Rational Recovery - Definition and Overview

Rational Recovery (RR) is a self-help group for alcoholics designed as a secular alternative to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and 12 step programs.

The RR program is based on cognitive behaviour therapy and dissociation from addictive impulses. While RR and AA seek the same end, the programs use opposite stratagies.

• RR does not regard alcoholism as a disease, but rather a voluntary behavior.
• RR discourages adoption of the forever "recovering" drunk persona.
• Once members have internalized the RR method, they are expected to leave the group and continue their lives.
• Great emphasis is placed on self-efficacy.
• There are no discrete steps and no consideration of religious matters.

In the United States, RR is also involved in planning legal actions against the 12 steps programs, to which it is vigorously opposed. RR objects strongly to authorities including the courts, employee assistance programs, and treatment centers promoting theologically-based programs such as AA. RR and others see this as a violation of the first amendment. The RR-PLAN website states its intent is "to put AA out of business".

There is no doubt that, for many people, AA has been a highly effective program. Action against AA, well-meaning or not, disheartens these individuals and is thus met with strong resistance. It is worth noting that while the vast majority of atheists and agnostics would consider the founding canons of AA to be inapplicable to themselves, there are a few agnostic and atheist AA members. A Higher Power need not be a deity: one common alternative is to use the 12-step model but identify the support group itself as the higher power, although the idea that this follows the founding ideas of AA is dubious. There is at least one "we agnostics" AA group in California.

External links

• RR-PLAN web page (http://www.rational.org/plan.html)