COUNSELOR CHARACTERISTICS

Brief-TSF COUNSELOR CHARACTERISTICS AND TRAINING

Educational Requirements

Brief-TSF requires considerable clinical skill to implement properly. Issues in implementation include the ability to stay focused, maintain structure within each session, and engage in constructive confrontation. Accordingly, it is recommended that prospective facilitators have counseling experience and/or training.

Counselor’s Recovery Status

Brief-TSF facilitators need not be in recovery personally. Any serious Brief-TSF facilitator, however, should have read all relevant AA literature that clients will be asked to read and should be familiar with at least AA and Al-Anon meetings from personal experience. In addition, it is not recommended that a facilitator whose own views are unsympathetic to the primary goals of Brief-TSF (e.g., abstinence, active involvement in 12 step fellowships) seek to implement this model, for obvious reasons.

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Ideal Personal Characteristics of Counselor

The best Brief-TSF facilitators have a good working grasp of basic Rogerian non-specific, client-centered therapeutic skills, including unconditional positive regard and good active listening skills, combined with a good-working knowledge of 12 step philosophy and the practicalities of getting active in 12 step fellowships. The ideal Brief-TSF facilitator is able to maintain session focus without excessive drift while also maintaining rapport. The Brief-TSF facilitator establishes a collaborative relationship with the client and utilises confrontation in a constructive, non-punitive manner.

Counselor’s Behaviours Prescribed

The Brief-TSF facilitator will help the client:

Assess his or her alcohol and advocate abstinence.
Explain basic 12 step concepts (e.g., surrender, acceptance & action).
Advocate and actively support and facilitate initial involvement in AA.
Facilitate introduction to an AA Peer Sponsor.
Facilitate ongoing participation in AA.
Suggest and discuss specific readings from AA literature.
Help the client learn to use AA members as resources in times of crisis and to support and celebrate sobriety.
Conduct sessions that helps the client assess critically his or her progress in the program.

Counselor’s Behaviours Proscribed

The Brief-TSF facilitator does not:

Conduct sessions with an intoxicated client.
Attend AA meetings with the client.
Act as an AA sponsor.
Threaten reprisals for non-compliance.
Advocate controlled drinking or other drug use.
Allow therapy to drift excessively onto collateral issues, such as marital or job conflict.