About this course

Learning Objectives

• 1. Identify the 12-steps and how they are utilized for recovery from substance abuse.
• 2. Discuss the ways that 12-step culture impacts clients including the steps, traditions, slogans, anonymity and sponsorship.
• 3. Recognize mental health issues that often come up during 12 step work and how therapists can support clients.
• 4. Employ interventions and modalities to facilitate symptom reduction, support recovery and reduce relapse risk in conjunction with client’s stepwork.

Learning Levels

• All

Target Audience

Course Instructor(s)

• 

  Michelle Risser, LISW-S

  I’ve been a therapist for over 20 years, and in that time, I’ve had the privilege of supporting people during some of the hardest and most meaningful times in their lives. I’ve worked with homeless teens in transitional housing, supported families through medical crises and loss at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and helped clients heal from trauma and rebuild their lives.

  Over the years, I found my passion in trauma recovery and maternal mental health. I became certified in EMDR through EMDRIA and completed advanced training in perinatal mental health with Postpartum Support International. Learning these approaches has been a game-changer, not just for the clients I’ve worked with, but for me, too.

  This career has taught me so much about growth. Every challenge I’ve faced and every new skill I’ve learned has pushed me to expand in ways I didn’t expect. That process of growing, evolving, and figuring it out along the way is what’s kept me connected to this work for so long.

  Now, one of the things I love most is helping other therapists grow, too. Whether it’s through clinical consultation, EMDR consultation, or continuing education training, I find so much meaning in sharing what I’ve learned and supporting therapists to make a huge difference in others' lives while still taking good care of themselves.

  If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that none of us ever stops growing. And as therapists, the more we grow, the more we can show up for the people we’re here to help. That’s the heart of why I do this work—and why I’m so grateful to keep doing it every day.

References

• Chew, J., Morris, J., Bartlett, G., & Frings, D. (2024). Evaluation of Web-Based Digital Intervention to Change Individual’s Drinking Behaviours. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 42(4), 404-422.
• Henssler, J., Müller, M., Carreira, H., Bschor, T., Heinz, A., & Baethge, C. (2021). Controlled drinking—Non‐abstinent versus abstinent treatment goals in alcohol use disorder: A systematic review, meta‐analysis and meta‐regression. Addiction, 116(8), 1973-1987.
• Kelly, J. F., Humphreys, K., & Ferri, M. (2020). Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12‐step programs for alcohol use disorder. Cochrane database of systematic reviews, (3).
• Kelly, J. F., Humphreys, K., & Howell, A. (2020). Alcoholics Anonymous and 12-Step Facilitation: Mechanisms of behavior change in treatment and in recovery from alcohol use disorder. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 55(6), 641-648.
• Recovery Research Institute. (2020). It works, but why does it work? Perspectives on change in 12-step and non-12-step mutual-help groups. https://www.recoveryanswers.org/research-post/it-works-but-why-does-it-work-perspectives-on-change-in-12-step-and-non-12-step-mutual-help-groups/
• Herald Open Access. (2020). 12-Step Recovery: Interpersonal and spiritual attachment. https://www.heraldopenaccess.us/articles/12-Step-Recovery-Interpersonal-and-Spiritual-Attachment.pdf
• The Retreat. (2020). Research on 12 Step Abstinence Based Recovery. https://www.theretreat.org/research-on-12-step-abstinence-based-recovery