___________________ Bruce Burman, Ph.D. Date ____________________________________________ ___________________ Dr. Ian Russ, Ph.D. Date ____________________________________________ ___________________ Dana Stone, Ph.D., Chair Date ii Dedication I dedicate this project first and foremost to the founders and members of Alcoholics Anonymous, with out which I could never have accomplished much of the gifts life now holds for me. For this reason I also dedicate this project to my sponsor Donna Paul, my sponsees Krystal Usher, and Kimmie Griffin. Each and everyday these ladies contribute to my emotional sobriety by going above and beyond the duties of the program to connect with me on levels of love, caring and friendship. I also dedicate this paper to my father Michael Rhodes, who is clearly doing so much on my behalf since his crossing into the afterlife. The love and support he gave me in life and now in death nurture my soul in ways words cannot describe, but the heart can deeply feel. I love you daddy, and miss you more than I could every say. In addition to my father, my mother Nina Hughes and my step father David Hughes have been a cradle of support in my academic journey, as well as my life journey. My mother has always led to me believe that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. Her belief in me has brought fruitfulness and adventure to my life in ways I could never have known without her. My step father is actually the person who pointed me in the direction of psychology, a path which has enabled me to find my driving force and intended purpose on this earth. I owe thanks to both my brother Ross Rhodes and my sister Camila Rhodes who know me better than any other on earth. They are not just siblings, but best friends. They have both endured endless phone calls supporting me on my way to and from school, work etc. They help me to remember who I am when I am feeling lost, and they have loved me through every period of my life dark or light. In addition, they gave me the gift iii of the only children I will have the chance at raising my beautiful nephews Ethan and Zen, and my wonderous niece Ella. I must include in this dedication the Summers family. My aunt Suzie has not only supported me emotionally, but she made it possible monetarily to reach beyond my means and achieve a life of success and prosperity. My cousins Jordan Summers and Jolie Summers Garwood have been nothing less than a brother and sister to me, including me in all their journeys and forever extending me unconditional love. Last but not least, I dedicate this project to my beautiful husband Ken Levin. He has encouraged me to be who I am, shown me love beyond my wildest dreams, and holds me so close and caringly when I hurt. He is truly my rock. I am so blessed to be his wife. iv Acknowledgments I would like to extend the deepest gratitude to my editor, Professor Rebekka Helford. Her devotion to the works she does is greatly apparent in all of my experiences with her. She genuinely cares about the students she works with and offers a spirit of hope and inspiration. I found my work with her to be extremely life affirming and encouraging. I would like to thank Professor Diane Gehart in helping me to name my theory, and for all of her support in moving my project forward. Her presence at the university and the impact she has had on the Marriage and Family Therapy program is dynamic. Her desire to keep the program current and thriving is ever present. In addition, I would like to thank my chair Professor Dana Stone, and my committee members, Professor Bruce Burnam, and Professor Ian Russ for taking time to help me with my project. The members of my committee have outside obligations, beyond their commitment to the university, and the extra effort spent to help me further my project is greatly appreciated. I would also like to acknowledge my fellow students who contributed to the growth of my paper. Thank you to Mike Randleman, Fabiola Lazarte, Kellie Schimdt, Karen Rivas, and Abbey Ronquillo. The support I felt from the members of my cohort will be forever appreciated and cherished. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Signatures ii Dedication iii Acknowledgments v Abstract viii Chapter One: Introduction 1 Background of Problem 2 Statement of Problem 5 Purpose of the Project 5 Significance of the Project 6 Definition of Terms 7 Summary 9 Chapter Two: Literature Review 11 The 12 Steps and the 12 Step Theory for General Well-Being 12 Step One 14 Step Two 15 Step Three 16 Step Four 16 Step Five 18 Step Six 19 Step Seven 20 Step Eight 22 Step Nine 23 Step Ten 24 Step Eleven 26 Step Twelve 28 Martin Seligman and Learned Optimism 29 Viktor Frankl and Logotherapy 30 Carl Jung 35 Conclusion 37 Chapter Three: Developing the Project 39 Development of Project 39 Intended Audience 39 Personal Qualifications 40 Environment and Equipment 40 Project Outline 41 Chapter Four: Project Overview 42 vi Summary of Project 42 Recommendations for Implementation 42 Recommendations for Future Research 43 Conclusion 44 References 47 Appendix: Project: THE 12 STEP THEORY FOR GENERAL WELL-BEING 58 vii ABSTRACT A 12 STEP THEORY FOR GENERAL WELL-BEING By Laura Rhodes-Levin Master of Science in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy The following project is an exploration of the psychological components of the 12 Step Program designed in 1939 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith to aid in the recovery of suffering alcoholics by taking a spiritual approach to life’s difficulties. When examined closely, the original 12 Steps contained in the program for alcoholics embody key aspects of logotherapy, analytical psychology, and positive psychology. The purpose of this project is to propose a new theory for the field of psychology currently titled The 12 Step Theory for General Well-Being, which incorporates an application of the 12 Step Program to aid in the recovery from symptoms such as depression and anxiety. The philosophy behind the new theory for the mental health is to provide a therapeutic process with basis of healing through a spiritual connection to the field of mental health. viii Chapter One: Introduction Originally started by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in 1939, the 12 Step Program was designed to help alcoholics recover from the disease of alcoholism. Before the creation of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), multitudes of people drove miles and miles to meet with fellow alcoholics whom had recovered from their disease. The success of these recovered alcoholics was the catalyst for the writing of the basic text of AA (1939). Today, there are over 200 support programs founded on the 12 Step Program to deal with dysfunctions such as gambling, food addiction, shopping addiction, sex addiction, and many more (Sober Nation, 2014). However, even after the dysfunctional coping mechanisms of alcohol, food, gambling, etc., are eliminated, the primary root symptoms of addiction, such as anxiety and depression, remain present in the individual (Bartels et al., 2013). The 12 Step Program helps individuals recover from the symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as the addiction itself. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (1999) supports the view that 12 Step Programs are effective in arresting symptoms such as depression and anxiety by employing a spiritual approach to life. Worley, Tate, McQuaid, Granholm, and Brown (2012) investigated the effects of 12-step work on depression as measured by the Hamilton Depression Scale. All participants presented with substance dependence, as well as major depressive disorder. Some of the participants received 12 Step Facilitation (TSF), and the rest of the participants received Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The study was done on an outpatient basis over a 6-month period. The results showed the TSF group scored significantly higher than the CBT group and improvement in depressive symptoms (2012). 1 Background of Problem Symptoms such as depression and anxiety are not limited to substance abusers. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (1999), the most pervasive form of mental illness in the United States are anxiety disorders, which affect 40 million adults (18% of the U.S. population). Additionally, 3-5% of people suffer from major depression, with a lifetime risk of 17%. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012) state that depression and anxiety affect one in five Americans. The types of individuals experiencing mental health issues in the United States today span across many cultures, races, and religions. According to Mental Health America (2014), 30-40% of Latinos born in the United States experience mental illness. The American Psychiatric Association (2013) reported that the suicide rates of Asian American women are significantly higher than the rates of women of other races. Furthermore, according to the U.S. Health and Human Service Office of Minority Health (2012), 20% of African American adults report more serious psychological distress than White adults. The American Psychological Association (2013) recently cited an increased importance in the improvement of psychological services to ethnic and culturally diverse populations due to a growing political and social presence of diverse cultural groups.